Aisake the ace for Na Piarsaigh

AFTER a week of speculation, Cork hurling fans glimpsed Setanta Ó hAilpín hurling again yesterday.

The Carlton Aussie Rules player came on as a substitute for Na Piarsaigh in their permanent tsb SHC quarter-final defeat of Sarsfields, but it was younger brother Aisake who caught the eye, scoring nine points. A well-drilled northside team always had too much scoring power for the Glanmire side, and Stephen O’Sullivan’s goal with a quarter of an hour left killed the game off. Na Piarsaigh now await the winners of the Blackrock-Glen Rovers tie in the semi-final.

Scorers: Na Piarsaigh: A. O hAilpin 0-9 (0-6 frees); S. O’Sullivan 1-1; D. Gardiner (free), R. McGregor, S. O’Sullivan, S. Og O hAilpin, C. Connery, D. Walsh 0-1 each. Sarsfields: R. Ryan, J. Murphy (frees) 0-2 each; G. McCarthy, P. Ryan (free), K. Murphy (free) 0-1 each.

County, Munster and All-Ireland Club champions Newtownshandrum beat CIT 1-12 to 0-10 yesterday to make it to the semi-final stages, but they made heavy weather of the students’ challenge. If not for Ben O’Connor’s individual brilliance and some wayward shooting by CIT, then the North Cork side might have lost their titles. As it was, O’Connor’s fine individual goal - and a pointed sideline cut - as well as the introduction of Cathal Naughton were enough to give Newtown the win, and revenge for their earlier championship defeat by the students.

Scorers: Newtownshandrum: B. O’Connor (1-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 sideline cut), J. O’Connor (0-3), C. Naughton (0-2). CIT: M. O’Sullivan (0-5, 0-4 frees), C. O’Leary (0-2), V. Hurley (0-2, 0-1 free), R. O’Dwyer (0-1).

Despite a bright start, St Finbarr’s were soon worn down by a physically powerful Cloyne combination last Saturday in a SHC quarter-final game which had plenty of bite to it. Cork star Diarmuid O’Sullivan’s penalty late in the first half was saved, but he goaled from the rebound and that gave the east Cork side the platform for a comfortable victory. Cloyne tacked on the points in the second half to keep a comfortable lead over the city club, and they never looked under pressure, finishing with six points to spare, 1-14 to 0-11.

Scorers: Cloyne: I. Quinlan 0-6 (0-3 frees); D. O’Sullivan 1-0; P. O’Sullivan 0-3; C. O’Sullivan, C. Cusack 0-2 each; M. Naughton 0-1. St. Finbarrs: K. Murray, C. McCarthy, R. Curran (0-1 free), B. O’Driscoll (frees) 0-2 each; M. Ryan, I. O’Mahony, D. O’Regan 0-1 each.

Glen Rovers and Blackrock will have to meet again to decide who goes through to meet Na Piarsaigh in the SHC semi-final. The Glen were reeled in by a more experienced Rockies combination in the second-half, thanks in the main to Alan Browne’s dominance at centre-forward. However, the Glen eventually converted one of their numberous goal chances, through Tadhg Murphy, and two late frees from John Anderson ensured the sides finished level.

Scorers: Blackrock: A. Browne 0-4 (0-2 frees), A. Coughlan (0-1 free), J. Young, B. O'Keeffe, B. Hennebry 0-2 each, E. Kiely, D. Cashman, L. Meaney 0-1 each. Glen Rovers: J. Anderson 0-10 (0-6 frees, 0-2 '65s), T. Murphy 1-0, D. Busteed, S. McGrath 0-1 each.

Clonakilty and divisional side Carbery will have to meet again to decide this SFC quarter-final after a low-scoring, disappointing game last Saturday. Both sides will be hoping for a big improvement in the replay after this encounter, which never caught fire.

Scorers: Clonakilty: C. Callanan 0-3; D. Lyons, C. O’Donovan and C. Murphy (free) 0-1 each. Carbery. J. Hayes 0-3 (0-1 from free); T. Deasy, M. Moore and F. Arundel 0-1 each.

Dromina eased past Valley Rovers in the permanent tsb IHC semi-final on a 0-15 to 1-9 scoreline. Stalwart Martin Finn supplied the bulk of the north Cork side’s scores in their victory over a youthful Valley Rovers outfit.

Scorers: Dromina: M Finn 0-7 (0-4 frees), A O’Shaughnessy 0-3, D Morrissey, G Healy, J Finn, G Hayes and R Morrissey 0-1 each. Valley Rovers: E O’Sullivan 1-0, B Canty (frees) and J Hurley (0-1 free, 0-1 65) 0-3 each, R O’Donovan 0-2 and E Collins 0-1.

Dromina’s opponents in that permanent TSB IHC final will be Watergrasshill; the east Cork club overcame Nemo Rangers 4-16 to 1-12 yesterday, when their second half scoring burst of 3-8 proved far too much for the Capwell club to overome.

Scorers: Watergrasshill: J. Foley 2-2; E. O'Reilly 2-1; P. O'Regan 0-4 (0-3 frees); J. Halbert 0-3 (0-2 frees); P. Cahill 0-2; J. O'Leary, O. Curtin, S. O'Callaghan, N. O'Riordan 0-1 each. Nemo Rgs.: J. Masters 1-9 (1-7 frees, 0-2 65s); M. Cronin, W. Morgan, M. Cotter 0-1 each.

Carrigtwohill edged out Inniscarra last Saturday in a closely contested third round IHC tie which ended 2-11 to 1-12 in favour of the Imokilly side. The East Cork side relied heavily on former Cork star Seanie Farrell up front, and he obliged by scoring one goal and making another.

Scorers: Carrigtwohill: S. O’Farrell 1-1; M. Fitzgerald 0-4 (0-2 frees); S. Cuddigan 1-0; N. McCarthy (0-1 free) and J. Barrett 0-2 each; D. Collins and L. Barry 0-1 each. Inniscarra: D. O'Riordan 1-8 (1-6 frees; 0-1 65'); S. Holland, C. Holland, R. Wall and D. O’Connell 0-1 each.

In the county JHC quarter-final, Ballygarvan accounted for St Finbarrs 0-15 to 1-07, Liam Dillon chipping in with ten points.

Scorers: Ballygarvan: L Dillon 0-10 (0-7 frees), S White 0-3, S O’Leary, D O’Sullivan 0-1 each. St Finbarr’s: P Landers 1-0, N Hosford 0-2 (0-2 frees), G O’Regan 0-2 (0-1 free), K O’Brien, S Fuller, K McTiernan 0-1 each.