Buttevant off to winning start in Div 2 HL
Buttevant 3-12 Fermoy 1-11
Buttevant made it a winning start to their Cavanagh's of Fermoy Div 2 HL campaign when a good second half showing saw them overcome a gallant Fermoy side on Tuesday evening last week in Fermoy.
The opening sequences saw Fermoy first into the action. In the fourth minute, good work by Eoin Canty resulted in Paudie Shanahan scoring the game’s opening goal, with Shanahan (3) and David O'Callaghan also landing points as they moved 1-4 to 0-1 in front by the 11th minute.
Buttevant, who were finding it hard to make headway, quickly settled. They were right back in the tie moments later when a delivery by Seamus Madigan was collected by Mark Lenahan who cut through to finish to the net from a tight angle. Nevertheless the home side continued to do well with Noah Sherwood, Paudie Shanahan, Mark Flynn and Craig Roche reeling off some sublime scores that moved them 1-8 to 1-3 clear by the 27th minute. In the run up to the break, both Mark Lenahan and Paudie Shanahan traded frees, as Fermoy were more than full value for their 1-9 to 1-4 interval advantage.
On the restart, Buttevant came out a much improved side and this was reflected when Mark Lenahan (2) and Chris O'Toole picked off three frees. In the 37th minute Mark Lenahan was denied a goal scoring opportunity when the Fermoy ‘keeper, Liam Clancy saved well with the rebound falling into the path of Shane O'Callaghan who pointed. At the other end, Fermoy also missed a chance in front of goal. Good work by Conor Barry and Paudie Shanahan set up Eoin Canty and his attempt was saved by the Buttevant ‘keeper, Brian O'Shaughnessy with the eventual clearance seeing Jamie O'Brien score from distance that levelled matters at 1-9 apiece.
In a keenly contested encounter the sides were level at 1-10 and 1-11 apiece when Mark Lenahan (2), Brian McGrath and Paudie Shanahan swapped points by the 50th minute. In the end it was two goals in the last ten minutes that separated the teams. A pin-point delivery by the hardworking Chris O'Toole set up Mark Lenahan for his second goal in the 54th minute, with Lenahan getting his hat-trick of goals at the end of normal time when he was first to react after Donal Ryan's effort at goal was cleared off the line, as they emerged victors by a seven point margin.
Fermoy: Liam Clancy, Colm Carroll, James O'Sullivan, John Lonergan, Niall Cloney, Ross O'Sullivan, Jack Murray, David O'Callaghan, Cormac Roche, Noah Sherwood 0-1, Paudie Shanahan 1-7 (0-6f), Craig Roche 0-1, Craig Murphy, Eoin Canty, Mark Flynn 0-1. Subs: Brian McGrath (0-1) for Cormac Roche (inj) Ryan Slattery for Noah Sherwood, Bryan Barry for James O'Sullivan, Conor Barry for Jack Murray, Cian O'Carroll for Eoin Canty, Ronan O'Brien, for Craig Roche, Sean Duggan for Mark Flynn, Noah Carr for Craig Murphy, Ciaran Cloney for Paudie Shanahan (inj).
Referee was Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).