No real threat to holders Fethard, while Cahir power to comfortable win

Fethard 2-16

At the end of a low-scoring first half Fethard led 0-7 to 0-3 and while Ardfinnan never threatened to overthrow the champions, they were still in contention when they trailed 0-11 to 0-8 after 52 minutes.

Centre-forward Willie Morrissey then pounced for Fethard’s opening goal when he punished a defensive slip-up to give them a six-point lead. Substitute Michael Dillon sealed victory when he fired home another goal on 57 minutes, giving them a 2-12 to 0-8 lead.

The Blues then wrapped it up with late points from Micheál Spillane, Thomas Payne and John Paul Looby. Scorers for Fethard: W. Morrissey 1-2, B. Coen 0-5, M. Dillon 1-1, J. P. Looby 0-3, A. Fitzgerald, M. Spillane 0-2 each, T. Keane 0-1.

Ardfinnan - M. Phelan, T. Brown, B. Lonergan 0-2 each, J. English, P. Kennedy 0-1 each.

FETHARD: P. Fitzgerald; T. Anglim, M. Ahern, D. Byrne; A. Phelan, Cian Maher, S. O’Donnell; A. Fitzgerald, P.J. Ahern; Carl Maher, W. Morrissey, J.P. Looby; C. McCarthy, B. Coen, M. Spillane. Subs: M. Dillon for C. McCarthy, K. Byrne for P.J. Aherne, T. Keane for W. Morrissey, W. Morrisey for S. O’Donnell.

ARDFINNAN: E. Ryan; T. Maher, A. Lonergan, P.J. Lonergan; N. Carrigan, P. Norton, C. O’Brien; A. Keating, S. Maher; M. Phelan, T. Browne, M. Ryan; P. Kennedy, S. Sweeney, B. Lonergan. Subs: J. English for M. Ryan, G. Ryan for N. Carrigan, K. O’Shea for A. Keating.

Referee: B. Tyrell (Clonmel).

Cahir 3-13

Carrick Swans 0-8

AN impressive Cahir side had a 14-points winning margin when they saw off the challenge of Carrick Swans in the opening game of the double bill at Clonmel.

The losers had the opening point from Willie Murphy within a minute of the start but after Cahir got their scoring underway with goals from Robbie Halley and Benny Hickey, the Swan challenge faded. Swans did not score again until the final minute of the first half and they trailed 2-6 to 0-2 at half-time.

Cahir centre-forward Robbie Halley grabbed his second goal on 40 minutes and while top scorer Willie Murphy tried hard to get the Carrick challenge back on track, they were outplayed by a better side and will now meet Mullinahone in the next round.

Scorers for Cahir - R. Halley 2-1, B. Hickey 1-5, G. Morrison 0-4, G. Leahy 0-2, D. Tarrant 0-1.

Carrick Swans - W. Murphy 0-5, B. Barry 0-2, A. O’Sullivan 0-1.

CAHIR: B. Enright; D. Lonergan, N. O’Gorman, P. Hyland; R. Costigan, P. Frazer, P. O’Flaherty; M. Tarrant, D. Tarrent; J. McGrath, R. Halley, G. Morrison; L. Kiely, B. Hickey, G. Leahy. Subs: G. Berry for D. Tarrant, P. Whelan for Larry Kiely.

CARRICK SWANS: M. Walsh; G. Keane, J. Burke, J. Sweetman; A. O’Sullivan, M. O’Halloran, A. O’Donnell; B. Hahessy, J. Walsh; A. Rockett, B. Barry, B. Murphy; W. Murphy, B. Grace, W. Walsh. Subs: D. Lannigan for J. Burke, M. Harrigan for G. Keane.

Referee: D. Cahill (Ballyporeen).