Castlelyons 1-10

Muintir Bháire 0-9

TOM LYONS REPORTS

MUINTIR Bháire were undone by a late Castlelyons’ scoring burst in their opening McCarthy Insurance Group Confined Junior B Football Championship Group 1 clash.

It took a lucky goal in the 60th minute by Castlelyons’ man-of-the-match Dylan Leech to decide the issue in Enniskeane on Saturday.

With the game level, Leech, 40 meters out from goal, tried for a point and watched as his shot dipped wickedly under the crossbar for the winning score. Cees Kouwenberg added a point and Muintir were left wondering how it had all gone wrong for them.

With the slight breeze, the Carbery side dominated the first quarter but failed to convert possession into scores. They were three points in front at the end of the first quarter when they should have been at least double, Castlelyons failing to score.

Allowed off the hook, Castlelyons outscored Muintir by three points to two in the second quarter and Muintir’s half-time lead of two points scarcely reflected their supremacy in the first half.

Muintir Bhaire's Alex Young coming out of defence past Dylan Leetch of Castlelyons. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

We saw a totally different Castlelyons in the second half. Taking a firm grip at midfield, they played keep-football to perfection, and to distraction, after Muintir had stretched their lead to four.

Muintir just couldn’t get their hands on the ball, out-run and totally frustrated by Castlelyons’ possession game, as the winners kicked six unanswered points to lead by two with five minutes remaining. Muintir finally managed to lift the siege to kick two points, all square by the 60th minute.

It looked a certain draw until Leech struck for his winning goal and Castlelyons were delighted to leave West Cork having lowered the colours of a footballing Carbery club.

‘We just didn’t score enough when we had the chances in the first half. Too many wides and turnovers,’ said a disappointed Muintir selector Joe O’Driscoll.

‘We just couldn’t get our hands on the ball in the second half. They played keep-ball to perfection. I thought we would get a result when we drew level at the end but then came that lucky goal. We’re very disappointed as we really expected a big show from the lads and now it will be a big job to lift them for the next game against Clann na nGael.’

It was all Muintir Bháire in the opening stages with Fionn O’Doonan running the show from midfield. They created a number of scoring chances, plus a shot off the post by Calvin Cronin, but a tight defence and some bad wides meant they didn’t score until the tenth minute when Cronin pointed a free. A Seán O’Sullivan point was the only other score in a forgettable first quarter. Jason O’Sullivan stretched the lead to three but Castlelyons were beginning to get a feel for the big ball at this stage and Dylan Leech opened their account in the 19th minute.

The impressive Cees Kouwenberg kicked two points in response to two for Muintir from Cronin (free) and Jack O’Driscoll. It was 0-5 to 0-3 in Muintir’s favour at half time.

Muintir Bhaire's Mikey O'Driscoll is tackled by Castlelyons' Shane Cotter. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

When they kicked two points, per Cronin and Michael Gingell, to start the second half with the breeze, it seemed the footballers from West Cork would indeed triumph. But with Dylan Leech and Olan Lenehan taking complete control at midfield, Castlelyons swung the game round.

Using their speed and fitness and playing perfect keep-ball, Castlelyons went on a scoring spree. A superb two-pointer from wing back Matthew Rosner began the run of points, with Cees Kouwenberg, Dylan Leech, Olan Lenehan and Eoin McLoughlin all getting in on the scoring act.

Two points behind with five minutes remaining, Muintir finally managed to mount an offensive. Two pointed frees from Calvin Cronin had the sides level as the excitement reached a crescendo. Leech became the Castlelyons’ hero with his fortunate winning goal and Muintir’s second-round game against neighbours Clann na nGael on May 9th now becomes a must-win game for them.

OUR STAR: Dylan Leech was a class act at midfield for the winners – a natural playmaker, dominating the second half and kicking 1-2.

Scorers

Castlelyons: Dylan Leech 1-2; Cees Kouwenberg 0-4 (2f); Matthew Rosner 0-2 (2pt); Olan Lenehan, Eoin McLoughlin 0-1 each.

Muintir Bháire: Calvin Cronin 0-5 (2f); Jack O’Driscoll, Michael Gingell, Jason O’Sullivan, Seán O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Castlelyons: Stephen Hickey; Tom O’Neill, Conor McCarthy, Gearóid McCarthy; Shane Flynn, Olan Lenehan, Matthew Rosner; Dylan Leech, Brian Spillane; Cees Kouwenberg, Eoin McLoughlin, Shane Cotter; Jack Cremin, Ronan Ryan, Adam Lardner.

Subs: Jack Kenny for B Spillane (35), Shaun Lenehan for A Lardner (38).

Muintir Bháire: Michael Burke; Oisín Daly, David O’Mahony, Conor Bignell; James Mallon, Alex Young, Mikey O’Driscoll; Fionn O’Donovan, Darragh O’Brien; Calvin Cronin, Jack O’Driscoll, Ryan O’Sullivan; Michael Gingell, Jason O’Sullivan, Seán O’Sullivan.

Subs: Colin Arundel for J O’Sullivan (23), Joe Egan for J Mallon (50).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Kilbrittain).