Ross earn bragging rights and league win

Clonakilty 1-5

Carbery Rangers 1-10

CARBERY Rangers earned the local bragging rights following a five-point victory over Clonakilty in the Rochestown Park Hotel Division 1 Football League at Ahamilla.

The home side, minus four Cork inter-county players, proved more than a match for their opponents until Carbery Rangers found another gear and stormed to victory after the break.

Frustrated by some refereeing decisions, Clonakilty failed to match their first-half performance and managed a single score during the entire second period. In contrast, Ross introduced the likes of Rob Hegarty, Chris O’Donovan and Declan Hayes to good effect and were full value for their second consecutive league win.

‘It was a real, hard, physical game and that’s what you’d expect from playing your neighbours but I’d also expect a game like this will bring our younger fellas on,’ Clonakilty manager Colm Aherne said.

‘As for our absent Cork players, you’d like to have them all the time if you could. In fairness to Cork they need to get the most out of them right now. It is what it is. It is not a great set-up when you don’t have them for so long but we are getting used to making do with what we have.’

John Hayes opened the scoring from a free but Clonakilty levelled within two minutes when Sean McEvoy floated over a terrific effort. James Fitzpatrick restored Rosscarbery’s lead courtesy of a long-range point before John Hayes’ second score made it 0-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes. 

Ross Mannix raised another white flag for Clon prior to Carbery Rangers’ best move of the half. James Fitzpatrick and John Hayes combined to release John O’Rourke and the corner forward slotted the ball into the bottom corner. 

Creditably, Clonakilty responded with Sean McEvoy cutting in from the left and his lofted pass was forced over the line by Gearoid Barry. David O’Regan completed his side’s comeback with a fine effort to level matters. The sides went in tied at half time, 1-4 apiece, after Rangers’ Patrick Hurley and Clon’s Jack O’Mahony (free) found their range. 

Patrick Hurley put Ross back in front shortly after the restart only for Martin Scally to equalise. That would prove Clonakilty’s final score however as Rangers got on top in midfield and stifled the home team’s attack.

A scrappy third quarter ended with Rangers two ahead thanks to John O’Rourke and Darragh Hayes points. A Brian Shanahan 45 and two late Chris O’Donovan points put the seal on Carbery Rangers’ victory in a fixture that ended with both sides reduced to 14 players as Martin Scally and James Fitzpatrick were sent to the line.

Scorers

Clonakilty: Gearoid Barry 1-0; Jack O’Mahony (1f), Sean McEvoy, Ross Mannix, David O’Regan, Martin Scally 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: John O’Rourke 1-1; John Hayes (1f), Chris O’Donovan and Patrick Hurley 0-2 each; James Fitzpatrick, Brian Shanahan (45), Darragh Hayes 0-1 each.

Clonakilty: Ryan Doonan; Eoin Deasy, Fionn Coughlan, David Lowney; Maurice Shanley, Timmy Anglin, Peter Walsh; Martin Scally, Denis Murphy; Jack O’Mahony (captain), David O’Regan, Gearoid Barry; Sean McEvoy, Keith O’Leary, Ross Mannix. 

Subs: Cian O’Donoghue for P Walsh (40), Stephen Sheehy for D Murphy (50, inj), Cian O’Donovan for T Anglin (53), Oran Bancroft for D O’Regan (56).

Carbery Rangers: Paul Shanahan; Peter Óg Hill, Tomás O’Rourke, Diarmuid Kerr; Jerry O’Riordan, Brian Shanahan (captain), Cathal Hennessey; Mark Hodnett, James Fitzpatrick; Alan Jennings, Patrick Hurley, John O’Brien; John O’Rourke, Cathal O’Rourke, John Hayes. 

Subs: Darragh Hayes for C O’Rourke (ht), Rob Hegarty for J O’Riordan (ht), Declan Hayes for P Hurley, Chris O’Donovan for M Hodnett (both 47), Brian Hodnett for J O’Brien (53), Stephen O’Donoghue for A Jennings (60, inj).

Referee: John Crowley (O’Donovan Rossa).