Rangers made sweat against improving Clon

Carbery Rangers 0-11

Clonakilty 0-8

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

CARBERY Rangers edged local rivals Clonakilty by three points following an entertaining Cork SFC first round clash at a windswept Castlehaven.

The two local rivals – with new managers patrolling the sideline – served up a much better game than 12 months before at the same venue. 

Carbery Rangers cantered to victory on that occasion but Clonakilty were much improved this time around and unlucky not to draw level during
 the latter stages.

Missing many first-team regulars and with Thomas Clancy and Sean White carrying injuries, Clon lost because they conceded seven points between the second and third quarters. 

‘I thought we started slowly and Clon showed a lot of intensity throughout the first half,’ admitted Carbery Rangers manager Haulie O’Sullivan. 

‘We went in 0-6 to 0-3 ahead but knew we had a huge amount of work to do in the second half. Clon came back into the game during the final quarter and made a fierce battle of it. We are happy with today, just to get over the first hurdle.’ 

O’Sullivan added: ‘Clonakilty showed way more intensity and we have all had days like they did against us last year. If they keep going like they did today then they are going to trouble a lot of teams.’

Brian Shanahan, James Fitzpatrick (free) and John Hayes (free) found their range during an opening 15-minute period in which Carbery Rangers led by a point following Josh Henry and Ross Mannix efforts for Clon.

The Brewery Town’s patient build-up frustrated a Rangers side that struggled to release their inside forward line with David Lowney performing a fine man-marking job on John O’Rourke.

A previously misfiring Carbery finished the first half strongly, stretching their lead to 0-6 to 0-2 thanks to consecutive scores from the boots of Seamus Hayes, John Hayes (free) and John O’Rourke. Thomas Clancy’s converted free reduced the deficit on the stroke of half time before Rangers powered further ahead early in the second half.

The third quarter belonged to the 2016 county champions who rattled off four unanswered points to seemingly put the game beyond the reach of their West Cork rivals. James Fitzpatrick, Seamus Hayes (free), Brian Shanahan and John O’Rourke scores made it 0-10 to 0-3 despite losing John Hayes to injury and Seamus Hayes to a black card.

At this point, Clonakilty were not expected to muster a comeback but Colm Aherne’s influence, since taking over the managerial reigns at the start of the year, began to show as his new-look team chipped away at Carbery Rangers’ lead.

Ross Mannix (free), Johnny Leahy, Liam O’Donovan and Tom Clancy (45) scores made it a three-point game as Clon dominated the closing quarter.

Carbery Rangers appeared unable to repel Clon’s constant attacks and had goalkeeper Paul Shanahan to thank for a marvellous point-blank stop when Jack Cowhig was afforded a sight at goal.

That would have levelled the score with two minutes to go but instead, Chris O’Donovan restored his side’s four-point advantage prior to Clon’s Sean O’Donoghue receiving a black card and Ross Mannix (free) completing the scoring.

Scorers 

Carbery Rangers: Seamus Hayes (1f), James Fitzpatrick (1f), John Hayes (2f), John O’Rourke (1f), Brian Shanahan 0-2 each, Colin O’Donovan 0-1.

Clonakilty: Ross Mannix 0-3 (2f), Tom Clancy 0-2 (1f, 1 45), Josh Henry, Johnny Leahy, Liam O’Donovan 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: Paul Shanahan; Rob Hegarty, Tom O’Rourke, Padraig Hodnett; Jerry O’Riordan, Rob Kiely, Brian Shanahan (captain); James Fitzpatrick, Michael Mennis; Alan Jennings, Declan Hayes, Chris O’Donovan; John O’Rourke, Seamus Hayes, John Hayes.

Subs: Darragh Hayes for J Hayes (33, inj), Mark Hodnett for S Hayes (40, black card), Sean O’Neill for D Hayes (48), Brian Hodnett for R Hegarty (53).

Clonakilty: Mark White; Liam O’Donovan (captain), Eoin Deasy, David Lowney; Maurice Shanley, Tom Clancy, Cian O’Donoghue; Denis Murphy, Sean Nagle; Josh Henry, Jack O’Mahony, Gearoid Barry; Ross Mannix, Timmy Anglin, Sean White.

Subs: Peter Walsh for J Henry (39), Cian O’Donovan for D Murphy (43), Johnny Leahy for S White (44), Jack Cowhig for C O’Donoghue (55), Sean O’Donoghue for J O’Mahony (59).

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).