Leahy scoring ace as powerful Clonakilty prove too strong for Brogan’s

Clonakilty CC4-6St Brogan’s, Bandon1-7

The provincial and All-Ireland champions came into this encounter with just four surviving members from last year’s side but had little difficulty in seeing off their West Cork rivals.

Johnny Leahy, the diminutive Clonakilty attacker, chalked up a fine tally of 2-3 and could have had double that only for some heroic Bandon defending.

Leahy’s first major arrived after 20 minutes following a pinpoint pass from James Hayes while his second came at the same time in the second period and effectively decided the match.

Both sides started without key players with Cork minor Sean Ryan unable to start for Brogan’s due to a hip flexor injury while flu confined Cork VS star Cillian Cullinane to the bench. Ryan made an entrance for the Bandon school after 20 minutes and his presence was felt but with mobility restricted, his role was limited.

The writing was on the wall early for Bandon as they struggled to cope with the pace of Clon’s attack, James Hayes, Leahy and Gearoid Barry all impressing. Leahy had two points inside the opening quarter as his side raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead before Mark Murphy opened the Bandon account.

But disaster struck when Clon pocketed two carbon-copy goals in the space of a minute. Having been dispossessed coming out of defence, James Hayes delivered two inch-perfect passes, for first Gearoid Barry to drill home before Leahy crashed home their second in the 20th minute. Leahy and Sugrue exchanged frees approaching the break, to leave it 2-4 to 0-3.

Bandon’s plight worsened just six minutes into the second period when wing-forward Fiachra O’Connell curled a sweet shot into the top corner of the net and while Sugrue and the outstanding Eoin Delaney chipped away at the deficit with points, the game was settled in the 50th minute when Leahy walloped home his second from close range.

Delaney bagged a late consolation goal after quick thinking by James MacSweeney but their misery was compounded in the final play when Gary Farrell was shown a second yellow card.

Scorers for Clonakilty CC: J Leahy 2-3 (0-2f), F O’Connell 1-1, G Barry 1-0, A O’Donovan, J Hayes 0-1 each.

Scorers for St. Brogan’s: E Delaney 1-1, M Sugrue 0-3 (0-3f), M Murphy, G Farrell (0-1f), J Daly 0-1 each.

CLONAKILTY CC: A Collins (Clonakilty); F Butler (Argideen Rangers), D Nyhan (Ballinascarthy), J Barrett (Clonakilty); C Hennessy (Ballinascarthy), J Ryan (do.), G O’Brien (Carbery Rangers); K Cormican (Clonakilty), E Hartnett (do.); M O’Donovan (Kilmeen), G Barry (Clonakilty), F O’Connell (do.); J Leahy (do.), J Hayes (Ardfield), A O’Donovan (Clonakilty).

Subs: I Falvey for M O’Donovan 48, S White (Clonakilty) for A O’Donovan (Clonakilty) 49, J Clancy (Kilmeen) for J Hayes 50, M Sullivan (Kilmeen) for J Leahy 59.

ST. BROGAN’S: J Crowley (Bandon); C Harrington (Valley Rovers), D Canty (do.), P O’Leary (Bandon); J Lynch (Valley Rovers), E Delaney (do.), D Crowley (do.); G Farrell (do.), C Nyhan (Ahan Gaels); J Daly (St. Mary’s), J MacSweeney (Bandon), M MacNamara (do.); M Murphy (Valley Rovers), M Sugrue (Bandon), C O’Neill (Newcestown).

Subs: S Ryan (Newcestown) for J Daly (St. Mary’s) 20, E Ryan (Bandon) for J Lynch, J Crowley for C O’Neill (both h/t).

Referee: Dave McCarthy (Kilmurry).