Castlehaven blow hot and cold but overcome Mallow

CASTLEHAVEN’S new blend of youth and experience blew hot and cold at Macroom on Saturday.

Sloppy shooting, particularly late in the game when under pressure, may have taken a little gloss off their two- point Evening Echo Cork Co SFC first-round triumph, but it was fully merited in a contest that was committed and free-flowing throughout.

When they were hot, they were very hot — seven minutes of scoring magic after the break following some polished back-up play going a long way to winning this one for the Haven, leaving Mallow with a tricky back-door clash against Dohenys.

Scorers: Castlehaven: P Hurley (1 free) and S Cahalane 0-3 each, C Crowley, D Burns 0-2 each, M Collins, B Collins 0-1 each. Mallow: C O’Riordan 0-5 (0-4 frees), J O’Sullivan 0-3, B O’Halloran, J Hayes 0-1 each.

CASTLEHAVEN: D Tobin; D Shanahan, D Limerick, T O’Leary; A Sheehy, B Collins, M Cahalane; L Collins, D, Hurley; S Dineen, S Cahalane, D Burns; M Collins, C Crowley, P Hurley.

Sub: D Cahalane for M Cahalane (48).

MALLOW: C Sheehan; S Coughlan, K McCarthy, R Willis; C Kerrisk, K O’Halloran, P O’Riordan; J O’Sullivan, D Kerrisk; B O’Halloran, K O’Connor, J Hayes; C O’Riordan, P Dineen, M O’Brien.

Sub: R Downey for O’Brien (47).

Referee: J Dorgan (Nemo Rangers).

Douglas 1-13 Clonakilty 0-8

By Brendan Mooney

MARK HARRINGTON scored the decisive goal approaching half-time as Douglas overwhelmed weakened Clonakilty in a one-sided Evening Echo Cork SFC first-round tie at Brinny yesterday.

Douglas, revitalised after their flirt with relegation last season, were favourites and while a litany of injuries did not help Clonakilty’s cause, the city side showed flashes of sheer brilliance.

One of those came in the form of Harrington’s goal just a couple of minutes before half time. The eager-beaver full-forward, who was involved in most of the action, latched on to a pinpoint pass from late inclusion Jonny Lane and Clon keeper Eamonn Harte was never going to get to his powerful shot.

Scorers: Douglas: M Harrington 1-4 (0-1 free), J Farrell and F O’Sullivan (frees) 0-3 each, C Dineen, C Hogan, W Coveney 0-1 each. Clonakilty: P Griffin 0-5 (0-4 frees), C Callanan 0-2 (frees) and C McManus 0-1.

DOUGLAS: B Boyle; E Cotter, E Cadogan, F Tobin; J Lane, D McSweeney, P Carroll; C Dineen, G McLoughlin; C Hogan, T Sheehan, F O’Sullivan; J Farrell, M Harrington, W Coveney.

Subs: A Barry for W Coveney and R Keating for G McLoughlin (54 mins).

CLONAKILTY: E Harte; L Lyons, D O’Brien, N Hayes; D O’Regan, F Coughlan, D Murphy; N Griffin, C McManus; E O’Brien, C Callanan, D Lyons; M O’Brien, J Connolly, P Griffin.

Subs: T Anglin for M O’Brien (26 mins), T O’Sullivan for E O’Brien (h-t).

Referee: Peter Downey (Inniscarra).