Tracton grab deserved win as Carrig disappoint

TRACTON made it hat-trick of wins over Carrigtwohill in the county Premier IHC with a deserved two-point victory over the East Cork side in a keenly contested first round tie at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Fielding an exceptionally young side which wasn’t lacking in heart or commitment, Tracton were full value for their victory against a Carrig side that once again failed to live up to expectations.

The winners had a number of outstanding players in full-back Dan Kelleher, wing-back Patrick Reilly, midfielder Frank Lynch and forwards Kieran Lynch and Ronan Walsh, whose free-taking was exemplary.

Carrig were a huge disappointment, and only Michael Barry, Jason Barrett, Noel Furlong and, to a lesser degree Niall McCarthy, measured up.

Tracton got off to a dream start with a goal after just 40 seconds. A long ball by Joe Kingtston caused hesitancy in the Carrig defence and Kieran Corrigan crossed the sliothar for Kieran Lynch to shoot to the empty net.

Carrig were in trouble at midfield — where Tracton’s Frank Lynch was dominant — and the Carrigdhoun side rocked their opponents with a second goal when Frank Walsh touched home Ronan Walsh’s 65, giving his side a 2-2 to 0-4 lead by the end of the opening quarter.

However, as the half wore on Carrig came more into the game. With Jason Barrett on top at centre back and with Seanie Farrell causing a lot of problems at full-forward, the East Cork side struck over three points in-a-row.

But with Robert Cronin keeping a tight rein on inter-county senior Niall McCarthy — whose only contribution to the first half was three points from frees — Tracton, with long-serving Patrick Reilly doing well at wing-back and Kieran Lynch hugely impressive at corner-forward, hit back with three points in-a-row.

At half-time Tracton were full value for their 2-5 to 0-7 lead.

In the space of five minutes after the resumption, Carrig had the deficit down to the minimum with three points in-a-row, two of them by defenders Jason Barrett and Noel Furlong.

However, Tracton never panicked and Frankie Walsh eased the pressure with a point. Niall McCarthy was now having a big influence for Carrig at centre-forward, but they never threatened the goal which might have turned this tie around.

In a game that was always competitive but never dirty, both sides were reduced to 14 players when Billy Lynch (Tracton) and Sean Flannery were red-carded, but the Carrig defence continued to concede frees which the very accurate Ronan Walsh pointed each time.

With five minutes to go Tracton had that dreaded two-point lead.

In those tense closing minutes Niall McCarthy pointed his sixth free and they looked capable of at least forcing a draw, but a careless puck was intercepted by the impressive Joe Kingston. He was fouled and the very reliable Walsh pointed the resultant free and Tracton stayed in front to the finish.

For Carrigtwohill it’s the backdoor and a meeting with the losers of the Ballincollig/Mallow game.

Scorers: Tracton: R. Walsh 0-7 (frees); K. Lynch, F. Walsh 1-1 each; F. Lynch 0-1. Carrigtwohill: N. McCarthy 0-7 (0-6 frees); Sean Farrell, J. Barrett, N. Furlong 0-2 each; B. Lordan 0-1.

TRACTON: M. Quinn; B. Lynch, D. Kelleher, R. Dwyer; P. Reilly, S. Sullivan, R. Cronin, F.. Lynch, N. Collins; J. Kingston, F. Walsh, G. Kingston; R. Walsh, K. Corrigan, K. Lynch. Sub: M. Desmond for G. Kingston.

CARRIGTWOHILL: C. McCarthy; M. Nolan, M. Barry, M. Foley; M. O’Riordan, J. Barrett, N. Furlong; N. Gubbins, F. Flannery; B. Lordan, N. McCarthy, Seamus O’Farrell; S. Flannery, Sean Farrell, C. Horgan.

Subs. D. Healy for Horgan; K. O’Mahony for Gubbins.

Referee: D. Copps (Ballyhea)