Two goal blast books final spot for Kildorrery

GOALS proved the difference as Kildorrery beat Adrigole to advance to the Evening Echo Cork Co IFC final with a 2-9 to 0-10 victory over Adrigole at Cill na Martra yesterday.

With the North Cork side trailing 0-8 to 0-7 in the 45th minute, Steve Coughlan got his fist to a Peter O’Brien cross to give his side a two-point lead and, six minutes later, Tom Monaghan got the final touch to fire the ball home past Adrigole keeper Mike Phil O’Sullivan to make it 2-8 to 0-9.

These goals, allied to some bad Adrigole wides in the second-half, mean Kildorrery, despite being losing finalists in last year’s J’A’FC, are now 60 minutes from playing premier intermediate football.

Meanwhile, A superb last gasp point from Eoin Cullinane secured a deserved draw for Delanys (2-7 to 1-10) in an entertaining IFC relegation play-off at Cobh. A Shane Murphy point eight points from time looked to have sealed a fortunate Erin’s Own win, but Cullinane had the final say with his stunning late point.

Valley Rovers were pushed all the way before eventually beating Éire Óg 1-12 to 1-10 in a thrilling IHC quarter-final at Páirc Ui Chaoimh. The Innishannon side now meet near neighbours Bandon in the semi-final.

After both teams exchanged points in the opening four minutes a touch of class by Cork senior hurling panellist Kevin Canty a minute later gave Valley Rovers a huge lift when he drilled home a beauty. Some astute tactical changes by the Éire Óg selectors saw them hold their opponents scoreless for 12 minutes but Rovers always looked the stronger side.

Carrignavar made history in Ballynoe, winning their first East Cork J‘A’HC final after over 100 years of trying with a 2-15 to 0-9 win over Killeagh.

The new champions were immense in every part of the pitch. Killeagh tried their best to keep pace, but the speed with which Carrignavar hurled overwhelmed Killeagh at times, particularly ‘man-of-the-match’ Paul Murphy who notched 1-4. Midfielder Martin Hickey got their first goal.

Christopher Quirke’s goal midway through the first-half proved decisive in yesterday’s North Cork Fermoy Credit Union J’A’FC decider at Mitchelstown where Glanworth beat Kilworth 1-9 to 0-9. Glanworth were the better side for most of the game and it was only in the last 10 minutes that last years beaten finalists Kilworth began to find their composure, scoring four unanswered points to leave a goal between the sides entering the final moments. Try as they might Kilworth were unable to get in for the equalising goal.

Mallow shocked champions Newtown 3-16 to 4-12 in a high scoring North Cork U21‘A’HC final at Charleville. Two goals in the space of a minute from Michael Linehan and Shane Quilligan had them 2-10 to 0-4 clear by the 20th minute though Newtown cut the deficit with Ryan Clifford a penalty to trail by eight points (2-12 to 1-7) at the break.

Mallow held their nerve in the second-half and Chris Moloney finished a long free by Sean Lane to the net before landing an insurance point late on.

There was a dramatic finish at Ballygarvan on Saturday so Ballymartle and Ballinhassig must meet again to decide the destiny of the Philpott Creedon Solicitors South East U21‘A’HC title after drawing 1-6 to 0-9.

Five minutes into added time Ballymartle’s Shane Fehilly appeared to have fired over the winning point but was adjudged correctly by referee Colm Harrington to have fouled the ball and then from the resultant 85 metre free Ballinhassig’s keeper Matthew Collins shot wide to bring down the curtain on an exciting final.

Graham Webb scored Ballymartle’s goal in the second-half when his sideline cut from 40 metres went all the way to the net.