Classy Castlehaven set up mouth-watering Ballincollig clash

Castlehaven 1-14 St Finbarr’s 1-10 (Cork SFC Round 4): Castlehaven returned to the scene of last year’s championship humiliation but, looking renewed and refocused, the west Cork men displayed their innate hunger for battle to overcome a gutsy St. Finbarr’s in an entertaining Cork SFC clash on Saturday.

Last eight territory will be nothing new to ‘Haven but when facing 2014 champions, Ballincollig, the 2012 and 2013 winners will meet a new force in Cork football in what will be billed the battle of the champions.

To get there, ‘Haven needed to draw on all their championship mettle to subdue the ‘Barr’s. Slow to settle, the five-time champions eventually took a foothold of a free-flowing game to lead by three at the break. And, while their resolve was tested by a never-say-die Barr’s fifteen, Haven’s superior teamwork and shooting power helped them over the finish line.