Fermoy always in control against Castletown’

Fermoy 3-22 Castletownroche 0-12 Fermoy proved too crafty for Castletownroche when they clashed in the Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Division 2 HL at Castletownroche on Saturday evening.

From the outset, an evenly balanced Fermoy set the tone and were 0-4 to 0-1 in front before they struck for the first of their three goals in the 11th minute, when a great movement involving Ronan Morrison, Padraig Shanahan, Mark Flynn and Alan O’Connor saw Conor Barry breach the Castletownroche rearguard for a well taken goal. Castletownroche steadied the ship when Mark O’Callaghan and Jack Relihan were on target with a point each, but it was Fermoy that were in the ascendancy and a second goal from by Mark Flynn in the 17th minute opened up a 2-6 to 0-4 cushion.

Castletownroche battled back again with Mark O’Callaghan and Muiris Browne having a point each, to leave just two goals between the teams by the 22nd minute. However, it was Fermoy that struck a purple patch in the closing moments with Jack Murray (2), Eric Delaney (2), Alan O’Connor and Conor Barry chipping in with some splendid points before the break that helped open up a 2-12 to 0-7 lead at the short whistle.

The second half was again much the same. Fermoy created most of the running that yielded an early goal from Jack Murray, after he received a great pass from Mark Flynn that made it 3-14 to 0-8. The remainder of the half was going through the motions with the impressive Cillian Fitzgerald (3), Eric Delaney, Jack Murray, Darragh Daly, Alan O’Connor and Mark Flynn adding points before the final whistle.

Castletownroche to the credit fought to the bitter end. Dane O’Neill (2), Seamus Sheehan and Leon Farrell added points in the last 20 minutes, while they also missed a goal scoring chance late in the game when a free by Dane O’Neill was saved on the line. However there was no denying Fermoy the manner of their comprehensive victory.

Fermoy: Liam Cronin, Ronan O’Callaghan, Bryan Barry, Niall Clooney, Ronan O’Brien, Liam Clancy, Ronan Morrison, Alan O’Connor 0-2, Darragh Daly 0-3, Eric Delaney 0-6 (0-5f), Cillian Fitzgerald 0-5, Jack Murray 1-3 (0-1f), Mark Flynn 1-1, Paudie Shanahan 0-1, Conor Barry 1-1. Subs: Colm Carroll for Ronan Morrison (inj), Craig Murphy for Eric Delaney (inj), Eoin Canty for Mark Flynn, Cillian Bratchford for Ronan O’Brien, Philip Flynn for Liam Clancy.

Castletownroche: Michael Ryan, William Madden, Thomas Barrett, Adrian O’Donovan, Sean Sugrue, Muiris Browne 0-1, Jack Relihan 0-1, Liam McGrath, Liam Sugrue, Mark O’Callaghan 0-5 (0-4f), Aidan O’Leary 0-1, Niall Hazelwood, Dane O’Neill 0-2 (0-1f), Seamus Sheehan 0-1, Billy Batterberry. Subs: Noah O’Brien for Liam Sugrue, Leon Farrell (0-1) for Billy Batterberry, Billy Batterberry for Jack Relihan (inj).