Castlehaven begin league campaign on right note, Carrigaline take Ballincollig scalp

Michael Hurley was Haven's star forward last year and he hit 1-2 of their total here, the goal coming at the end of the opening quarter.

Sun, 03 Mar, 2024 - 15:51

John Coleman

Cork county champions, Castlehaven, got their McCarthy Insurance Group football league campaign off to a winning start when they defeated Douglas by 1-12 to 2-7 in Moneyvollahane on Saturday.

Michael Hurley was their star forward last year and he hit 1-2 of their total here, the goal coming at the end of the opening quarter.

Kevin Shanahan cancelled it out for Douglas six minutes later. Ciarán Joyce was in form for the city side as he kicked 0-3 and a goal from Brian Hartnett after the break kept them in contention.

The Haven finished the stronger, however. 0-3 from Mark Collins and 0-2 from Conor O’Driscoll and Cathal Maguire were essential to the cause before a late Sean Browne point sealed the win.

In Carrigaline on Sunday morning a storming second half from the home side saw them defeat Ballincollig by 0-12 to 0-9.

They trailed by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval with Niall Coakley and Evan Ryle splitting the posts but a much improved second half display saw them home.

Éanna Desmond kicked 0-3, Niall Coakley added another 0-2 to his tally, his brother Brian also registered a brace while Adam Cohalan and Jack McCarthy had 0-1 each as they returned to the top flight in style.

In Ovens, there was no separating Éire Óg and Carbery Rangers.

The West Cork men made the early running as they led by 2-3 to 0-6 at the break. The goals both came in the opening 10 minutes as Peadar O’Rourke and Daragh Hayes billowed the net while Hayes, John O’Rourke and Paul Shanahan all raised white flags too.

The sides went tit for tat after the interval with Hayes, O’Rourke and Pa Hurley keeping the Carbery Rangers scoreboard ticking over while Rian O’Flynn kicked 0-4 off play for Éire Óg over the hour and Conor McGoldrick tapped over a couple of frees.

Colm Clifford was outstanding for the hosts, and then, at the death, Michael Murphy bundled the ball to the net to secure his side a share of the spoils.

In Trabeg, Nemo Rangers took on a Newcestown team who were in a buoyant mood after being promoted from Division 2 and winning the SAF title last season.

In a tight and tense encounter a goal from Colm Kiely and 0-2 each from the boots of Jack Coogan and Paul Kerrigan helped Nemo to a 1-10 to 0-10 win.

Last year’s league champions, St Finbarr’s, will get begin their defence of the title against Cill na Martra next Sunday.

In Division 2, Dohenys made it 2 wins from 2 as they defeated Kiskeam by 0-12 to 0-7 on Saturday.

The West Cork men had beaten their neighbours from O’Donovan Rossa by 2-13 to 2-7 last weekend and they continued in that vein here. Two of their vaunted inside trio, Mark Buckley and Keith White, were in top form as they kicked 0-4 each while Gavin Farr helped himself to 0-3.

Paudie Cronin had their other score, and he was also denied a goal by Kiskeam ‘keeper, Anthony Casey.

Thomas Casey and Gene Casey did the heavy lifting for Kiskeam up front as they kicked 0-3 and 0-2 respectively.

O’Donovan Rossa bounced back from their opening-round defeat in impressive style as they defeated newly promoted Knocknagree by 3-12 to 0-13 in Skibbereen.

The home side blitzed their visitors in the first half, plundering three goals to leave them in the ascendency by 3-8 to 0-4 at the break.

Kevin Davis, Kevin Hurley and Niall Hurley struck for the goals while Elliott Connolly also impressed, and Ryan Price did what was needed in goals to quash any ideas Knoknagree may have had about a comeback.

St Michael’s and Clyda Rovers clashed in Mahon on Sunday morning and in a typically close encounter, it was the home side that emerged victorious.

The sides were tied at 0-4 each at the break with Eoghan Walsh and David Cooney on from for Clyda while Keith Hegarty was sharp up front for Michael’s.

The result of the game hinged on an 8-minute spell after the break that saw Michael’s strike for 2 goals through Domhnall Cremin and Liam Grainger. Colin Kelly did respond from the penalty spot for Clyda, but it was Michael’s who took the points as it finished up 2-6 to 1-7.

Valley Rovers suffered relegation last season, but they showed in Brinny on Sunday morning that they will be a force to be reckoned with as they defeated Fermoy by 0-11 to 0-3.

Fiachra Lynch and Johnny Kiely helped them into a 0-4 to 0-2 interval lead and from there, they powered to victory as Ciarán McCarthy kicked 0-2 as the likes of Adam Walsh Murphy, Eoin Guinane and Adam Kenneally all got in on the act too while Daniel O'Flynn, Tomás Clancy and David Lardner were Fermoy's scorers.

Clonakilty and Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh will get their campaigns underway on St Patrick’s weekend.