Castlemartyr surge comes up shy as Watergrasshill edge thriller

It's two wins from two for the Hill, who struck for three decisive first half goals

MARKSMAN: Castlemartyr's Mike Kelly attempts to break away from Watergrasshill's Aaron Spriggs during Sunday's Cork Premier IHC clash at  Aghavine. Pic: Howard Crowdy

Cork Premier IHC: Watergrasshill 3-12 Castlemartyr 1-16.

A thrilling battle between two top Premier IHC hopefuls – but in the end it was Watergrasshill that pulled through after a nervy second half.

Despite winning the toss, Castlemartyr chose to play into the wind for the first half, and they coughed up three goals as a result of it.

The early goals for the Hill meant the 2022 Premier IHC runners-up were chasing the game throughout, and Castlemartyr struggled to make their wind advantage count for much of the third quarter.

They trailed by nine after 40 minutes, but Mike Kelly raised the bar and a couple of frees suddenly had Castlemartyr back in it with a quarter to go.

Points from play through Mike O’Dwyer and Kelly were sandwiched by a free from Adam Murphy, and the gap now stood at six.

Murphy hit one back again from a free, but Kelly delivered. He was unstoppable, and five strikes returned five scores. Suddenly the east Cork men were right in the mix, trailing by two points five four to go.

In the 59th minute – a long ball in from Joyce would have given Castlemartyr the goal they needed, were it not for Michael O’Driscoll Aiden Foley couldn’t get control of the ball under pressure and it rolled right across the Hill’s goal. In front of the open net it was a race between Barry Lawton and O’Driscoll, but the latter won, poking it out for a 65.

Kelly converted to reduce the deficit to the minimum heading into added time, but Castlemartyr couldn’t find an equaliser, and a late free from Murphy ensured victory for Watergrasshill.

The crucial goals for Watergrasshill all came in the first 20 minutes, and put their opponents up against it from the start. The first, from Adam Murphy’s long range sideline, was low and powerful. It snuck by everyone and found its way into the net, 1-1 to 0-1.

A defensive mistake from Castlemartyr allowed the Hill a clean shot at goal – and Brendan Lehane made no mistake, 2-4 to 0-2 with 14 minutes elapsed.

The last goal was perhaps the most bizarre – as goalkeeper Aiden Foley struck it from his own 20 metre line, and it caught Derek Bowens out, 3-4 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.

While Castlemartyr did goal at the end of the half through Billy McGann, they had a long way back and succumbed as a result of the damage dealt by their opponents in the first half.

Scorers for Watergrasshill: A Murphy (1-7, 1-0 s/l, 3f, 1 65), B Lehane (1-3), A Foley (1-0), S Desmond, M O’Driscoll (0-1 each).

Scorers for Castlemartyr: M Kelly (0-11, 5f, 3 65s), B McGann (1-0), M O’Dwyer (0-3), Barry Lawton, Brian Lawton (0-1 each).

WATERGRASSHILL: A Foley; S Field, D McCarthy, I O’Callaghan; M O’Driscoll, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; A Spriggs, C O’Leary; A Cronin, B Lehane, P Cronin; S Desmond (Cpt), P O’Leary, A Murphy.

Subs: D Roche for O’Callaghan (30 inj), L Foley for P Cronin (40), J McCarthy for P O’Leary (45), C Healy for C O’Leary (55), D O’Farrell for Field (59).

CASTLEMARTYR: D Bowens; J Lawton, C Joyce, C Martin; D Joyce, Brian Lawton, B O’Tuama;

C Whyte, M Kelly; J McGann, E Martin, Barry Lawton; B McGann, M O’Dwyer, C O’Neill.

Subs: J Stack for E Martin (47), D Leahy for O’Neill (53), C Sice for D Joyce (59).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).