Duhallow face CIT students in bid to secure ticket to championship proper

IT’S a quick return for Duhallow in the County SFC and another visit to Pairc Uí Rinn on this Thursday night when facing CIT in Round 2 of the Divisional/Colleges Section.

A clinical display during the opening quarter laid the groundwork for a comprehensive win over Imokilly. On doing so, Duhallow showed no ill effects from a marvellous campaign last season that progressed to a county final though ultimate defeat to St. Finbarrs.

The structure to the championship is very similar to last season, two places up for grabs for divisional and college teams to secure a place to the championship proper later in the summer. An easy win over Seandún followed by a tight encounter with UCC in the divisional/college section earned progress last season before advancing to play St. Nicks, Valley Rovers, Castlehaven and St. Finbarrs.

For Duhallow to stand a chance of repeating the 2018 journey, they first have to jump a formidable hurdle provided by a skilful CIT outfit.

So far so good, at their best in the opening half against Imokilly, last season’s county runners up started with 10 members of the side that began against St. Finbarrs. From the outset, the initiative ran with Duhallow , no problems in defence where the McLoughllin brothers, Eamon O’Callaghan and Lorcan O’Neill stood out. At midfield, Paul Walsh won a massive amount of ball that helped construct a series of dynamic passages of play that yielded a sequel of points before Fintan O’Connor netted.

And with Eoghan McSweeney, Seamus Hickey, Anthony and Donncha O’Connor leading the way, it helped secure a 2-16 to 0-5 advantage at the break.

With Duhallow adding the next three points, the tempo dropped, Imokilly never gave up, their brave efforts earned consolation points on the board. One thing is certain, this Thursday night’s will be competitive, CIT will be hugely boosted by a terrific win over a fancied Carbery side first time out.

And with a host of players drawn from Cork and Kerry, they can parade a formidable line up that will include Cork panelists such as goalkeeper Chris Kelly(Éire Og), Aidan Browne(Newmarket), Killian O’Hanlon(Kilshannig), Damian Gore(Kilmacabea), Dan Ó Duinnín(Cill na Martra) and Ryan Walsh(Kantuk) if fit could face his brother Paul and club colleagues.

Given their result over a well prepared Carbery, CIT will fancy their chances of having a pop off Duhallow. However, Duhallow hold their own incentives, they get a tentative vote in their determination to carry the process to the next stage.