Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Final Replay Castlemartyr v Inniscarra Match Report

Inniscarra captain Owen McCarthy and players celebrate after defeating Castlemartyr in the Co Op Superstores Premier IHC final replay at Pairc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

Match Report by Therese O’Callaghan of the Echo

 

Inniscarra 3-12 Castlemartyr 1-17 

EXPERIENCED forward Colm Casey was the Inniscarra hero, his 65th-minute goal securing the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier IHC title at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh today.

In a replay that can only be described as truly memorable, it came down to the last puck of the ball. Great credit to Castlemartyr too, who just came up short.

Castlemartyr joint-captain and midfielder Brian Lawton didn’t start due to a leg injury, instead, Michael Cosgrave was brought into the starting 15, however Lawton was brought on at the interval.

There was one change to the Inniscarra lineup with Padraig Holland, introduced in the drawn match, replacing Dan O’Connell in attack. What an inspired alteration this proved to be, Holland finished with 1-3 and the Man of the Match gong.

The game had an explosive start with three great goals in the opening quarter.

It was Inniscarra who were quickly into their stride and had two points on the board from Eoin McCarthy and Colm Casey before Castlemartyr struck for their opening score, a brilliant individual goal from Barry Lawton in the seventh minute.

With both pulling players back into defensive positions, Inniscarra got a goal of their own two minutes later through David O’Keeffe, but it was the sublime pass from Sean O’Donoghue that made it possible.

The Muskerry men remained on top, Padraig Holland finding the net in the 14th minute. The green flag came as a result of a long clearance from Andrew McCarthy, while good work followed from the tenacious Owen McCarthy, 2-2 to 1-1 after quarter of an hour.

Inniscarra went for goal number three but Colm Casey forced a save from Daragh Joyce, and points from Sean O’Donoghue and Eoin McCarthy extended their lead, 2-4 to 1-1.

Mike and Andrew Kelly hit one each for Castlemartyr to narrow the gap, but Inniscarra remained in the ascendancy to outscore their opponents two points to one to lead at the short whistle, 2-6 to 1-5.

Castlemartyr roared back to draw level 10 minutes into the second half. Whilst it was Padraig Holland restarted the scoreboard, the east Cork men slotted five unanswered to achieve parity, 1-10 to 2-7.

Under high pressure, both goalkeepers were immense, as the scoreboard remained deadlocked in the 50th minute, 2-10 to 1-13.

Nobody could have envisaged the finale in store!

Owen McCarthy and Kieran Rice edged Inniscarra back in front but wing-back James Lawton upset their rhythm with a fine point to leave just one in it with five minutes remaining, 2-12 to 1-14.

When Joe Stack was fouled as he burst through on goal, referee Colm Lyons had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Up stepped Barry Lawton and his well-struck shot was saved magnificently by a diving John O’Keeffe, the sliotar going over the bar.

Nonetheless, Castlemartyr were on a roll and supplied the next two points to move ahead by two, the most dangerous of leads.

With at least three minutes of stoppage announced, Inniscarra had to go for goal.

Unbelievably, and with the last throw of the dice, they reclaimed the advantage through Casey.

The rest is history.

* Before the match the two teams lined up alongside the referee to support the ‘Respect the Referee Day’.

Scorers for Inniscarra: P Holland 1-3, O McCarthy 0-5 (0-4 f), C Casey 1-1, D O’Keeffe 1-0, S O’Donoghue, F O’Leary, K Rice 0-1 each.

Castlemartyr: M Kelly 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), Barry Lawton 1-2 (0-1 pen), Joe Stack 0-2, C Joyce, J Lawton, C Sice, J McGann, A Kelly 0-1 each.

INNISCARRA: J O’Keeffe; D Keane, B O’Mahony, J O’Sullivan; A McCarthy, L Ryan, S Sheehan; J Enright, J Harrington; C Casey, S O’Donoghue, F O’Leary; D O’Keeffe, P Holland, O McCarthy (c).

Subs: J O’Callaghan for J O’Sullivan (39), K Rice for D O’Keeffe (42).

CASTLEMARTYR: D Joyce; C Martin, D Moran (J-Capt), B Ó Tuama; J Lawton, C Joyce, Jamie Stack; M Cosgrave, C Sice; J McGann, M Kelly, Barry Lawton; A Kelly, Joe Stack, E Martin.

Subs: Brian Lawton for E Martin (half-time), B McGann for m Cosgrave (half-time), D Leahy for J McGann (40), P Fleming for A Kelly (52).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Nemo Rangers).

2022 Bon Secours Cork Intermediate A Football Championship Final Aghabullogue v Kilshannig

The Bon Secours Cork Intermediate A Football Championship Final takes place this Sunday 23rd October at 2:00pm at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

 

Aghabullogue came through the Group stage with three wins out of three in Group D, with some impressive performances along the way. This impressive performance in the Group stage booked their spot in the Quarter Finals to set up a meeting with Kildorrery. Aghabullogue proved too strong for their opponents at this stage, with David Thompson producing a great performance scoring 2-5 in the game. Boherbue came through a tough meeting over Adrigole in the other Quarter Final with a narrow 1 point win to setup Semi Final match with Aghabullogue. In the Semi Final it was another ruthless performance from Aghabullogue that sealed a comprehensive victory over the current Junior A Champions Boherbue. It was a great team performance from the Muskerry side as a number of individuals made significant contributions throughout. Having been beaten finalists in the 2018 final of the Intermediate A Football Championship, Aghabullogue will be striving the make it to the Premier Intermediate grade in 2023 for the first time in their history.

 

Kilshannig finished Group A with two wins from three in what was a tight group with head to head being the deciding factor on who was going to the Quarter Finals. Kilshannig’s one point victory over Gabriel Rangers in the final match of the group sealed their passage through to the Quarters to meet North Cork rivals Glanworth. The Quarter Final proved to be a close contest, with Kilshannig’s resilience and determination winning out thanks to the help of Brian Guerin and Killian O’Hanlon. Mitchelstown came through a tough Quarter Final win after Extra Time over Dromtarriffe with one point victory to setup a clash with Kilshannig in the Semi Final. It was Kilshannig who avenged last season’s loss at the same stage against the same opponents, with a dominant victory over Mitchelstown. Conor McMahon produced a fine individual display scoring 1-2 in the finish. Having lost the Semi Final in 2021, they have come back stronger and made the final in 2022. Kilshannig will be hoping to make it to the Premier Intermediate grade next year also for the first time in their history.

 

The Referee for the game will be Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers).

 

Tickets for the Bon Secours IAFC Final Aghabullogue v Kilshannig are available here https://www.universe.com/events/aghabullogue-v-kilshannig-iafc-bantry-blues-v-kanturk-pifc-final-tickets-74KTHG

Referees for County Finals Saturday October 22nd & Sunday October 23rd

 

Saturday 22nd October, 4:00pm @ SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Final Replay

Castlemartyr v Inniscarra  – Reiteoir:  Colm Lyons (Nemo Rangers)

Colm Lyons (Nemo Rangers)

 

Sunday 23rd October, 2:00pm @ SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Bon Secours Intermediate A Football Final

Aghabullogue v Kilshannig – Reiteoir:  Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers)

Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers)

 

Sunday 23rd October, 4:00pm @ SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Bon Secours Premier Intermediate Football Final

Bantry Blues v Kanturk – Reiteoir:  Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan)

Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan)

Respect the Referee Day

This coming Saturday October 22nd and Sunday October 23rd we ask that all players, mentors and supporters stand united in full support of our referees with a national Respect the Referee Day. Without referees there would be no games to attend and enjoy. Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy has penned the below article for Respect the Referee Day ahead of the games this weekend.

Co-Op Superstores Premier Junior Hurling Final Ballygiblin v Tracton Match Report

cathail o’mahony of ballygiblin races away Picture: George Hatchell

Match Report by Stephen Barry Irish Examiner

 

Ballygiblin 2-19 Tracton 1-12

Ballygiblin have made it back-to-back county championships as late goals from Seán O’Sullivan and Darragh Flynn ensured they became the inaugural Cork Premier Junior Hurling champions.

It was a victory that looked likely from a long way out after Michael O’Sullivan’s 25th-minute red card for interfering with Mark Keane’s helmet, and confirmed when outscoring Tracton by 2-3 to 0-1 between the 47th and 58th minutes.

Joseph O’Sullivan hit 0-10, split evenly between frees and play, in a man-of-the-match performance as Fionn Herlihy lifted the Jimmy O’Mahony Cup.

A quirk of Cork’s championship restructure means Ballygiblin now advance to defend their Munster Junior title, beginning against Grangemockler/Ballyneale of Tipperary in three weeks’ time.

Tracton joint-captain Michael O’Sullivan had an eventful 20-odd minutes on the field. He got the opening goal after only 25 seconds, spent two minutes off the field with a blood injury sustained in finishing to the net, and then was sent off with the game poised at 0-7 to 1-3.

Tracton dominated those opening minutes but took only one of their five attempts at the posts after the goal – Mark Byrne with the first of two points from play – as Ballygiblin worked their way into the game.

Graham Webb was excellent in a sweeping role for Tracton while Rory Sinclair limited the influence of Cork U20 Flynn (0-1 in the first half) but the North Cork side had a variety of threats. Joseph O’Sullivan was able to find space away from Webb to score three points from play and added another three frees, while Shane Beston (0-2, one assist) and Cathail O’Mahony (0-1, two assists) were rampaging down the wings.

Keane showed his class mirroring Webb’s role for Ballygiblin and he was given more scope to advance after O’Sullivan’s red card also freed up James Mullins.

The teams were level four times in the second quarter but Beston and Joseph O’Sullivan pushed Ballygiblin 0-10 to 1-5 ahead at half-time.

Flynn moved out the field and set up two points, with O’Mahony (0-3 in the third quarter) and Joseph O’Sullivan (0-2) both profiting, but four Tracton frees (three by Walsh, one by David Byrne) kept them hanging in there, 0-15 to 1-9.

Joseph O’Sullivan and Walsh traded a couple of missed frees but Ballygiblin’s scoring spread come to the fore against their tiring opponents with an unanswered 1-3 streak. Joseph O’Sullivan and Flynn hit points before Seán O’Sullivan, brought out the field, found space to run into. And when O’Mahony’s subsequent shot was saved, O’Sullivan forced it – just – over the line on 50 minutes. Joseph O’Sullivan’s point made it 1-18 to 1-9.

Conor McGuinness hit Tracton’s first point from play in 32 minutes but Ballygiblin made it safe; Seán O’Sullivan again running into space and feeding Flynn, who finished at the second attempt.

Scorers for Ballygiblin: J O’Sullivan (0-10, 5 frees); D Flynn (1-3, 0-1 free); C O’Mahony (0-4); S O’Sullivan (1-0); S Beston (0-2).

Scorers for Tracton: R Walsh (0-5 frees); M Byrne (0-4, 2 frees); M O’Sullivan (1-0); D Byrne (0-2 frees); C McGuinness (0-1).

BALLYGIBLIN: C Noonan; L Finn, F Herlihy (capt), J Mullins; B Coffey, M Keane, M Lewis; R Donegan, K Roche; D Flynn, J O’Sullivan, S Beston; C O’Mahony, S O’Sullivan, D Barry.

Subs: D Sheehan for Barry (41), K Duggan for Beston (60), C O’Brien for Finn (60), P Malloy for J O’Sullivan (60+3).

TRACTON: K Lyons; D Good, T McGuinness (j-capt), R Sinclair; K Webb, G Webb, C McGuinness; J Good, D O’Flaherty; D Byrne, M O’Sullivan (j-capt), M Byrne; D Harrington, P O’Riordan, R Walsh.

Subs: D Kidney for O’Sullivan (3-5, blood), C Quinn for O’Riordan (41), D Kidney for M Byrne (45), J Kingston for Walsh (50), M Byrne for O’Flaherty (56), S O’Sullivan for Quinn (59), E Kingston for Harrington (60+2).

Referee: W Wallace (Aghada).