Courceys teamwork wins the day

COURCEY ROVERS retained their intermediate status following a workmanlike victory over Delanys in the Evening Echo Cork Co IFC relegation play-off (first round) at Belgooly on Saturday.

Though both clubs’ interest in the championship is well over, they still served up a competitive encounter, garnished with fluent football and fine scores. Courceys’ greater teamwork and more incisive threat up front paved the way for victory.

The south-east side laid their foundations for victory in the first-half, their cause helped by the backing of a strong breeze. They led by seven points at the break with Shane and Gavin Maloney, Simon Holland and John Duggan their main scoring threats, though their star player, Cork junior Vincent Hurley, was shadowed impressively by James Mulcahy.

Courceys’ ability to boss territory was down to their midfield pairing of Seamus Twomey and Terence Collins. Delanys enjoyed periods of dominance but over-elaboration in the final third proved their downfall. However, in Kevin Foley and Pádraig O’Connell they possessed marksmen of quality while Mulcahy was their star turn at full-back.

Courceys were slow to settle but found their rhythm, while Delanys struggled to cope with the pace of the game. Shane Maloney opened proceedings with fine left-footed effort before Simon Holland (2) and Gavin Maloney pushed the Ballinspittle club into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 11 minutes. Delanys struck back with two O’Connell frees but the second quarter again belonged to Courceys. Shane Maloney, Duggan and Brian Hayes (45) chipped in with points and Hurley might have put greater distance between the sides had he converted a one-on-one with Anthony Cafferkey, the Delanys goalkeeper bringing off a superb save in the 20th minute.

Courceys retired 0-9 to 0-2 ahead at the break but faced an altogether different challenge on the turnover. The city side upped their game and played more constructive football, dominating the last 10 minutes. By that stage Courceys had the last of their 12 points, a beauty from the otherwise subdued Hurley.

Kevin Foley had come into his own, landing his second point in the 54th minute to make it a seven-point game once again. Late scores from Pádraig Long and O’Connell gave the scoreboard a more respectable gloss but, overall, Courceys were the better outfit.

Scorers for Courceys: S Maloney 0-5 (0-2 frees), S Holland, G Maloney and J Duggan 0-2 each, B Hayes (KK) (‘45’) and V Hurley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Delanys: P O’Connell 0-4 (frees), K Foley 0-2, P Long 0-1.

COURCEYS: M Walsh; B Hayes (CP), T Lordan, D Murphy; D Hayes, B Hayes (KK), S Hayes; T Collins, S Twomey; G Maloney, J Murphy, S Holland; J Duggan, V Hurley, S Maloney. Sub: C Lordan for S Holland (45).

DELANYS: A Cafferkey; S O’Brien, J Mulcahy, P Blake; C Foley, E O’Brien, P O’Callaghan; O Cullinane, M O’Driscoll; P Long, D Quinlan, K Foley; P O’Connell, G Quinlan, R Foley. Subs: B Twomey for G Quinlan (ht), C Peelo for Cullinane and B Ahern for O’Callaghan (both 54).

Referee: E Sheehy (Newcestown).