Determined Castlehaven provide the scoring fireworks

Catlehaven 0-12 St. Finbarr’s 0-09

So no repeat of last week’s late tantrums, though Castlehaven midfielder Sean Dineen did get a straight red from referee Pat O’Leary in the 51st minute for an incident with Robert O’Mahony.

And there was cruel luck for Barr’s midfielder Eoin Keane in the 21st minute when he went over on his ankle in trying to grab a kick-out and suffered a nasty injury which held up the game for nine minutes.

It meant Pa Wiley slotting into midfield and Eoin Finn coming into the action and the substitute gave a good account of himself. But the Barr’s were always playing second fiddle to a finely turned Haven side that always had the capacity to up the gears when the need arose.

The Barr’s struggled big time up front. Ronan Curran was a huge loss, and they relied too much on Jason Sexton for scores. All the while, seven Haven players were able to deliver where it mattered most.

Castlehaven boss James McCarthy was pleased afterwards. “We started well, were dominant around the middle and I though we gave a great 15-man performance. Even when the Barr’s came at us in the third quarter we were able to come again and lift it. Our workrate was superb but we should have had more scores on the board.

“I think we showed the Barr’s too much respect last week and gave them too much space. The video doesn’t lie, we looked at it during the week and corrected our faults.”

Barr’s kept it tight in defence early on, Michael Shields keeping a close eye on Brian Hurley and Colin Lyons like glue on Mark Collins, both doing a fine job. But the Haven had plenty of other players to deliver withDermot Hurley outstanding in the middle of the park.

It was the Haven who made the early running, despite Sexton giving the Barr’s the lead with a quick-fire free. Indeed Sexton shot all three Barr’s first-half point from frees as they struggled up front with David Limrick keeping O’Mahony quiet and Damien Cahalane well in control against young Ian Maguire.

With Steve Hurley a real nuisance up front it was no surprise when he kicked the equaliser in the sixth minute and with Dermot Hurley sublime and Mark Cahalane and Chris Hayes thundering through from their wing back berths, the Haven created plenty of chances which, for the most part, they didn’t capitalise on.

Hurley did give Castlehaven a 0-3 to 0-2 lead in the eighth minute, but they were not to score again until the 27th minute when Collins at last began to get the better of Lyons and converted two late frees for a 0-5 to 0-3 lead at the break. The Barr’s changed things around in attack in the second-half, moving Cathal McCarthy to centre-forward, where he made no impression on the superb Cahalane, and Maguire into the corner where he finally blossomed and kicked two fine points.

But there was no stopping a fired-up Castlehaven side as points from Seanie and Mark Cahalane powered them four clear.

The Barr’s were in trouble, gasping for scores. In fairness though they lifted their game as two pointed frees from Sexton, one from the right touchline, got them back in contention. And it could have been better had O’Mahony not scorned a great chance. But it was down to just one on 45 minutes, 0-7 to 0-6, Maguire scoring a beauty after fine work by Finn and Lyons and it looked game on.

It’s always a good sign of a team when they respond under pressure and the Haven did exactly that. First Damien Cahalane, now on fire, set up namesake Alan, and then Brian Hurley finally got in on the scoring act and the siege was lifted. Substitute Cian Madden and Maguire did get further points for the Barr’s to bring it back to one again, but despite having Dineen red carded there was no way Castlehaven were going to lose their grip.

And they finished with a flourish as late points from Steve Hurley, Mark Collins (his third free) and substitute Shane Nolan eased them into a semi-final contest with either Bishopstown or Carbery Rangers.

Scorers for Castlehaven: M. Collins 0-3 (frees), S. Hurley and S. Cahalane 0-2 each, D. Hurley, M. Cahalane, A. Cahalane B, Hurley and S. Nolan 0-1 each.

Scorers for St. Finbarr’s: J. Sexton 0-6 (0-5 frees), I. Maguire 0-2, C. Madden 0-1.

CASTLEHAVEN: P. Hurley; D. Limrick, L. Collins, T. O’Leary; M. Cahalane, D. Cahalane, C. Hayes; S. Dineen, D. Hurley; S. Cahalane, M. Collins, A. Cahalane; R. Whelton, B, Hurley, S. Hurley.

Subs: Shane Hurley for Whelton (25m), S, Nolan for A, Cahalane (55), S, Collins for M. Cahalane (59).

ST. FINBARR’S: D. Murphy; C. Lyons, R. O’Dwyer. J. Burns; A. O’Connor, M. Shields, G. O’Connor; I. Leahy, E. Keane; J. O’Donoghue, I. Maguire. P. Wiley; R. O’Mahony, C. McCarthy, J. Sexton.

Subs: E. Finn for Keane (inj 21m), C. Madden for McCarthy (36), R. Leahy for O’Mahony (bs), R. Leahy for O’Donoghue 55).

Referee: P. O’Leary (Kilmurry).