AGHABULLOGUE 1-21

BANDON 0-23

NOEL HORGAN REPORTS

BITTER disappointment for Bandon as their bid for glory in the Co-op Superstores County Intermediate A Hurling Championship was foiled by Aghabullogue at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

In an exhilarating final containing quality play and scores in abundance, the teams looked very evenly matched, particularly in the second half when the gap between them was never more than three points.

It culminated in a nail-biting and tension-packed conclusion, with the issue remaining in doubt until Aghabullogue’s ace marksman Matthew Bradley landed the decisive score from a free in stoppage time.

To say the result could have gone either way would be an understatement, and Bandon coach James Nyhan felt a few marginal calls went against the Carbery side in the closing stages, and had a crucial bearing on the outcome.

‘I’d be very aggrieved with some of the referee’s decisions. I mean he had his hand up to apply the advantage rule, and then he didn’t give us the free, while it seemed to work the other way for Aghabullogue,’ Nyhan said.

‘He had his hand up to allow play to continue for the last Aghabullogue attack, and after it did for the time allotted, he still gave them the free.

‘That’s not sour grapes on our part. Fair play to Aghabullogue, they won the game on merit, but I thought a few questionable decisions went against us in the first half as well.’

‘I feel very sorry for our lads, they’ve been outstanding all year, they did themselves proud again today, but we’ll just have to take this defeat on the chin and go again next season,’ said Nyhan.

Bandon's Kevin Hannon gets in his strike. (Photo: George Hatchell)

Bandon made the better start, with Kevin Hannon and Charlie Long on target and Michael Cahalane converting two frees as they moved 0-4 to 0-1 up inside nine minutes.

Seconds later, however, Bandon were stung by an Aghabullogue goal from James Lane, following an attack initiated by Matthew Bradley.

Bradley posted a superb point to nudge the Muskerry side ahead for the first time in the 13th minute, and they enjoyed their best spell entering the second quarter. With Bradley chipping in with four points, Luke Casey and John Corkery bagging a brace apiece, they outscored Bandon by eight to one to go 1-10 to 0-7 up.

A Michael Cahalane point from a free in the 28th minute was the signal for Bandon to finish the first half strongly, with scores from play by Darren Crowley, impressive centre-back Peter Murphy, and two from Cahalane allowing them to go in at half-time 1-11 to 0-12 in arrears.

Hugely influential for Bandon in the first half, Cahalane drew first blood on the resumption, taking a pass from his midfield partner Ciarán McCarthy to score. Another Cahalane point from play earned Bandon parity, 0-16 to 1-13, in the 38th minute, and it was largely a case of tit-for-tat as an absorbing battle for supremacy unfolded in the last 20 minutes.

Bandon finally regained the lead, 0-19 to 1-15, after Kevin Hannon pointed in the 47th minute, and they were in front again after Eolann McSweeney negated an Aghabullogue score from substitute Daniel Dineen six minutes later.

Bandon fans Caoimhe Long, Muireann Lynch, Caoimhe O'Leary, and Ita and Lisa O'Connor cheering on their team. (Photo: George Hatchell)

Dineen certainly made his presence felt after being sprung from the bench nearing the three-quarter mark, his pacey runs adding a bit more impetus to an Aghbullogue forward division in which Matthew Bradley was unquestionably the leading light.

Cill na Martra footballer Dineen had the satisfaction of nudging the winners ahead, 1-19 to 0-21, with under two minutes of regulation time remaining.

After wing-back Cathal Lynch replied for Bandon, Dineen won a free which enabled Bradley to put the minimum between the sides again.

The prospect of extra-time loomed large after Bandon substitute Sean Carey equalised, but Bradley broke the deadlock with a last-gasp point from a free won by the game’s only goal-scorer James Lane.

It was cruel luck on Bandon, who, along with Michael Cahalane, had most impressive displays from Peter Murphy and Cathal Lynch in defence, Ciarán McCarthy at midfield, and Charlie Long and Eolann McSweeney up front.

Scorers

Aghabullogue: M Bradley 0-11 (7f); J Lane 1-1; L Casey 0-3; J Corkery, D Dineen 0-2 each; S Furey, O O’Connell 0-1 each.

Bandon: M Cahalane 0-11 (6f, 1 65); K Hannon, C Long, E McSweeney 0-2 each; D Crowley, P Murphy, J Cullinane, C McCarthy, C Lynch, S Carey 0-1 each.

Aghabullogue: I Barry-Murphy; T Long, C Timmons, TJ Buckley; P O’Sullivan, P Ring, C Gillespie; S Feury, O O’Connell; J Corkery, J Foley, S Tarrant; L Casey, M Bradley, J Lane.

Subs: M Dennehy for Feury (40), C Feury for O’Connell (42), D Dineen for Foley (44).

Bandon: P Barry; P Calnan, T Twohig, C Twomey; C Lynch, P Murphy, D O’Donovan; C McCarthy, M Cahalane; D Crowley, C Calnan, C Long; K Hannon, E McSweeney, J Cullinane.

Subs: M Sugrue for C Calnan (40), N McCarthy for P Calnan (43), J Mulcahy for O’Donovan (49), S Carey for Crowley (54), R Long for Long (62).

Referee: W Wallis (Aghada).