St Nick's lead from the gun to relegate St James'

Cork senior hurlers Robert and Eoin Downey played their part for St Nick’s.

Robert Downey of St Nick's holding off the challenge of Joe O'Sullivan for St James'. Picture: Denis Boyle

Cork Premier JFC relegation play-off: St Nicholas’ 1-11 St James’ 0-12 

Despite not being able to build up a gap greater than four during the 60 minutes, St Nick’s established a lead within 30 seconds against St James' as Eoin Downey found the back of the net, and they remained in front throughout.

St James’ ensured the northsiders were never comfortable, but the goal continued to elude them, and proved costly as they were relegated from the Premier Junior Football Championship.

The Carbery side came closest in the 43rd minute, as Conor and Frank Hayes combined to tee up Ian Evans for a white flag, leaving it 1-8 to 0-10.

The northsiders seemed to forge a scoring chance of their own every time James’ looked to be finding their rhythm, this time through midfielder Kenneth McCarthy Coade on the 45 minute mark.

But two more points, the first from Gavin Marshal - the northsiders best performer on the day - preceded Danny Morris’ free, left St Nick’s back in front by three once more, with 52 minutes elapsed.

But their opponents wouldn’t give up.

Jamie Corkery for St Nick's breaking through the tackle of Tadhg Feen. Picture Denis Boyle

They created a goal chance to tie it in the 62nd minute, but a superb diving block from Ben Heffernan ensured Frank Hayes would not find the equaliser.

A minute later, Donnacha McCarthy struck for goal – but it was just over the bar. With the gap at two they had hope, but St James’ couldn’t find a way through.

Robert and Eoin Downey played their part for St Nick’s, with the latter’s early goal firing them in front, as Donagh Coughlan and Josh Galvin set up the Cork senior hurler.

Morris assisted Marshall for the next point after four minutes, but scores from Joe O’Sullivan and Frank Hayes had it 1-1 to 0-2 after 11 minutes.

James’ struggled against the crosswind and the teams traded scores four times, until Coughlan and Marshall put them back into a four point lead at the break, 1-7 to 0-6.

On the resumption the west Cork side came out swinging and again their two most effective forwards – Hayes and O’Sullivan raised white flags to leave it 1-7 to 0-8 after 35 minutes.

St James’ Alan O’Shea did well to get away from Heffernan before teeing up Hayes for a point, 1-8 to 0-9 with 40 minutes elapsed.

But Nick’s kept it tight at the back late on, and did enough to win – preserving their status at Premier Junior.

Scorers for St Nicholas’: G Marshall 0-6, E Downey 1-0, J Corkery 0-2 f, D Coughlan, K McCarthy Coade, D Morris (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for St James’: J O’Sullivan (2 f), F Hayes 0-4 each, I Evans 0-2, A O’Shea, D McCarthy 0-1 each.

ST NICHOLAS’: E Fuller; B Heffernan, E Varian, D Dunlea; F O’Driscoll, R Downey, Z Lynch; K McCarthy Coade, D Coughlan; E Downey, D Morris (Cpt), J Galvin; G Marshall, C Maguire, J Corkery.

Subs: D Brosnan for Maguire (HT), L Quilligan for Corkery (48), R Brosnan for Galvin (58-FT temp), S Horgan for E Downey (60+1 inj).

ST JAMES’: N Evans; Micheál McCarthy (B), D Hayes, T Feen; C Hayes, K O’Leary, P Whelton; C Whelton, J O’Driscoll; C Hennessy, J O’Sullivan, D White; A O’Shea, C Hayes, F Hayes (Cpt).

Subs: I Evans for O’Shea (15-19 temp), Micheál McCarthy (D) for McCarthy (B) (22 inj), Evans for O’Shea (41), D McCarthy for White (50), J O’Sullivan for Whelton (58 inj), K O’Brien for Evans (60+4).

Referee: Ciarán O’Regan (Ballyhea)