Clonakilty 0-6

Castlehaven 0-6

TOM LYONS REPORTS

CLONAKILTY didn’t score in the second half and Castlehaven didn’t trouble the scoreboard in the final 20 minutes, but those stats don’t tell the full story of a derby played out in a storm of wind and rain that made scoring almost impossible.

In the end, it was honours even in this McCarthy Insurance Division 1 football league battle in Ahamilla on Saturday afternoon.

While Castlehaven looked the most likely winners for much of the game, Clon will be happy at the manner in which they held on during the closing 20 minutes for the draw.

With the rain belting down and the gale driving up the pitch, it was the visitors who got off to the better start against the elements with Mark Collins and Seán Browne pointing.

Browne, Michael Hurley and Cathal Maguire were causing early problems for the Clon defence, with the Haven’s possession football frustrating the home team.

Clonakilty's Chris Kenneally takes on Castlehaven's Sean Browne. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Amazingly, despite being backed by the wind, Clon rarely troubled the alert Haven defence – it wasn’t until the 14th minute that Seán McEvoy opened their account. Darragh Gough, very prominent for Clon in the second quarter, kicked a great two-pointer a minute later. It was the home side in front by 0-3 to 0-2 at the end of a testing first quarter.

With Ben Ridgeway dominating midfield, and Thomas Clancy and Seán White controlling the half-back line, Clon finally got a grip, but scores were hard to come by with Joseph O’Regan, Donal O’Callaghan, Gearóid O’Driscoll and William O’Donovan working hard in the Haven defence.

Darragh Gough pointed a free in the 20th minute, while Haven failed to add to their opening brace of points for the rest of the half.

Clon looked in serious trouble, leading by only two points, 0-4 to 0-2, as the half-time whistle approached, but they were thrown a lifeline when Clancy kicked a two-pointer from out on the wing. Clon led 0-6 to 0-2 at the break.

Clonakilty's Ben Ridgeway races away from Castlehaven's Jamie Walsh. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Within two minutes of the restart, a fine two-pointer from Cathal Maguire for Castlehaven halved the lead. A point from Conor Nolan cut the lead to the minimum and the result looked a foregone conclusion at that early stage of the second half.

However, it was in adversity we saw the best of the Clon team. Playing the possession game to perfection, they slowed the Haven momentum, with Thomas Clancy dictating matters from centre back. However, they were finding it almost impossible to penetrate the solid Haven defence and never looked like adding to their half-time score.

In the 42nd minute, following some poor wides, the Haven drew level with a point from the impressive Seán Browne but with the rain finally relenting, Clon dug deep to hold on.

Dan Darragh, Dan Peet and David Lowney did trojan work in the full back line to protect their goal under fierce pressure and the elements did the rest as we watched a Mark Collins’ attempt for a two-pointer from a free being swept 20 metres wide.

The closing 20 minutes of the game were scoreless and there was general agreement that a draw was a fair result on a day that tested the endurance and stamina of both teams.

OUR STAR: Every player who braved the conditions was a star but Thomas Clancy at the centre of the Clon defence was the stand-out figure, especially in the second half.

Scorers

Clonakilty: Darragh Gough 0-3 (2p, 1f); Thomas Clancy 0-2 (2p); Seán McEvoy.

Castlehaven: Seán Browne, Cathal Maguire (2p) 0-2 each; Conor Nolan, Mark Collins 0-1 each.

Clonakilty: Mark White; Dan Darragh, Dan Peet, David Lowney; Jack O’Mahony, Thomas Clancy, Seán White; Ben Ridgeway, Brian White; Des Kenneally, Dara Ó Sé, Chris Kenneally; Darragh Gough, Conor Daly, Seán McEvoy.

Subs: Cian Ryan for D Kenneally (41), David O’Sullivan for S White (48), Matt Murphy for D Gough (58).

Castlehaven: Darragh Cahalane; Johnny O’Regan, Joseph Bohane, Donal O’Callaghan; Seán Walsh, Gearóid O’Driscoll, William O’Donovan; Jamie Walsh, Jack O’Neill; Seán Browne, Cathal Maguire, Conor Nolan; Kevin O’Donovan, Mark Collins, Michael Hurley.

Subs: Andrew Whelton for W O’Donovan (50), Donncha O’Donovan for S Browne (58).

Referee: Alan Long (Argideen Rangers).