Bandon 2-24

Aghada 1-21

NOEL HORGAN REPORTS

A SWEET victory for Bandon in a county intermediate A hurling championship clash to be savoured.

The Carbery side’s opening Group 1 fixture against Aghada at Church Road on Friday evening promised a lot, bearing in mind both protagonists had bowed out narrowly to eventual champions Aghabullogue in the final and at the semi-final stage respectively in 2025.

The contest certainly lived up to expectations, producing an enthralling battle for supremacy, with the issue remaining in the balance until a Denis O’Mahony goal left Bandon with a bit of breathing space heading into stoppage time.

Ace marksman Michael Cahalane then converted a free to give the south-west men a four-point cushion, which was always likely to be enough to see them through.

Along with the closeness of the scoring throughout, the quality of the hurling left precious little to be desired in what was a pulsating encounter, making it easy to appreciate why both teams are fancied to be there or thereabouts in the race for the title again this year.

Bandon manager Joe Burke was obviously pleased with the outcome, not to mention the performance from his charges in what he expected to be a very tight match.

‘The effort from the lads was super, they hurled well and worked really hard, so you couldn’t ask for any more than that.

‘It’s such a massive relief to win your first game.

‘We knew what was coming from Aghada, they’re a very strong outfit, and I have no doubt they’re going to get back into this championship,’ he remarked.

Bandon's Jack Cullinane crashes the ball to the net. (Photo: George Hatchell)

The contest throbbed with excitement from start to finish.

There were never more than four points between the teams in a first half that saw the lead change hands more than once.

Aided by a goal from corner-forward James O’Hanlon in the tenth minute, Aghada were 1-6 to 0-5 to the good before Jack Cullinane, fed by Charlie Long, found the net for Bandon entering the second quarter.

It was very much a case of tit-for-tat for the rest of the first half when Cullinane and especially Long impressed in the corner-forward berth for Bandon.

The classy Michael Cahalane and the hard-working Conor Calnan both made their presence felt at midfield, while Tim Twohig manned the full-back slot with distinction, as the lengthy puck-outs by Aghada goalkeeper John Walsh regularly landed in around the Bandon goalmouth.

Not that Twohig had things all his own way against Aghada’s skilful full-forward John Looney, who had an able accomplice in James O’Hanlon up front.

Nudging ahead for the first time after Michael Cahalane made it 1-8 to 1-7 in the 20th minute, Bandon didn’t fall behind again until wing-back Mark McCarthy posted his fourth point from play to complete Aghada’s tally before the break.

It was 1-13 apiece at the interval after Michael Cahalane landed a late free for Bandon.

Although favoured with wind advantage for the second half, Bandon fell two points behind, 1-19 to 1-17 at the three-quarter mark before a flurry of scores shared by Michael Cahalane – who bagged four, three from frees – and Jack Cullinane pushed them three up approaching the last five minutes.

It was by no means plain sailing for the winners on the run-in, however, as Aghada battled their way back to equality before Denis O’Mahony rifled home what proved to be the decisive goal.

In keeping with their gutsy efforts over the hour, Aghada never gave up the fight, winning a close-in free blasted over the bar by Mark McCarthy with time almost up.

McCarthy emerged as the Imokilly side’s top scorer from wing-back, while Michael Russell and Jack McDonnell also performed creditably in the central defensive berths for the losers, who lost no caste in defeat.

As well as those already mentioned, Cathal Lynch, Mark Sugrue, Peter Murphy and Sean Carey were others to make noteworthy contributions to Bandon’s exhilarating triumph.

OUR STAR: Michael Cahalane embellished his flawless free-taking with five sublime scores from play, and his total return of 15 points speaks for itself.

Scorers 

Bandon: M Cahalane 0-15 (10f); J Cullinane 1-2; C Long 0-4; D O’Mahony 1-0; M Sugrue 0-2; C Lynch 0-1.

Aghada: M McCarthy 0-6 (1f); J O’Hanlon 1-2; W Leahy 0-5 (f); J Looney 0-3; J Devoy 0-2; S O’Driscoll, N Devoy, C Terry, J McDonnell, F O’Connor, T Hartnett 0-1 each.

Bandon: O Hennessy; P Calnan, T Twohig, C Twomey; C Lynch, P Murphy, C McCarthy; M Cahalane, C Calnan; D O’Mahony, M Sugrue, E McSweeney; C Long, S Carey, J Cullinane.

Subs: D O’Donovan for McCarthy (41), K Hannon for Twomey (41).

Aghada: J Walsh; K O’Shea, J McDonnell, F O’Connell; F O’Connor, M Russell, M McCarthy; W Leahy, R Murphy; N Devoy, J Devoy, H Mulcahy; S O’Driscoll, J Looney, J O’Hanlon.

Subs: C Terry for Mulcahy (ht), T Hartnett for O’Driscoll (57).

Referee: P Lyons (Ballygarvan).