Super-sub Halbert seals ’Hill win

INSPIRATIONAL substitute John Halbert smoothed Watergrasshill’s path to victory over Argideen Rangers in this Evening Echo Cork County Premier IHC opening round game in Passage on Saturday night.

Introduced midway through the first-half, Halbert proved a revelation by scoring 1-7 as the East Cork side stormed back to overturn a five points interval deficit.

With a howling wind to their backs, Argideen hit the ground running with three points from Michael O’Callaghan, the outstanding Bill Harte and Shane O’Mahony in the opening five minutes. But before Argideen could build on this, Watergrasshill pounced when Jason Foley set up corner-forward Paudie Cahill for a spectacular goal.

Argideen opened up a five-point gap at the end of the first quarter — a lead they maintained up to half time, with both O’Mahony and O’Callaghan also in fine shooting form.

But with the elements — driving rain and wind — now in their favour, Watergrasshill quickly gained the initiative after the break. With Pat O’Regan and Halbert scoring a succession of points from frees and Halbert one delightful effort from play, the ‘Boys from the Hill’ drew level in the 39th minute. For a time Argideen had no answer to the clinical efficiency of Watergrasshill’s finishing and in the 40th minute a 30-metre free, struck low by Halbert, went all the way to the net.

Now in the lead for the first time Watergrasshill continued to dominate territorially. However, Argideen, with Bill Harte hurling splendidly at centre-back, refused to allow the floodgates to be opened.

Argideen, who scored just two points in the second-half, lacked the forward penetration to turn the tables and their cause was not aided when wing forward Michael O’Callaghan was sent off near the end for a second yellow card offence.

Watergrasshill, with Halbert on song, held on to register a deserved three points triumph which leaves Argideen, facing either Ballyhea or Newcestown to remain in the championship.

Scorers: Watergrasshill: J. Halbert 1-7 (1-3 frees); P. Cahill 1-1; P. O’Regan 0-3 (0-3 from frees). Argideen Rangers: S. O’Mahony 0-4 (0-3 from frees); M. O’Callaghan 0-3 (0-2 from 65s); N. Coomey 0-2 (frees); B. Harte, D. Crowley, M. Walsh, B. Hennessy and J. Murphy 0-1 each.

WATERGRASSHILL:P. O’Brien; J. Dorgan, D. Ryan, C. O’Keeffe; O. Curtin, S. O’Leary, N. O’Riordan; P. O’Regan J. O’Keeffe; S. O’Callaghan, O. O’Reilly, J. Gardiner; W. O’Leary, J. Foley, P. Cahill. Subs. J. Halbert for Curtin; F. Usanga for Gardiner; O. Barry for Foley.

ARGIDEEN RANGERS: N. Coomey; N. Harte, M. Deasy, D. Connolly; N. Ryan, B. Harte, M. Coomey; M. Harte, D. Crowley; R. O’Mahony, J. Murphy, M. O’Callaghan; M. Walsh, B. Hennessy, S. O’Mahony.

Sub: A. O’Leary for O’Mahony.

Referee: J. Dorgan (Nemo Rangers).