Brilliant Bandon advance to final again

THEY’RE back and meaning business. After the heartbreak of last year’s final defeat by Fr O’Neill’s, Bandon are back in the Evening Echo Cork Co IHC final and a tilt with Carrigaline after a rousing semi-final victory over great rivals Valley Rovers at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

This is the second year Bandon have put one over on their neighbours and some of their hurling yesterday was top class, with their lethal strike force of Darren Crowley and Darren O’Donoghue splitting 14 point between them. And when they had to defend, when Rovers came at them in the final quarter, they were strong and composed and deserved their victory.

Rovers needed Eamonn Collins to be on his game early and he didn’t disappoint, firing over two sublime points — one a peach of a sideline cut. But Bandon also had an ace in Crowley, who scored all four points as they led 0-4 to 0-3 after the opening quarter.