Clonakilty 2-15

St James 0-20

TOM LYONS REPORTS

LOCAL derbies usually bring out the best in teams and goals usually win games. Both held true in Ahamilla on Sunday in the Carbery Group Division 1 hurling league game when Clonakilty edged out neighbours St James in a real thriller.

‘We’re delighted with that win because we haven’t been able to do much hurling yet this season,’ said a delighted Clon manager Séamus O’Brien.

‘We’re in the process of building a new panel, with a new management team. We had 20 players togged out today, with about ten more to come into the panel later on due to injury or minor commitments.

‘We’re off to a good start to the league, two wins from two. It’s a matter now of keeping the momentum going.’

Centre forward Liam Dooley was Ardfield’s top player, accounting for five points, while Matt Murphy, Fergal Murphy and Patrick Murnane are Clon youngsters with a bright future.

The game started at a lively pace. The impressive Aaron Hayes, Liam Dooley and James O’Driscoll raised white flags for St James, with towering full forward Mark White (2) and his brother Brian (free) answering for Clon.

The Saints then took control, with four unanswered points from Conor Dooley, Aaron Hayes and O’Driscoll. Mark White broke the run with a Clon point. It was 0-7 to 0-4 at the end of the first quarter.

It was point for point in the second quarter. Cathal Buchanan and Aaron Hayes (2) for the Saints and Fergal Murphy (2)and Brian White (2) for Clon. Two points behind, Clon struck a blow in the 29th minute when sub Matt Murphy blasted to the Ardfield net, giving his side a point lead. Murphy and Aaron Hayes (free) swapped points and it was Clon in front at half time, 1-9 to 0-11.

St James registered five points in the third quarter from Liam Dooley (3), Joe O’Sullivan and James O’Driscoll. Clon replied with three white flags from Brian White (2) and wing back Cillian White.

The home side started the last quarter with a levelling point from David O’Sullivan. O’Driscoll, Dooley (free) and centre back James O’Sullivan pointed for the Saints, and sub Patrick Murnane and Brian White (free) for Clon, as the visitors led by a point with the finish line in sight.

But Fionn McCarthy’s ground strike for a Clon goal in the 56th minute, following great work by Murnane, put the home side ahead. It was all hands to the deck in the Clon defence as the Saints tried to rescue the game. An Aaron Hayes point had the gap down to the minimum but time ran out for the gallant Ardfield side.

Scorers

Clonakilty: Brian White 0-6 (5f); Matt Murphy, Fionn McCarthy 1-0 each; Fergal Murphy, Mark White 0-3 each; David O’Sullivan, Cillian White, Patrick Murnane 0-1 each.

St James: Aaron Hayes 0-6 (2f); Liam Dooley 0-5 (2f); James O’Driscoll 0-4; James O’Sullivan, Conor Dooley, Joe O’Sullivan, Cathal Buchanan 0-1 each.

Clonakilty: Shane Collins; Kieran Calnan, Mike Noonan, Shane Deasy; James Campbell, Ciarán Crowley, Cillian White; Jack O’Mahony, David O’Sullivan; Cian O’Donovan, Brian White, Isa Khan; Fergal Murphy, Mark White, Fionn McCarthy.

Subs: Matt Murphy for C Calnan (15), Patrick Murnane for I Khan (ht), Gary Finn for J Campbell (40), Oisín Hassett for F McCarthy (58).

St James: Diarmuid O’Donovan; Ciarán Campbell, Mícheál McCarthy (D), Joseph O’Sullivan; Cristeoir Hayes, James O’Sullivan, Conor Dooley; Conor Hayes, Cathal Hennessy; Cathal Buchanan, Liam Dooley, James O’Driscoll; Aaron Hayes, Mark Evans, Joe O’Sullivan.

Subs: Andrew Whelton for M Evans (42), Conor Whelton for C Campbell (48), David Hayes for Joseph O’Sullivan (52), Aaron O’Flynn for Joe O’Sullivan (58), Mícheál McCarthy (B), for C Buchanan (59).

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Carbery Rangers).