Bandon back in final after flying finish

THE final of the Cork IHC will be a repeat of the 2007 decider after Bandon finished well to see off St Catherine’s in their semi-final at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday and set up a meeting with Fr O’Neill’s.

Six minutes into the second half here, a 65 from Catherine’s full-back Ronan Clancy put them ahead for the first and only time, at 1-5 to 0-7, the east Cork side having come back strongly after conceding the game’s first five points.

Bandon responded well, however. Jason Hickey levelled immediately for them and soon after that the wing-forward spotted Ronan Crowley well, allowing him to restore the lead before Hickey added another to put them firmly in front again.

With full-back Joe Burke excellent in defence and Roy Payne roaming to good effect, Bandon had the upper hand, and in the 52nd minute moved six points clear when Ronan Crowley embarked on a mazy run before playing a low ball across goal, allowing sub Alan Johnson the easiest of tasks to finish to the net from close range.

That goal was the final blow to St Catherine’s hopes meaning that Bandon progressed to a third final in the grade in five years, having lost to Carrigaline the year after the O’Neill’s defeat.

Overall, the Carbery side were deserving of the victory, playing more of the hurling and setting the attacking agenda for the bulk of the game. Ronan Crowley scored five for them, Hickey worked hard, as did Charles Dullea in midfield, while the second-half introduction of Donough Lucey allowed Darren Crowley to play further forward.

Apart from the brief periods before and after half-time, Catherine’s struggled to stay with Bandon, the poor start when playing into the wind in the first half leaving them at a big disadvantage, while the tactic of playing a sweeper was not working.

Jason McCarthy was a constant threat for Bandon in those early stages, Payne also on target as they opened a 0-5 to 0-0 lead, though goalkeeper James McSweeney had to save well when Kieran Morrison got a touch to a Padraig Cotter free.

After Shane Cotter opened the Catherine’s account, Daniel Mangan followed that up with a free straight away but while Bandon responded, Morrison and Mangan scored in injury time to cut the deficit to 0-7 to 0-4 by half-time.

In the second minute of the second half, a Clancy free dropped dangerously in the Bandon goalmouth, allowing Shane Kearney to pull to the net to level, and Clancy followed that up with the lead point.

It was as good as it got for them, however, Bandon improving to ensure they made the final.

Scorers for Bandon: R Crowley 0-5 (0-3f), A Johnson 1-0, J Hickey, J McCarthy 0-2 each, N O’Rourke, R Payne 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Catherine’s: S Kearney 1-0, D Mangan 0-2f, S Cotter, K Morrison, R Clancy (0-1 65) 0-1 each.

BANDON: J McSweeney; P Crowley, J Burke, J O’Donovan; E O’Donovan, D Crowley, K Hurley; C Dullea, J Harrington; R Crowley, M Sugrue, J Hickey; R Payne, N O’Rourke, J McCarthy.

Subs: D Lucey for Harrington (35), A Johnson for O’Rourke (47).

ST CATHERINE’S: I O’Connell; C Hegarty, R Clancy, E Kenneally; P O’Neill, P Cotter, L O’Connor; M Mulcahy, S Fitzgerald; S Cotter, S Kearney, B Mulcahy; D Mangan, K Morrison, P Roche.

Subs: W Walsh for Hegarty (49), N O’Brien for Mangan (52), S O’Brien for Mulcahy (58).

Referee: P Downey (Inniscarra).