Cloyne get down to business after early scare

FOLLOWING champion Newtownshandrum’s opening round Cork County SHC victory over Bride Rovers on Friday, Cloyne, the beaten finalists for the last two years, got down to business in fine style at Ballynoe yesterday when beating Killeagh 4-10 to 3-6.

But Cloyne had to survived an early scare from Killeagh before winning comfortably. Two early goals, the first an unstoppable penalty from full-forward Mark Landers after he had been dragged down by Killian Cronin, and the second from impressive wing-forward Larry Collins, had Killeagh 2-1 to 0-2 ahead after 12 minutes, setting up the possibility of a shock for the huge crowd massed around the fabulous new pitch.

It didn’t materialise, however, and really, it was all over by half time. Playing an intelligent, economical game, Cloyne slowly but inexorably worked their way back into the game. A potent full-forward line did the scoring damage, a goal apiece in the first half from young Paudie O’Sullivan and Conor Cusack in the corners, the experienced Phillip Cahill with another after a low 65 by Diarmuid O’Sullivan deflected off the full-forward.