Stalemate in hurling league

RED FM HURLING LEAGUE DIV 2 RD 3 Fermoy 0-16 Eire Óg 1-13

Fermoy and Eire Óg played out a very entertaining hurling game as the wind blew fiercely and the sun shone in Fermoy. Both sides gave it a good go but a draw was about the fairest outcome in the end. This draw opens our points account after two very respectable losses in our first two matches.

The wind was slightly in favour of Eire Óg in the first half, even though it appeared at times to be blowing diagonally across the field. We got off to the perfect start, when Brian O’Sullivan opened our account after one minute with a close in free. We doubled our lead with a neatly taken point from Martin Brennan in the 3rd minute. Eire Óg got their first point of the game in the 4th minute and then won a penalty on 9 minutes after a free from us went astray and ended up with their full forward being fouled in the square and he duly dispatched the sliotar past our net minder Shane Coughlan to the net. They scored their second point on 12 minutes but Adam Creed with a fine point cancelled this score out. Jake Carr got our fourth point on 13 minutes and then Eire Óg got a pointed free on 17 minutes to leave them leading 1-03 to 0-04 at this stage. A point from Padraig de Róiste on 18 minutes and a second from Martin had the scores level on 20 minutes. Eire Óg had a purple patch after this where they scored 4 points without reply on 23, 25, 27 and 29 minutes respectively. We did get a point from Brian just before the short whistle to leave us trailing by 1-08 to 0-07 at half-time.

Our opponents were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the second half when they scored points on 31 and 32 minutes to increase their lead to six. Brian got our first of the second half in the 35th minute but they scored a free on 38 minutes to go back to 6 ahead. Brian scored a free on 40 minutes followed by a Jake Carr point on 44 minutes and another Brian point on 45 minutes to leave 2 points in it. They scored a free on 47 minutes and we replied with a Brian free on 49 minutes. We got their lead down to 1 point when Brian converted a ‘65 in the 53rd minute. It was a level game on 55 minutes when substitute Arlen Aherne scored a well worked point.

They got a soft free on 59 minutes which they duly slotted over to go ahead again and we were into injury time. We got a free around 65 metres out and Brian stepped up and shot it between the posts to level the game again. There were around 3 minutes of extra-time played after that with both sides having a chance to win it but they both declined them, leaving the game ending in a draw when the referee blew the final whistle. Final score: Fermoy 0-16 Eire Óg 1-13.

Team: Shane Coughlan; Sean Shanahan, Tomas Clancy, Liam Cronin; Greg Lardner, Darragh O’Carroll, Padraig de Róiste (0-01); Martin Brennan (0-02), Darragh O’Brien; Adam Creed (0-01), Brian O’Sullivan (0-09, 4f, 1 ‘65) Peter Murphy; Brendan Daly, David O’Callaghan and Jake Carr (0-02). Subs: Arlen Aherne (0-01) 43m. Referee: Aidan Hyland

CAVANAGHS OF FERMOY HL DIVISION 2 ROUND 2 Fermoy 1-11 Buttevant 3-12

This was a re-fixture match that was played in Fermoy on Tuesday, April 2nd at 7.45pm. This was our first home match of this season and we were looking forward to see how we would perform. We had a lot of underage lads mixed in with a few wily experienced foxes and from the first half performance everything was gelling nicely. Unfortunately Buttevant upped a few gears in the second half and came from being five points down at half-time to winning by a margin of seven points.

As I said above, we had an outstanding first half. Buttevant got the scoring started with a free in the 2nd minute before David O’Callaghan opened our account with a well taken point. For the next twelve minutes we were like men possessed as we took the fight to Buttevant and got some great scores. The legend that is Paudie Shanahan showed us how it’s done when he picked up the sliotar and slalomed his way through the opponent’s defence to send the ball crashing to the net in the 6th minute. He added a point from play on 7 minutes before slotting over a free on 8 minutes after Craig Murphy was fouled. He slotted over another free on 11 minutes to make a personal tally of 1-03 in 5 minutes. They steadied the ship by scoring a fortuitous goal in the 13th minute but this did not deter us. One of our young players, Noah Sherwood had a well taken point on 14 minutes to make the score 1-05 to 1-01.

A free to them on 15 minutes was cancelled out by a Paudie free on 17 minutes and then that other wily campaigner, Mark Flynn, scored a beauty of a point showing a set of skills to be enjoyed in the 19th minute. Craig scored a nice point in the 25th minute but two frees from them in the 29th and 30th minutes kept them on our tails. The reliable Paudie finished off the scoring for us and the first half with another excellent point, to make the half-time score Fermoy 1-09 Buttevant 1-04.

I have no idea what was said to the Buttevant boys at half time but they were a completely unrecognisable team from their first half display. We were unable to match them in most areas of the pitch and their forwards were on fire. Our five point lead had dissipated by the 43rd minute as they scored five points without reply in that time. Three frees in the 31st, 32nd and 33rd minutes respectively gave them fierce encouragement and belief. Two points from play in the 37th and 43rd minutes left us stunned and unable to react as we were like rabbits caught in the headlights. They took the lead in the 45th minute with a point from play and went 2 up with a point on 47 minutes. We got our first point of the second half with a brilliant point from substitute Brian McGrath and then Paudie scored the equaliser from a free on 50 minutes. If we as supporters thought that the tide might turn at this juncture unfortunately this did not materialise as Buttevant upped the pace even more and that was our final score of the game.

They scored a second goal in the 52nd minute and a third goal in the 56th minute to ensure victory. They completed the coup de gras in the 58th minute with a final point to complete the scoring. The final score was Fermoy 1-11 Buttevant 3-12. Hard luck to everyone connected to the team and now it’s on to the next one.

Team: Liam Clancy; James O’Sullivan, John Lonergan, Colm Carroll; Niall Cloney, Ross O’Sullivan, Jack Murray; Cormac Roche, David O’Callaghan (0-01); Noah Sherwood (0-01), Paudie Shanahan (1-06, 0-04f), Craig Roche; Craig Murphy (0-01), Eoin Canty and Mark Flynn (0-01).

Subs: Brian McGrath 12m (0-01) for C Roche, Brian Barry 30m for J O’Sullivan, Ronan O’Brien 30m for J Murray, Conor Barry 45m for N Sherwood and Cian O’Carroll 52m for Canty.

Referee: Aidan Hyland.

Our junior hurling match v Kilworth which was down to be played on Sunday, April 7th was called off due to pitch unavailability.

FIXTURES

McCarthy Insurance Football League Round 4, Fermoy v O’Donovan Rossa on Sunday, April 14th at 11.30am. Cavanaghs of Fermoy Div 1 Football League Round 3, Fermoy v Deel Rovers in Milford on Sunday, April 14th at 2.30pm. Please show your support for all our teams!

AWARDS NIGHT

Our annual awards night will take place this year on Saturday, 20th April in the Golf Club. This is a fantastic event which honours players from both men’s and ladies teams where among the awards presented are players of the year and club person of the year. The evening commences at 7.30pm and as well as the awards there will be food and music to enjoy as well. We look forward to seeing you all there, where a great evening is guaranteed.

LOTTO

Results from 04/04 - jackpot €6,600. Numbers drawn: 08, 12, 13 and 33. No winner. Lucky dips - €40 Brian Shinnick c/o Pat O’Brien; €40 K Dennigan c/o Shinnick’s; €40 James McCarthy c/o Cheers; €40 B and James McCarthy c/o Cheers; €40 Matt O’Callaghan c/o Juvenile Club. Venue: Sportsman’s Inn. Next jackpot (Thursday 11/04): €6,800. Next venue: The Cross. Tickets are €2 each and 3 tickets for €5. Tickets available from: outside Shinnick’s SPAR: Fridays, 10.00-13.30; Barnes Jewellers; Carry-out Off Licence; website (Clubforce), via direct debit or from any club lotto member. Thank you for your support - take care and stay healthy.

Main sponsor - Laya Healthcare.