Double blow for Clonakilty as Castlehaven muscle in for cup and league win

THERE’S something about Castlehaven — just ask Clonakilty!

The ‘Haven have been a real pain in the butt for Clon over the years and, in Saturday’s Tadhg Crowley Cup final, played on a splendid Rosscarbery sod despite all the rain, they muscled out another win.

Sure, Clon will feel hard done by and, to make matters worse, the game also doubled up as a league semi-final, so the misery was twofold.

No question that Clon had enough chances to win the game but they were unable to match Castlehaven’s more physical approach.

Two fine first-half goals failed to lift them and even when Colm Callinan got a late chance to bring the game to extra-time, he failed miserably from in front of the posts.

In the end it was the ‘Haven who had the more steel and they now face either Nemo Rangers or St Vincent’s in the final.

Scorers for Castlehaven: S Cahalane 0-8 (0-5 frees), P Hurley (0-1 ‘45), C Crowley, D Burns 0-2 each, M Cahalane 0-1.

Clonakilty: P Griffin 1-2, C Murphy 1-1 (0-1 free), C Callinan 0-3 (0-2 frees), B Walsh, N Hayes 0-1 each.

CASTLEHAVEN: N Whelton; M Leonard, L Collins, M Cahalane; D Cahalane, B Collins, C Hayes; L Cahalane, D Hurley; S Hurley, D Burns, S Connolly; C Crowley, S Cahalane, P Hurley.

Subs: T O’Leary for Leonard (20m), S Dineen for M Cahalane (ht), D Hegarty for Connolly (45m), Steve Hurley for Shane Hurley (52).

CLONAKILTY: E Harte; D Lyons, Tony Angland, B Murphy; D Murphy, Timmy Angland, N Hayes; N Griffin, S Nagle; M O’Brien, C Callinan, C Murphy; B Walsh, C McManus, P Griffin.

Subs: L Lyons for T Angland (36m), S Quirke for McManus (47), T Forristal for Murphy (50).

Referee: J Dorgan (Nemo Rangers).

St Finbarr’s 0-14Nemo Rangers 0-5

BLUE thunder from St Finbarr’s at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday, some strong, quality play leaving Nemo Rangers for dead in an Ulster Bank Premier MFC decider that was really over at half-time.

Big, strong and sweet on the ball, the Barrs made light of the heavy conditions after an edgy start.

They proceeded to kick some delightful points to win 0-14 to 0-5 and out-muscle Nemo, who must have been surprised by the ferocity of the Togher challenge.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: J Sexton 0-5, I Leahy 0-4 frees, D O’Brien 0-2, D Sweeney, J Holland, E Keane 0-1 each,

Nemo Rangers: B O’Driscoll 0-3 (0-2 frees), D McCarthy, G Browne 0-1 each.

ST FINBARR’S: K Murphy; D O’Brien, G O’Connor, K Punch; C Lougheed, J Neville, C Nagle; E Keane, P Wiley; D O’Brien, D Sweeney, J Holland; K McCarthy, J Sexton, I Leahy.

NEMO RANGERS: D Farry; T Hayes, D Twomey, S Sheehan; R Kenneally, J Garvan, P Horgan; B Hayes, B Manning; A Cronin, S Martin, G Browne; C O’Donovan, B O’Driscoll, D McCarthy.

Subs: A Hickey for Manning (24m), S Walsh for B Hayes (ht), PJ Leahy for D McCarthy (43m), C Martin for Kenneally (50m), D (H) McCarthy for O’Donovan (53).

Referee: E Sheehy (Newcestown).