Barr’s get the better of Killeagh

ST. FINBARR’S edged out Killeagh, 1-17 to 2-13, in a nailbiting Evening Echo Cork County SHC first round tie at Midleton on Saturday.

A point a minute into injury- time from full-forward Kevin Murray swung the game the Barr’s way but Killeagh did not deserve such a fate in a game punctuated by some wonderful scores.

The East Cork side had chances to level it, particularly two minutes from the end when Joe Deane stepped up to take a 30-metre free just left of the posts. However, the Cork ace, who had previously hit over five points from frees and two more from play, was wide of the mark.

The Barr’s led by 1-11 to 1-4 at the interval.

Scorers for St. Finbarr’s: K. Murray 1-5 (0-2 from frees); D. O’Regan 0-3; M. Ryan 0-3; A. Fitzpatrick 0-2; R. Curran 0-2 (0-1 from free); A. Cronin and B. O’Driscoll (free) 0-1 each.

Killeagh: B. Barry 1-3; C. Crowley 1-1; J. Deane 0-7 (0-5 from frees); M. Landers 0-2 (0-1 free).

IN the only Evening Echo county SFC second round game, five magnificent points from play by Cork senior Brendan Jer O’Sullivan helped Beara beat Duhallow 0-14 to 1-6 at Inchigeela.

The county man was in sparkling form at full-forward and one of those points should have been a goal when he had only the goalkeeper to beat but blazed over the crossbar from five metres.

While the Adrigole man had a huge influence on the game, the contributions of Barry Goggin, Enda Wiseman, Padraig O’Sullivan, Andrew O’Sullivan, Ciaran O’Sullivan and Alan O’Regan were also immense to the Beara cause.

Scorers: Beara: BJ O’Sullivan 0-5; C. O’Sullivan 0-3 (0-1 free); D. Lowney 0-2; P. Murphy,. A. O’Sullivan, A. O’Regan, B. Goggin 0-1 each.

Duhallow: D. O’Connor 1-5 (0-5 frees); D. McCabe 0-1.

THERE were five games in the Premier IHC. Billed as an opportunity for Ballinhassig to set a marker for an all-out assault on this year’s crown, Blarney came very close to causing an upset in the first round at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday, the game finishing 1-7 apiece.

The underdogs responded stubbornly to being written off even before a ball was pucked in this year’s championship, and, after dominating for the last quarter, spurned three match-wining scoring openings. It took the cool head of James Hughes to fire over a 65 two minutes from time to bring this game to a replay.

Scorers: Ballinhassig: D O’Callaghan 1-0; J Mullaney and F O’Leary (frees) 0-3 each; J O’Sullivan 0-1.

Blarney: D McCarthy 1-1; J Hurley 0-3 (frees); R McNamara, C Sheehan and J Hughes (65) 0-1 each.

A goal by midfielder Mark Buckley, two minutes from the end of extra-time earned Mallow a 1-15 to 0-16 victory over Aghabullogue after a tense first round replay at Banteer yesterday.

After the sides were level on no fewer than nine occasions Buckley raced on to a magnificent sideline cut by Pa Dineen to turn the tide in his side’s favour.

It was 0-10 apiece at full-time.

Scorers: Mallow: M. Buckley 1-0; P. Dineen 0-7 (0-7 from frees); F. McCormack 0-3 (0-1 from free; 0-1 from 65); R. Galvin 0-2; J. Hayes, R. O’Connell and D. Kerrisk 0-1 each.

Aghabullogue: K. Finnegan 0-6 (0-5 from frees); T. Buckley 0-4 (0-2 from frees; 0-2 from 65s); E. Twomey 0-2; D. O’Leary, D. Kiely, J. Foley and P. Finnegan 0-1 each.

The Youghal-Watergrasshil contest ended in a welter of excitement at Dungourney yesterday (2-9 to 0-15) with chances for both sides to steal into the next round. In the end a draw gave the neutral a chance to see another cracking game .

In the first half Watergrasshill dominated possession and most positions with a regal authority, putting up quality point after quality point as they ran the Youghal defence ragged.

When they deservedly led 0-9 to 0-3 approaching half-time, the seasiders looked doomed. But they came storming back, aided by a clever Brendan Coleman goal. From then on the match became, at last, a battle of equals.

Scorers: Youghal: B. Coleman and E. Coleman (0-1 free) 1-1 each, D. Ring 0-3 (0-1 ‘65), A. Murphy, Brendan Ring, J.P. Joyce M. O’ Laochdha 0-1 each.

Wategrasshill: P. O’ Regan 0-4 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65), P. Cahill 0-3, S. O’ Leary (0-1 sideline, 0-1 free) and J. Halbert (0-1 free) 0-2 each, S. O’ Callaghan, R. Cahill (free), W. O’ Leary, E. O’ Reilly 0-1 each

Not for the first time, evergreen Martin Buckley came off the bench as Dromina turned the tide with a beautifully executed goal, which set them on course for a 1-16 to 2-7 victory over Cobh at Ballyhooley yesterday.

If ever there was the proverbial game of two halves then this was it ­ the first belonged to Cobh and the second to Dromina.

However, Buckley’s introduction with the wind at their backs enabled Dromina to storm through.

Scorers for Dromina: M. Buckley 1-1, A. O’Shaughnessy (0-1 free), G. Healy and K. Hayes 0-3 each, P. Gould, L. Hayes (frees) 0-2 and M. Finn (0-1 free) each.

Cobh: L. Greaney 1-3 (frees), O. Wilson 1-1, B. Ahern and S. Ryan 0-1 each.

In a bruising battle, Ballyhea qualified for round three at Ballyanley on Saturday with a 0-10 to 1-6 victory over Newcestown.

This was a repeat of last year’s first round clash and referee John Kearney was certainly kept busy, dishing out nine yellow cards.

Ballyhea only trailed 0-3 to 0-4 at the break despite playing against the wind.

Scorers for Ballyhea: M O’Sullivan 0-4, N Ronan 0-3 (all frees), and D Ronan 0-3.

Newcestown: G O’Driscoll 0-5 (0-3 free, 65), B O’Mahony 1-0, D Heffernan 0-1.

There were two U21 divisional football finals played, Valley Rovers beating Carrigaline 6-8 to 1-7 at Ballygarvan in the Carrigdhoun decider and Bandon overcame Clonakilty 2-6 to 1-6 in the Carbery final at Ahiohill.