Finely tuned St Brogan’s outpace Cahir
At Fermoy yesterday they pulled out all the stops in the second half to run out comprehensive winners, but for the most of the first half this highly competitive contest was played at a frantic pace by two sides keen to make it to the knock-out stages.
The Cahir side will be hugely disappointed at the final outcome. Backed by the strong wind in the first half, they were more than a match for the West Cork side, and Anthony Burke’s goal in the 17th minute put them in front for the first time.
The tenacity of Declan Walsh, Pat Murnane and the tricky Alan Sweeney in attack stretched the Brogan’s defence regularly, but poor finishing cost them dearly.
Given the strength of the wind, Cahir needed to be at least six points in front at the break, but it was a finely tuned Brogan’s side who went in with a five-point advantage.
The teams were level three times in that opening moiety before Brogan’s took a firm grip to lead 1-8 to 1-3 at half-time. The margin might have been greater but for a couple of superb saves by Cahir keeper Niall Hickey.
It was all one-way traffic in the second half as Brogan’s tightened the screw with a second goal by Tadgh Ryan and a succession of excellent points to lead 2-11 to 1-3 by the end of the third quarter.
The last quarter was played out almost entirely in the Cahir half of the field as a highly skilled Brogan’s side tacked on four further points while holding their opponents scoreless.
Scorers: St Brogan’s: C. Daly 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 45); C. Keane, T. Ryan 1-0; M. Crowley 0-2; J. Duggan, D. Cronin, D. Collins, N. Twomey, J. Kelleher, B. Dwyer 0-1 each. Cahir: B. McCormack 0-3 (frees); A. Burke 1-0.
ST BROGAN’S: B. Canty; E. O’Flynn, T. Crowley, F. Keane; A. Nyhan, E. Creedon, C. O’Leary; D. Collins, S. Cronin; J. Duggan, C. Daly, J. Kelleher; T. Ryan, C. Keane, M. Crowley. Subs. S. Keohane for F. Keane; N. Twomey for Kelleher; B. Dwyer for Ryan; D. Kelleher for C. Keane.
CAHIR: N. Hickey; B. Magill, D. Walsh, M. O’Sullivan; E. Wade, P. Marnane, P. Ryan; L. O’Gorman, B. McCormack; E. Flannery, BJ Ryan, K. Maguire; P. Lambert, A. Burke, A. Sweeney.
Referee: P. O’Brien (Fermoy).
