Carbery’s historic win ends decades of frustration

Carbery Rangers 0-10 Cill na Martra 0-5

There were joyous scenes at the final whistle where an attendance of 5,293 stood to applaud a famous victory for the Rosscarbery and Ardagh district. Not only were they clapping for the victors, but more poignantly for the tiny Muskerry Gaeltacht of Cill na Martra who gave their all with endeavour and honesty.

But on this day of days for Carbery Rangers, they couldn’t but admit that they were beaten by a far slicker and stronger side.

A special day, too, for the Carbery Division as this caps off the fourth major championship title heading west this year after Castlehaven, Ilen Rovers and Muintir Bháire all have come to the city and taken home the title.

Scorers for Carbery Rangers: J. Hayes 0-5; D. Hayes 0-2; M. O’Sullivan, K. McMahon and J. Murphy 0-1 each.

Cill na Martra: R. Hoare 0-2 (frees); K. O’Sullivan, B. Lynch and M. O’Connor 0-1 each.

IN the preceding U21 Premier MHC final there were some magic moments from Erin’s Own. Playing with style and skill, they retained their title, setting their stall early to see off Valley Rovers 3-11 to 0-12.

Three first-half goals, wonderful hurling from the likes of Shane Murphy, Cian and Mark O’Connor as well as tremendous vision up front from the astute Fergus Murphy left Valley Rovers for dead.

Erin’s Own were simply out on their own, and for keeper cum goal poacher Eoin Murphy, it was a day to remember, too, making way between the posts for Shay Bowen and giving a two-goal blast at the other end.

Scorers for Erin’s Own: E. Murphy 2-0, M. O’Connor 0-4 (0-3 frees), D. O’Flynn 1-0, P. Fitzgerald, F. Murphy 0-2 each, C. O’Leary, C. Coakley, K. Murphy (free) 0-1 each.

Valley Rovers; B. Canty 0-5 (frees), K. Canty 0-4, M. O’Brien (free), R. Butler, E. O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

IN the Kelleher Shield semi-finals there were shocks for county champions Castlehaven and Cork kingpins Nemo Rangers, who were beaten by Na Piarsaigh and Dohenys, respectively.

The Haven’s hopes of completing a league and championship double were dashed at Bandon yesterday when Na Piarsiagh won 2-10 to 2-7 in a semi-final that sprang to life after the interval.

Scorers: Na Piarsiagh: J Gardiner 1-4 (0-4 frees), C O’Sullivan 1-3 (1-0 penalty, 0-3 frees), C O’Mahony, C Fitzgerald, S O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Castlehaven: C Crowley 2-4 (1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), B Collins, P Hurley, F Cahalane 0-1 each.

GOOD stuff from Dohenys in difficult conditions at Kilmichael on Saturday. Showing a better appetite for hard work and a steely resolve they outplayed Nemo Rangers for long periods to win 1-10 to 0-9.

A purple patch just before the interval, when they kicked four unanswered points, and three more just after the restart, proved too much for Nemo, who were unable to master the soft underfoot conditions, and while the Capwell men did have plenty of possession they had no answer to Dohenys' determination.

Scorers for Dohenys: K. Murray 1-1, P. Deane, S. Collins (0-1 free) 0-3 each, S. Farr 0-2, D. Healy 0-1.

Nemo Rangers: A. Morgan 0-4, J. Masters (0-1 free) 0-2, M. Kearney (free), M. Daly, L. O'Sullivan (free) 0-1 each.