First-half goals do the trick for Dromina

SCENES of jubilation from Dromina hurling supporters greeted the final whistle in Castletownroche last night as they secured their IHC status for another year after a hard fought victory over Cobh.

The north Cork side staved off the dreaded drop thanks to two first-half goals from Jason Finn and James Hamilton and a second-half scoring blitz from roving full-forward Pat Hayes.

Not surprisingly, Dromina, who came into this tie on the back of defeats by Kanturk, Meelin and Blackrock, started the game cautiously, but soon got into their stride as they began to play with a real appetite.

Hayes’ display after the interval was the key ingredient as he scored all but one of his side’s second-half points (seven in all). The talented number 14, who had a pretty quiet opening 30, showed that he has skill in abundance as he pointed from frees, play and a wonderful 65 into the breeze.

Hayes wasn’t alone in his efforts as he was ably assisted by corner-forward Finn, with midfield dynamos Johnny Delee and Billy Naughton also putting in magnificent personal displays.

Unfortunately for Cobh their season has come to a disappointing end as they have now racked up four losses on the bounce and find themselves looking forward to junior hurling in 2012.

This result will be bitterly disappointing for the east Cork men as they were well in the hunt with just under 15 minutes remaining. Star performers for the vanquished side include left half back Liam Greaney, centre-forward Brian Aherne and right half forward Aidan O’Rourke.

Greaney, in particular, gave a wonderful captains display as he set up several of his side’s attacks with his dominance in the half back line.

Dromina opened well but found themselves trailing by a point on 10 minutes thanks to two early successful frees from Aherne. A cool finish to the net from Finn on 11 minutes gave them a lead they would only hold until the 16th minutes as both sides traded scores and looked very evenly matched.

However, on 24 minutes, half forward Hamilton landed blow number two on Cobh as he finished off a well worked move to the net to put his side into a four point lead.

With the sides trading scores until the break it was Dromina that went in to the dressing rooms leading by 2-4 to 0-7.

A spirited second-half fight back from Cobh culminated in the Imokilly side drawing level on 43 minutes when Ger Meaney landed a poachers goal, but unfortunately that was as good as it got for them as Hayes’ heroics managed to win through in the end.

Scorers for Dromina: P Hayes 0-6 (two frees, one 65); J Finn 1-1; A Shaughnessy 0-3 (three frees); J Hamilton 1-0, J Delee 0-1.

Cobh: B Aherne 0-6 (four frees); G Meaney 1-0; C Spriggs (two frees), A O’Rourke 0-2 each, E Wilson 0-1.

DROMINA: K O’Callaghan; D O’Shaughnessy, J O’Connor, G Hayes; D Carroll, L Hayes, D Morrissey; B Naughton, J Delee; A O’Shaughnessy, M Naughton, J Hamilton; J Finn, P Hayes, R Morrissey.

Subs: P Hassett for D Morrissey (28), J Jordan for J Finn (45).

COBH: C McDowell; R Wilson, D Barrett, A McCarthy; M O’Connor, S Kearney, L Greaney; A Walley, E Wilson; A O’Rourke, B Aherne, R O’Connell; G Meaney, W Drake, C Spriggs.

Subs: A Stack for W Drake (50), S Ryan for R O’Connell (55), C Farrell for G Meaney (58).

Referee: P Downey (Inniscarra).