O’Sullivan wins battle for Douglas

THE highlight of a curtailed championship programme in Cork was Douglas’ 0-11 to 1-7 Evening Echo Cork Co SFC victory over last year’s beaten semi-finalists Mallow at Watergrasshill.

It was achieved against considerable odds, a peach of a sideline point from Fergal O’Sullivan working the oracle, although it was a magnificent battling second-half performance with 14 players that made it happen.

Hit hard by injuries and losing Frank Tobin during the warm-up, Douglas struggled for long periods of the first half to cope with Mallow’s speedy and clever use of the ball.

Just before the interval corner-back David McSweeney was sent off after a needless clash with Austin Ahern.

But for most of the second half Douglas toiled hard to shatter Mallow, who had looked comfortable enough at the break when leading 0-6 to 0-4.

Scorers: Douglas: F O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘45), A Moynihan 0-3, J Farrell 0-2, R Keating, B Fitzgerald 0-1 each. Mallow: D Lavin 1-0, M O’Brien 0-4 (0-1 free), C O’Riordan 0-2, A Ahern 0-1.

The battle of the divisions between Beara and Carrigdhoun at Castletownkennneigh ended in a disappointing 1-7 apiece stalemate. Points from Brendan Jer O’Sullivan and Donagh Wiseman - who might have had a goal and the winning of the match but was satisfied with the equaliser - earned Beara another day out.

Scorers: Beara: K Blake 1-0 og, BJ O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2 frees), D Wiseman, C Harrington and P Murphy 0-1 each. Carrigdhoun: J Shannon 1-0, B O’Keeffe (frees) and C O’Neill 0-2 each, N Murphy, K O’Keeffe and G Spillane 0-1 each.

In the IFC, Killavullen came within seconds of defeating All-Ireland intermediate champions Carbery Rangers in a thrilling clash at Coachford, before going under 0-10 to 0-9.

The north Cork side led the favourites by five points after 26 minutes, and though Rangers clawed their way back, the losers missed a glorious goal chance in injury time when Billy Norris blazed wide from five yards.

Scorers: Carbery Rangers: J Murphy 0-5 (0-3 frees); M Moore 0-2; M Ronan, J Hayes and D Hayes 0-1 each. Killavullen: D Luddy 0-3 (frees); A O’Driscoll 0-2; B Hayes, J O’Neill, L Dorgan and B O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

The clash between Ballinora and Fermoy was postponed because of ground conditions.