Battling Douglas survive as Bantry blow late chances

ON a weekend when the Cork hurlers were beating Tipperary in the Munster hurling final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, there were some interesting Evening Echo Cork senior football championship clashes around the county.

The pick of them was at Dunmanway where Bantry and Douglas played out a cracking 0-12 to 1-9 draw.

With time ticking quickly away in a tense, free-flowing clash, Bantry, caught by the force of a second-half Douglas storm, produced one more effort that, on another day, would surely have paid a more handsome dividend. After dominating the first-half with some slick football - Philip Clifford scoring four superb points - to lead 0-8 to 0-4 at the break, Bantry were well tamed by a rejuvenated Douglas in the second-half and trailing by a point deep into a splendid contest thanks to Eoin Cadogan’s 35th minute goal.

But after Damien O’Neill tied up the scores in the 57th minute, all the city side’s super second-half efforts nearly came to nought when first O’Neill and then Mick Moran squandered gilt edged chances to win it for Bantry. Douglas survived, and for their battling second-half effort alone, they deserved another day out.

Scorers: Bantry: P. Clifford 0-4, J. Canty 0-3 (0-1 free), D. O’Neill and D. Barron 0-2 each, D. McGrath 0-1. Douglas: F. O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2 frees), E. Cadogan 1-0, R. Keating 0-2, J. Farrell, A. Moynihan (free), M. Harrington 0-1 each.

INVARIABLY, it’s the forwards who get the credit for such a one-sided result, but Castlehaven’s 2-12 to 1-7 victory over Newcestown in the second game at Dunmanway on Saturday was, in large part, due to the majestic display of Liam Collins at full-back.

The former Cork minor and U21 was never beaten as the Haven sent out a clear message that they will have a big say in the destination of this year’s title. Even allowing for the weakness of the opposition, the former champions played controlled football and their passage to the last eight, where Muskerry await them, was mapped out long before the whistle.

Scorers: Castlehaven: P. Hurley 1-6 (0-5 free); C. Crowley 1-2; I. Cahalane, D. Burns, B. Collins, F. Cahalane 0-1 each. Newcestown: D. Heffernan 1-0; C. Keane (free), H. Curran 0-2 each; T. Ryan (free) J. O’Sullivan, T. Twomey 0-1each.

NOT even the scoring exploits of Micheál Ó Cróinín or the heroic endeavours of Anthony Lynch could save Naomh Aban from defeat at Páirc Uí Rinn as Aghada proved yet again what marvellous competitors they are in the knock-out arena with a slender 0-11 to 0-10 victory.

Ó Croinin kicked nine of his side’s ten points, while Lynch tried repeatedly to galvanise his colleagues into action with some surging runs from defence, but immense as their contributions were, they failed to deny Aghada a well-earned win, secured by a match-winning point from corner forward Stephen O’Keeffe four minutes from time.

Scorers: Aghada: G. Melvin 0-5 (0-4 from frees); S. O’Keeffe 0-2 (0-1 from free); P. O’Neill, E. O’Neill, A. Kelleher and J. O’Connell 0-1 each. Naomh Aban: M. O’Croinin 0-9 (0-6 from frees); C. O’Luasa 0-1.

IN the Evening Echo Cork County IFC, a resurgent Newmarket served up a rousing closing quarter to end brave Cill na Martra’s challenge 2-11 to 1-12 in an absorbing third round clash at Millstreet.

With three goals netted in the closing quarter, the pulse rates for rival supporters rose before Newmarket bagged two late points to snatch a narrow triumph.

Scorers: Newmarket: B O’Leary 1-3, S F O’Connor 0-4 (frees), M Hourigan 1-0, D O’Brien, B Daly (free), M Feehan and D O’Flynn 0-1 each. Cill Na Martra: R Ó hUidhir 0-5 frees, C Ó Suilleabháin 0-4, B Ó Loinsigh 1-0, C Ó Mocháin 0-2, C Ó Laoire 0-1.

A TREMENDOUS Tom Burke goal two minutes from the end saved Carrigaline’s blushes in a dour IFC clash with Glanmire at Church Road which finished 1-5 apiece.

Glanmire looked home and hosed when Pat Ryan kicked a point in the 55th minute that gave them a four-point lead before the late Carrigaline revival.

Scorers: Carrigaline: T Burke 1-0, B O’Keeffe 0-3 (0-1 free), E O’ Sullivan 0-1 (45), and E Murphy 0-1. Glanmire: D Holden 1-1, M Hopkins, B O’Callaghan, M Cussen, and P Ryan 0-1 each.

BALLYMARTLE are in the last eight of the IHC and if they can continue this momentum they will strongly fancy their chances in the final shake up.

Having lived nervously in the drawn game a few weeks back, they held the initiative for the majority of this second round tie against Blackrock. And their reward for a 2-18 to 1-10 win is a bye to the quarter-finals with an appetising tie against Milford in the offing.

Scorers: Ballymartle: B Dwyer 0-7 (0-3 frees), R Dwyer 1-3, P Coughlan 1-0, G Cummins 0-3 (0-2 65m, 0-1 free), D Dwyer, B Corry, C Sheehan, B McCarthy and A McCarthy 0-1 each. Blackrock: E Kelly 0-4 (0-1 65m), F Ryan 1-0, A Ryan 0-3 (0-2 frees, 0-1 65m), M Russell 0-2, G Buckley 0-1.

THERE was a slight hiccup with the addition at Kealkil on Saturday, but on a recount this Cork Co U-21 A FC quarter-final between Bandon and Beara was declared a 1-10 apiece draw. And it was a fair result to a game where a late Ronan McCarthy goal enabled the Carbery champions to live another day after Beara had shaded the early exchanges.

Scorers: Beara; K Ger O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2 frees), V Lehane 1-0, D Lowney 0-3, A O’Sullivan 0-2, G Greene 0-1. Bandon: R Moloney 0-5 (0-4 frees), R McCarthy 1-0, D Aherne 0-2, D Lucey, R Milner, P McCarthy (free) 0-1 each.