Cork County Minor Board
09 March, 2009
Cork County Minor Board
Match Reports
Ulster Bank Co Premier 1 Minor Football League
Na Piarsaigh made a promising start to their league campaign when on home territory on Monday night last they had a fine 2-13 to 2-05 victory over Carrigaline in the Ulster Bank Co Premier 1 Minor Football League – Group1.
The visitors opened in style when after a few neat points from David Drake they added to their advantage with a stunning goal from Dylan O’Keeffe in the 10th minute. Spurred into action the home side gradually got their act together and with the aid of a goal from Shane Duggan and some well taken points from Duggan, Kieran Waters and Alan Keating they went in at the break leading 1-05 to 1-04. On the resumption Na Piarsaigh through the efforts of Eoin Keohane, Eoin Connolly, Tadhg Lawton and Kelvin Gleeson maintained their momentum and although Carrigaline who had battling performance from Sean Conlon, John Sheppard and Wayne Bruton tried their utmost to stem the tide there was to be no stopping the home side. Some neat points from Dean McMahon, Pa O’Rourke, Christopher Joyce, Danny Leahy, Keith Buckley and Shane Duggan strengthened their position and with a goal at the three-quarter stage from Kieran Waters they cemented their victory. In fairness to their opponents they never gave up and were rewarded with a late goal from Cian Barry but it was the case of too little too late leaving Na Piarsaigh to run out comfortable winners.
On Sunday morning Na Piarsaigh were again in action in Kilbarry where their opponents were St Michaels. Playing with the aid of the elements in the opening half Na Piarsaigh had the better of the play and by the 20th minute led 0-05 to 0-01 but a late surge from St Michaels yielded points from Kevin O’Regan and James Heylin and saw them go in at the break trailing 0-03 to 0-05. In the second half St Michaels upped the tempo with Mark Ryan, Andrew Hayes, Donal Cremin and James Heylin leading by example. Although Na Piarsaigh held their shape with some solid displays from Ryan Doyle in goal, Adrian Field, Dean McMahon, Adam Dennehy and Christopher Joyce this was not to be their day as St Michaels with goals from Cremin, Shane Keane and Jack Daly propelling them to a 3-03 to 0-05 victory.
In Group 2 of the same league Mallow opened their campaign with a 0-11 to 1-05 home victory over Bishopstown on Sunday last. Despite the inclement conditions both sides served up a creditable performance. The visitors had the advantage of the elements in the opening half and although Mallow opened with a fluty of points from Odhran O’Connell and Colin Stanton they got back into contention with a well-worked goal from Conor Dorman and with points from Brian Coffey and Rory Collins they went in at the interval leading 1-03 to 0-04. The home side increased their efforts in the second half with Conor Hannon, Mattie Taylor, Bill Myers, Eoin Murphy, Odhran O’Connell, Cian Murphy and James O’Connor coming more into view. They sat about their task with determination and quickly raced into a three points advantage thanks to points from O’Connell, Murphy and O’Connor. To their credit Bishopstown who were ably served by Shane Dunne, Noel Murphy, Brian Murray and Rory Collins were up for the challenge and reduced the deficit with a brace of points from Cian Dunne but Mallow were not to be deterred and with further points from O’Connell, O’Connor and Cormac Murphy they finished the stronger to run out deserving winners.
In Group 3 there were impressive victories for St Finbarrs and Ballincollig over Clann na nGael and Carrigtwohill respectively.
St Finbarrs travelled to Drimoleague on Saturday last and came away with a 1-16 to 0-04 victory. The winners made most of the wind advantage in the opening half when aided by a goal from Cian Madden and some brilliant points from Jamie Burns, Joe Fitzpatrick, Ian Lordan and Robert Browner they went at the break leading 1-10 to 0-02 with Jamie Walsh and Shane Connolly accounting for the home side’s scores. In the second half Clann na nGael tried their utmost to get back into contention with Brian Kingston in goal Derek Crowley and Jamie Walsh setting a high standard. However they found scores hard to come by and their only return were a brace of points from Walsh and Shane Connolly. In the meantime St Finbarrs who had impressive displays from Pa Wiley, Jamie Burns, Cian Madden, Sean Keane, Gearoid Neff, David O’Brien, Ian Lordan and Joe Fitzpatrick continues to drive forward and with further points from Eoin Kenefick, James Goggin, Ian Power and Cian Madden they secured their second victory of the campaign.
Carrigtwohill made the trip to Ballincollig on Saturday last to take on the home side but unfortunately for them they came away empty handed as the home side making their initial appearance for the season proved too strong for their opponents. In what was an entertaining first half the home side with the aid of goals from Damian Roche and Michael O’Sullivan went in at the break leading 2-05 to 0-06. In the second half Ballincollig spurred on by the displays of Cian McCarthy, Darran Murphy, Dan Coveney and Timmy O’Leary continued to take the game to their opponents and with their third goal coming from the boot of Brian O’Connor and points from Darran Browne, Brian Phelan, Damian Roche and Brian O’Connor they ran out worthy winners despite the best attempts of Colm Cronin, Jason Leahy, Cian Buckley and Kyle O’Shea for the visitors.
Ulster Bank Co Premier 2 Minor Football League
In Group 1 of the Ulster Bank Co Premier 2 Minor Football League Eire Og travelled to Rostellan on Thursday night last and came away with the points at the expense of the local side. In what was an entertaining encounter the home side started the brighter and with some fine points from Ronan Kennedy and Michael Russell they took the lead. Eire Og through the exploits of Ciaran Hutchinson, Kevin Hallissey, Craig O’Driscoll, David Sheehan, Barry McDonagh and Fiachra Landers gradually began to come more into the game and with some well-taken points from Hallissey, John Barry and Fintan Brennan they took over the ascendancy. Aghada were then awarded a penalty which was taken by Josh O’Shea and although his initial shot was expertly saved he held his nerve to crash the rebound to the net to bring his back into contention but with Hallissey in superb scoring form Eire Og went in at the break leading 0-10 to 1-05. In the second half both sides continued to serve up some fine football with scores exchanging hands at regular intervals but in the end a goal from Hallissey put some daylight between the sides and although the home side who were best served by Michael Russell, Josh O’Shea, Andrew O’Donoghue and Chris Cashman in goal kept up their challenge to the end it was the visitors who came out on top on a final scoreline of 1-12 to 1-08.
Mayfield made two wins out of two outings when on Sunday morning last they saw off the challenge of Fr O’Neills 3-08 to 0-06 in Mayfield. Playing with wind advantage in the opening half the home side made most of their chances and with a goal from Darran White and some fine points from the same player, Shane O’Donovan, Nicky Kelly and David Malone they went in at the break leading 1-07 to 0-01 with Fr O’Neills point coming from Gavin Hennessy. The visitors came more into the game on the resumption with Irwin Lane, John Barry, Timmy Motherway, Gavin Foley, William Joyce and Noel O’Driscoll showing great battling qualities. However Mayfield were well aware of the danger and William Holland in superb form at fullback ably assisted by Gary Lehane, Ian Monaher, Shane O’Donovan and Darran White always in command they strengthened their position with goals from O’Donovan and Rory O’Sullivan to secure a solid victory.
In Group 2 it was a profitable week for Millstreet. On Monday night they faced Bantry Blues in Millstreet and with a late point they secured a share of the spoils after an entertaining contest. In what was a close encounter throughout the sides went in at the break on level terms 0-07 to 1-04 with the home side’s points coming from Michael Murphy, Michael Vaughan, and Darran Sheehan while Timmy O’Brien with a goal and points from David Power, Eoin O’Keeffe and Rory Deane accounted for the visitors tally. The second continued on a similar vein with both sides having their periods of dominance. Bantry who had fine displays from Darragh O’Sullivan, Rory Deane, Timmy O’Brien and David Casey had their second goal from Deane and with some well executed points from David Power, Eoin O’Keeffe, Deane and Casey they led by two points with time ticking away but Millstreet were not to be outdone and with Michael Murphy, Michael Vaughan, David McCaul, Darran Sheehan and John Buckley refusing to yield they clawed back the deficit for a deserved draw 0-14 to 2-08.
On Saturday Millstreet to Midleton and this time they came away with full points at the expense of the local side on a scoreline of 4-04 to 3-04. The visitors who had five star performances from David McCaul, Michael Vaughan, Darran Sheehan, Jamie Kelleher and Michael Murphy had the better of the exchanges in the opening half and went in at the break leading 1-02 to 0-00 with their goal coming from Michael Murphy and points from Vaughan and Murphy. In the second half Millstreet increased their advantage with an early goal from Michael Murphy and with Sheehan and Kelleher also adding majors it looked as if they were well on their way but Midleton rose from their slumber and through the efforts of Coran Swayne in goal, Phillip O’Neill, Finbarr O’Mahony, Patrick O’Mahony, Tommy Wallace, Paul Haughney, Conor Lehane and Stephen Moore came more into the game in the last quarter. A goal from Eoin Murray and one by Moore from the penalty spot sat gave them the confidence they needed and although time was not on their side they conjured up a third from Haughney to leave only three points dividing the sides with time almost up. Millstreet were now on edge and in the final phase of the game Haughney was unlucky to see his goal-bound shot come off the upright leaving the visitors happy to hold out for a narrow victory.
In the final game in this group Kinsale had a comfortable 3-08 to 0-06 home victory over Glanmire on Sunday last. Played in dreadful conditions the home with strong displays from Niall McCarthy, Tyrone Kellett and Conor Stallard led at the break 0-03 to 0-00 but in the second half they upped a gear and with the aid of goals from Gearoid Finn, Ben Fusco and Joey Beecher and some fine points from Alan Gould and Jack Tyner they ran out easy winners despite the best attempts of Conor English, David Murphy Tiernan Hourihane, Joe Condon and Fintan Burke who tried their utmost for the visitors.