Grange storm to victory over Randal Óg
COUNTY JBFC Grange 2-14 Randal Og 1-4 GRANGE had 13 points to spare over Randal Og in Blarney on Friday.
Wind assisted in the first half Grange built up a big lead and the outcome was never in doubt. Early points by David Keating, Colin Scott (free) Noel Barry, Vincent Griffith, Brian Cashman and Niall McCarthy had the winners 0-6 to 0-2 clear after 14 minutes.
Randal Óg found it very hard to make any progress. Grange won a lot of the high fielding and their combination out of defence was impressive. Further points by Vincent Griffith, Noel Cashman and Brian Cashman made it 0-10 to 0-3 by the 24th minute.
Noel Barry added a point from play and a free and the same player had a penalty saved by Randal Og keeper Denis Lynch in injury time. Noel Cashman goaled for the winners on the stroke of half time 1-12 to 0-3.
There was no way back for Randal Óg in the second half. Grange defended very well, scores were scarce in this half. The Avondhu side had a point by Noel Barry with Pat Crowley replying for the West Cork side.
Both sides brought on a number of substitutes with Cashman having his second goal in the 46th minute after good work by Noel Barry and Vincent Griffith 213 to 0-4. Noel Barry pointed another free with John Collins Randal Og's best forward having a late consolation goal. Rathpeacon 0-13 Shanballymore 0-7 RATHPEACON with a very strong second half despite being down to 14 men ran out deserving winners over Shanballymore.
Shanballymore had the aid of a gale force wind in the opening half but failed to make it count on the scoreboard. Rathpeacon opened with an early Paul O'Neill point. 'Shanbally' levelled through Kenneth Barry after good work by Brian O'Reilly. Robbie McGinn edged the City side ahead after eight minutes with Eoin McHugh levelling from a free soon after.
At the end of the first quarter Kenneth Barry pointed two frees. Rathpeacon fought back well with Cian O'Driscoll placing Paul Hallissey for a point. In the 26th minute Rathpeacon had a player dismissed following a straight red card. John Collins levelled at 0-4 each. A late point by Jamie Sheedy following a solo run gave Shanballymore in interval lead 0-5 to 0- 4.
On the resumption Shanballymore had two earl;y points by Brian O'Reilly and Eoin McHugh (free) 0-7 to 0- 4. The Avondhu side failed to score for the rest of the half. Rathpeacon took control in the half backline and midfield sectors.
They added nine points without reply the points by Paul O'Neill (4) Brendan Aherne, Robbie McGinn, Cian O'Driscoll, John Anderson and Emmett Leahy that saw them run out winners by a six point margin. Araglin 1-14 Gleann na Laoi 0-1 AS the scoreline suggests Araglin were always in control in their meeting with Gleann na Laoi in the opening round of the Co JBFC at Ballynoe on Saturday.
Aided by the gale wind in the first half the North Cork outfit were quick into the action with Dave Browne setting up Vincent O'Donoghue for the only goal of the game in the second minute. Further pressure saw Tom Browne, Cian O'Mahony and Shay Russell follow with some well taken point to move ahead 1-3 to no score by the seventh minute.
As the half went on Gleann na Laoi improved greatly and during the opening quarter they missed at least three goal scoring opportunities that included a penalty by Billy Dunlea that went narrowly wide.
However, the remainder of the half saw Araglin dominate matters with Tom Kenneally, Shay Russell, Seamus O'Gorman, Vincent O'Donoghue, Cian O'Mahony and James Kearney excelling and by half-time they added some fine points by James Kearney, Tom Browne, Vincent O'Donoghue, Seamus O'Gorman and Dave Browne that all but finished the game off as a contest at the interval when leading by 1-11 to no score.
In a low scoring second half both sets of defences held the upperhand. Gleann na Laoi got the scoring underway when Brian Murphy pointed a free in the 32nd minute and despite creating a few scoring chances this proved to be their only score of the game. Araglin never reached the heights they displayed during the first half with the Gleann an Laoi backline holding their lines very well.
The Avondhu side added points by Vincent O'Donoghue (2) and James Kearney to run out easy winners and secure their place in the knock-out stages. St. Johns 0-8 Russell Rovers 2-1 A HARD grafting St. John’s hung on tenaciously to better Russell Rovers in a close and tense County Junior B Football Championship tie played at inclement Killavullen on Saturday evening.
Conditions made for a dour affair yet when it came to the crunch, St. John’s held that extra degree of resolve and desire to shade the contest. Russell Rovers enjoyed a perfect start for Ian Smiddy to fire home a goal. The Duhallow side favoured by the elements, responded strongly, helped by the guidance of Denis O’Keeffe, Denis Kelleher,Donal Corkery and Diarmuid Twomey.
That allowed a sequence of points from Shane Kelleher, Joe Hayes, Neil and Donal Corkery. Back came Rovers and a second goal from Alan Cott tied up the game 0-6 to 2-0 at the break. Facing into the wind, St. John’s altered their game plan, adding numbers in defence that frustrated Rovers.
On the break, St Johns answered and points to Kelleher and substitute Liam Dennehy helped garner a win by the narrowest of margins.