Crowley rescues Bandon hopes

Bandon 0-15 Tracton 0-15

But when Ronan Crowley’s shot from a difficult angle sailed through the posts, there was hardly a dissenting voice amongst the crowd, who recognised that a draw was really the best outcome to a game that neither side managed to control — even though both had spells of dominance.

Yes, Tracton will feel annoyed that they twice let promising second-half leads slip, but really there can be no doubt that Bandon deserved a second chance.

Right through this absorbing tussle there was little or nothing between the sides; when one of the teams threatened to pull clear, they were quickly pegged back, and the match was marked by decent accuracy despite the slippery conditions as the rain poured down from the off.

The big contributors were Crowley for Bandon and Ronan Walsh who matched each other blow for blow with a succession of well-struck frees. This duo finished level with seven points, five from frees and one from a 65 for Walsh and six from frees for Crowley.

The first half was especially evenly matched, with neither side capable of ever holding more than a one- point lead. At the 15-minute mark they were level on five points apiece and they went in at the interval also level, with nine points each.

Tracton did make the better start to the second half and threatened to pull clear with three points, two from Walsh frees and another from Joe Kingston.

But Crowley, Jason Hickey and Darren Crowley responded to keep the sides level again at 0-12 each by the midway point.

Tracton then eased ahead by two points again with scores in the 17th and 20th minutes.

Bandon showed their resolve when equalising before Walsh gave Tracton a one-point lead with a 57th-minute score. They doggedly held that advantage before conceding a free at the same time that Joe Kingston was red carded for an off- the-ball incident. Crowley duly pointed and Bandon lived to deservedly fight another day.

Scorers for Bandon: R Crowley 0-7 (0-6 from frees), J Hickey and D Crowley 0-3 each, M Sugrue and M Cahalane 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tracton: 0-7 (0-5 from frees, one 65), K Lynch, G Kingston, J Kingston 0-2 each, S O’Sullivan, J Good 0-1 each.

BANDON: J O’Mahony; P Crowley, J O’Donovan, J Burke; E O’Donovan, J Walsh, K Hurley; J Harrington, D Crowley; M Sugrue, P Murphy, J Hickey; M Cahalane, A Johnson, R Crowley.

Subs: C Dullea for Harrington (40), D Lucey for Johnson (51).

TRACTON: D Walsh; T McGuinness, M Barry, C McGuinness; R Cronin, S O’Sullivan, K Corrigan; K Lynch, F Lynch; Joe Kingston, B Lynch, G Kingston; R Walsh, M O’Sullivan, John Kingston.

Sub: J Good for John Kingston (47)

Referee: M Maher (St Finbarr’s).