Clonakilty safely through to Premier SFC quarter-final with victory over St Michael's

Clonakilty started the afternoon bottom of Group 2 and St Michael’s were in second place, but a bad day at the office for the city team saw them miss out on qualification

Sun, 15 Sep, 2024 - 18:43

Therese O’Callaghan

Cork PSFC: Clonakilty 2-18 St Michael’s 1-6

Clonakilty were very impressive in their comprehensive victory over St Michael’s in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier SFC in Bandon on Sunday. It puts them safely through to the quarter-final and a meeting with Nemo Rangers.

Clonakilty started the afternoon bottom of Group 2 and St Michael’s were in second place, but a bad day at the office for the city team saw them miss out on qualification.

Castlehaven, as expected, finished top of the group and will go straight to the semi-final.

This was an outstanding performance from Clonakilty, 1 to 15 plus subs, they were totally on top.

Once Clonakilty gained a foothold courtesy of Darragh Gough’s goal in the fourth minute after the forward first-timed to the net when the ball fell in his path, they didn’t look back.

Gough (1-5) and Conor Daly (0-7) were in sublime form, in fact all across their forward line they were in tune.

Maurice Shanley blasted Clonakilty’s second goal six minutes from the break - brilliantly set up by Griffin Wharton and Ben Ridgeway - as they moved 2-7 to 0-4 ahead by the interval.

Even at the halfway mark, they never looked in danger.

St Michael’s were trying to make the most of whatever supply came their way but less than a handful of points was never going to suffice. They were struggling to make any sort of inroads - Eric Hegarty, Adam Hennessy, Luke O’Herlihy (free) and Rory O’Shaughnessy grabbing their points.

The second half continued one-way traffic.

Clonakilty backboned by Dan Peet and Tom Clancy at the heart of their defence gave nothing away as their forwards came at St Michael’s in droves.

They led 2-16 to 0-6 when sub Eoghan Buckley fired the St Michael’s goal in the 54th minute.

Scorers for Clonakilty: D Gough (1-5, 0-3 frees), C Daly (0-7, 0-3 frees), M Shanley (1-2), B Ridgeway, S McEvoy, N Barrett (mark) and G Wharton (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Michael’s: E Buckley (1-0), L O’Herlihy (0-2 frees), A Hennessy, A Murphy, R O’Shaughnessy and E Hegarty (0-1 each).

CLONAKILTY: M White (Capt); M Scally, D Peet, C Kenneally; S Murphy, T Clancy, D Lowney; M Shanley, B Ridgeway; S McEvoy, S White, R Mannix; D Gough, C Daly G Wharton.

Subs: B White for R Mannix (49 inj), N Barrett for S White (52 inj), F Murphy for D Lowney (58).

ST MICHAEL’S: M O’Connell; F Leahy, A O’Callaghan, J Golden; E Sheehan, D Meaney, R Kavanagh; E De Búrca, A Murphy (Capt); K Hegarty, R O’Shaughnessy A Hennessy; L O’Herlihy T Deasy, E Hegarty.

Subs: E Buckley for E Hegarty (inj), B Cain for E De Búrca (both half-time), S Murphy for A Hennessy (40), T Grainger for K Hegarty (49).

Referee: Pat O’Leary (Kilmurry).