Lawton brothers seal final spot for Castlemartyr

Castlemartyr2-14 Cloughduv 0-15

Cork JAHC; Castlemartyr finally overcame their Cloughduv hoodoo at Páirc Uí Rinn, with a late spurt of four points from Barry and Brian Lawton earning the East Cork side a first Junior A hurling final appearance in 50 years.

In an entertaining semi-final replay, a pair of first-half goals from Cian Haines and Jamie Stack helped Castlemartyr to a three point lead, despite playing against the wind.

Cloughduv’s hero from the drawn game, Colm Ryan, was denied with a pair of close range goal chances but his accuracy from placed balls, allied to Jonathan Buckley’s double save, closed the gap to the minimum with seven minutes remaining. However, Cloughduv couldn’t score from play in the final minutes as the Lawtons added the insurance scores.

Ballinhasssig will have to counter that duo in the final, while Castlemartyr are also guaranteed a Munster Club championship appearance against Kenmare Shamrocks in a fortnight.

Scorers for Castlemartyr: Barry Lawton (0-8, 4fs, 1 65), C Haines, J Stack (1-0 each), Brian Lawton (0-3), D McAuliffe, Briain Ó Tuama, Barra Ó Tuama (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cloughduv: C Ryan (0-11, 8fs, 1 65), D Ring, S O’Connor (0-2 each).

CASTLEMARTYR: E McGovern; E Roynane, R O’Donavan, O Smiddy; D O Tuama, Briain Ó Tuama, A Bowens; B Smiddy, Barra Ó Tuama; D McAuliffe, Brian Lawton, Barry Lawton; C Haines, S Hennessy, J Stack.

Subs: P Horgan for B Smiddy (22), L Martin for D O Tuama (46), J Smiddy for Horgan (53), C Bowens for Roynane and B Smiddy for Haines (56).

CLOUGHDUV: J Buckley; P O’Sullivan, A Ahern, L Kelleher; A Cronin, D O’Leary, J McCarthy; G Ahern, A Murphy; S O’Connor, D Ring, D Corkery; J Ryan, C Ryan, M Verling.

Subs: B Ahern for O’Leary (24), W Ahern for Kelleher and J Lucey for G Ahern (ht), D McCarthy for J Ryan (53), M Deasy for O’Connor (57).

Referee: J Larkin (Douglas).