Muskerry off to winning start as they ease past Carbery

Carbery are out again next week against Duhallow, whilst Muskerry take on Duhallow in the final group game later this month.

WINNING START: Muskerry's Eoin O'Shea shoots and knocks the hurley from Carbery's Peter Collins during the Co-Op Superstores Cork divisions/colleges SHC at Macroom. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Co-Op Superstores Cork SHC: Muskerry 3-15 Carbery 2-9

Captain Eoin O’Shea and Cian O’Driscoll combined for 2-9 as Muskerry got off to a winning start in the Co-Op Superstores Cork SHC Divisions/Colleges (unseeded) at Macroom on Tuesday evening.

They won by nine points in the end but they had plenty more possession and Diarmuid Kirwan’s side will be disappointed to have racked up 19 wides (seven for Carbery), while several more shots dropped short in the first half when playing into the wind.

Nevertheless, there was no disputing their supremacy, and with just three divisions participating in this section of the competition, they are in a good position.

They led 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.  O’Driscoll’s goal came in the 19th minute after Adam Dinan’s shot was blocked by corner-back Ryan Scanlon to put them 1-2 to 0-3 up.

Mark Hickey (a late replacement for Séadhna Crowley who got injured in the warm-up) replied three minutes later for Carbery when he planted a low shot to the net for his side to regain the lead.

Four unanswered points on the run up to the interval left Muskerry two ahead.

The mid Cork division started to pull away in the second half.  They were 2-13 to 1-8 in front when Tadhg O’Connell belted their second goal in the 53rd minute.

Conal Cullinane got one back for Carbery a minute from time (2-14 to 2-8) but O’Shea, who was menacing throughout, hit Muskerry’s third goal in the second minute of stoppage.

Carbery, managed by David Whyte, are out again next week against Duhallow, whilst Muskerry take on Duhallow in the final group game later this month.

Scorers for Muskerry: E O’Shea (1-6, 0-2 frees, 0-1 65), C O’Driscoll (1-3), T O’Connell (1-1), A Dinan and S Joyce (0-2 each), P O’Sullivan (0-1).

Scorers for Carbery: M Hickey (1-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), C Cullinane (1-0), B O’Donovan (0-2), J O’Donovan, J Lucey and B Deasy (0-1 each).

MUSKERRY: J Linehan (Ballincollig); B Corcoran (Éire Óg), M Brady (Éire Óg), F Denny (Ballincollig); P O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue), C McGoldrick (Éire Óg), D O’Sullivan (Ballincollig); O O’Driscoll (Cloughduv), S Joyce (Grenagh); M Bradley (Aghabullogue), E O’Shea (Éire Óg, Capt), C O’Driscoll (Ballincollig); A Dinan (Donoughmore), J Dwyer (Ballincollig), T O’Connell (Ballincollig).

Subs: P Kelly (Ballincollig) for T O’Connell (45-47 bs), P Kelly for M Bradley (51), D Dineen (Éire Óg) for O O’Driscoll (57), O O’Shea (Éire Óg) for A Dinan (59), R Murphy (Kilmichael) for S Joyce (60), J Devine (Cloughduv) for C O’Driscoll (62).

CARBERY: M Whelton (Barryroe); R Scanlon (St Mary’s), S O’Riordan (Barryroe), C Murphy (Kilbree); B Deasy (Kilbree), P Collins (Randal Óg), B Butler (Kilbrittain); E Ryan (Clonakilty), J O’Donovan (Kilbrittain);  M Hickey (Kilbrittain), G O’Donovan (Diarmuid Ó Mathúna, Capt), D Collins (Randal Óg); B O’Donovan (Ballinascarthy), C Cullinane (Ballinascarthy), J Lucey (Diarmuid Ó Mathúna).

Subs: P O’Sullivan (Randal Óg) for J Lucey (41), R Lucey (Diarmuid Ó Mathúna) for D Collins (53), C O’Neill (Randal Óg) for C Murphy (55), N Hilliard (Diarmuid Ó Mathúna) for R Scanlon (60).

Referee: Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).