O’Donovan Rossa keep hopes of senior status alive as Mallow disappoint

O’DONOVAN ROSSA are still in with a chance of saving their Cork SFC senior status following this comfortable victory over Mallow at Macroom on Saturday in the first of the round-robin relegation play-offs.

Players in the US for the summer, on holidays and transferred away from the club all combined to rob the Skibbereen side of at least six players, but while they are capable of taking points from their remaining games against Na Piarsaigh and St Michael’s, they are by no means out of the woods.

It’s hard to believe that just two years ago on the same pitch, only the thickness of the crossbar denied Mallow a place in the county final.

Clive Kerrisk and Denis Hayes gave them a grip on midfield right from the throw-in and Cian O’Riordan’s excellent free-taking helped them in to an 0-3 to nil lead after 10 minutes.

The west Cork side got on the scoreboard after 15 minutes when Rob Long pointed and they went on to lead 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, helped by two excellent points by Jurgen Werner.

Rossas continued to hold the upper hand in the early minutes of the second half, helped by the introduction of seasoned campaigner Joe O’Driscoll, and they stretched their lead with three more points.

The experienced heads of Niall McCarthy Snr, Conor McCarthy and O’Driscoll were to the fore as Skibb poured forward.

Sheehan pointed a free for Mallow’s first score in 25 minutes and when he added two more the tension in the Skibb camp was evident.

But Joe O’Driscoll showed experience in abundance and set up attacking wing back Niall McCarthy Jnr for the game’s only goal in the 52nd minute.

Rossas finished with two further points to safely negotiate a tricky first hurdle in their bid to play senior football again in 2007.

Scorers: O’Donovan Rossa: N McCarthy Jnr 1-1; J Werner 0-3 (0-2 frees); R Long 0-2; C Crowley, N McCarthy Snr., R O’Donovan, C McCarthy (free) 0-1 each. Mallow: R Sheehan 0-3 (frees); C O’Riordan 0-2 (frees); D Golden 0-1.

O’DONOVAN ROSSA: J McCarthy; A Tanner, K Cotter, M Bohane; N McCarthy Jnr., J O’Sullivan, F Crowley; C McCarthy, S Carmody; R O’Donovan, F McCarthy, J Werner; N McCarthy Snr., R Long, C Crowley.

Subs: B O’Dwyer for Werner; E Nealon for Bohane; J O’Driscoll for F McCarthy; D O’Sullivan for C Crowley; S O’Neill for N McCarthy Jnr.

MALLOW: T O’Brien; S Coughlan, K O’Halloran, K McCarthy; P O’Riordan, B Doyle, B O’Halloran; D Hayes, C Kerrisk; C O’Riordan, J O’Sullivan, J Hayes; D Golden, R Sheehan, N Dinan.

Subs: T Riordan for Dinan; J Collins for McCarthy; J Cronin for J Hayes.

Referee: J Dorgan (Nemo Rangers).