Clinical Aghabullogue edge Cloyne

A strong showing immediately before and after half-time was key for Aghabullogue as they earned a place in the last 16 of the Cork County IFC at the expense of Cloyne at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Trailing by 1-6 to 0-4 after Cloyne recovered from a slow start, the mid-Cork side found themselves 1-8 to 1-6 ahead with the fourth quarter dawning and kept their opponents at arm’s length to condemn them to a third-round clash with Killavullen.

Aghabullogue began the game in fifth gear, plundering four points in the first seven minutes, one from Evan O’Sullivan and three by their most impressive forward, John Corkery.

The lead could have been more but for Corkery pulling his goal attempt wide when put in by Stephen Dennehy. Slowly but surely, Cloyne began to improve, the relocation of Paudie O’Sullivan to midfield helping them to gain a foothold there.

Things turned in their favour in the 14th minute, however, when Diarmuid O’Sullivan was hauled down in the large rectangle after winning the ball from a pass by brother Paudie.

Diarmuid O’Sullivan sent John Buckley the wrong way from the spot and he added two more points in quick succession, the second of them a good free from the right, to put them in the lead for the first time.

Two more super efforts from Paul O’Sullivan and Colm O’Sullivan following brilliant team moves opened up a goal cushion, and but for a good save by Buckley from Paudie O’Sullivan it would have been more.

Diarmuid O’Sullivan converted the resultant 45 and after Chris Smith sent over a free, Brian Fleming had another great goal chance, only for Buckley to pull off another wonderful save.

Two good points from Corkery gave Aghabullogue hope as they trailed by 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time, and within four minutes of the restart they were level after a well-worked goal.

John Corkery found Niall Buckley, who made a surging run before handpassing to Evan O’Sullivan, who swivelled his way past Mike Oosthuizen before finishing.

Further points from Jerome Corkery and a magnificent effort from Robert O’Keeffe opened up a two-point advantage and but for a save by Oosthuizen to deny Evan O’Sullivan a goal they would have been five in front.

Cloyne responded with a Diarmuid O’Sullivan free, but the game was slipping away from them and John Corkery responded for Aghabullogue before Colm O’Sullivan was dismissed for a kick. After that, Aghabullogue were not going to be denied.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: John Corkery 0-8 (0-3f), E O’Sullivan 1-0, N Buckley, Jerome Corkery, R O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cloyne: D O’Sullivan 1-5 (1-0 penalty, 0-3f, 0-1 45), P O’Sullivan, C Smith (0-1f), C O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

AGHABULLOGUE: J Buckley; D Murphy, M O’Brien, A Hogan; M Long, D Buckley, Jerome Corkery; S Dennehy, N Buckley; E O’Sullivan, J Kelleher, S O’Sullivan; M O’Sullivan, R O’Keeffe, John Corkery.

Subs: B Buckley for Kelleher, P O’Rourke for M O’Sullivan (both 50), D Twomey for O’Keeffe (58).

CLOYNE: M Oosthuizen; J Cotter, B McCarthy, G Fleming; K Dennehy, E O’Sullivan, M Walsh; B Fleming, P O’Sullivan; C O’Lomasney, P O’Sullivan, C Smith; C O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan, C Mullins.

Subs: A Walsh for Smith (44), D Jermyn for Mullins (57)

Referee: N Wall (Carrigaline).