Less drama this time round as Castlehaven see off Barrs

Cork champions Castlehaven set up another final date with Nemo Rangers

Castlehaven's Damien Cahalene is tackled by St. Finbarr's Brian Hayes during the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC semi-final at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Cork Premier SFC semi-final: Castlehaven 0-18 St Finbarrs 0-14

The most one-sided of the five semi-final clashes. The biggest winning margin of the five semi-final clashes. Castlehaven significantly the better side. Caslehaven take a 3-2 lead in this rivalry with the Barrs. Castlehaven still in the hunt for back-to-back county titles.

Given Castlehaven were never led from the ninth minute and given Castlehaven’s lead was never less than three throughout the second period, there shouldn’t have been the late drama there was. Then again, what would a Barrs-Haven county semi-final be without a smidgen of drama.

On 56 minutes, Barrs full-forward Brian Hayes fetched and offloaded to Steven Sherlock. With the goal at his mercy, Sherlock blazed his effort off the post. In the ensuing play, Conor Cahalane provided his second assist since being introduced for Brian Hurley’s 11th white flag of this contest.

From a potential Barrs goal and a one-point game, Castlehaven were 0-16 to 0-11 in front.

The gap was three, 0-17 to 0-14, when Hayes again fetched from the clouds. On this occasion, he went himself. His drive for an equalising goal was superbly blocked by a diving Johnny O’Regan block. Castlehaven again swept the length of the field. Jack Cahalane threw over his third to move the Haven into an uncatchable four-point advantage.

Beyond those two goal chances, there wasn’t much more to say about the Barrs’ effort. There is plenty to say about a controlled and dominant Haven performance where they created and exploited so well the space in the opposition half of the field.

In last year’s semi-final, Michael Hurley tormented like no other. Six from play, and a mark. In this latest semi-final, he was whipped off by the 38th minute.

Tormenting on this occasion was older brother Brian. The Barrs could do nothing about him, try and all as Alan O’Connor did.

The champions enjoyed an 0-11 to 0-7 interval advantage. Of that 0-11, he was responsible for 0-8. Within that was six from play, a mark, and a free he won himself.

His last two first-half contributions off the left were superb. O'Connor almost got a glove to Thomas O'Mahony's pass to the Haven No.11 on the half hour. Hurley, as was the case throughout, was that split second quicker, pocketed the pass in a flash and whipped the ball between the posts.

Cathal Maguire too deserves mention. He created and orchestrated so much from the centre-forward berth.

Wastefulness temporarily crept into the champions’ play after half-time. Hurley had his first wide. Mark Collins hit the post. Jack Cahalane saw his goal effort tipped away by ‘keeper Darragh Newman.

This wastefulness went unpunished. The Barrs managed only three white flags in the 21 minutes after half-time.

Their litany of injuries eventually caught up with them. Where Damien and Conor Cahalane did not start for the Haven, they were at least able to enter the play. And in the case of Conor, influence the play upon introduction.

The Barrs were minus Sam Ryan, Billy Hennessy, Fionn Crowley, and Dylan Quinn. Four defensive options they could have done with.

So, a second successive Nemo-Castlehaven final. Is there a big two emerging within Cork's big three?

Scorers for Castlehaven: B Hurley (0-11, 0-3 frees, 0-1 mark); J Cahalane (0-3); C Maguire (0-2); A Whelton, S Browne (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: S Sherlock (0-6, 0-3 frees); E Twomey (0-3); B Hayes (0-2); J Wigginton Barrett, C Myers Murray (0-1).

CASTLEHAVEN: D Cahalane; T O’Mahony, J O’Regan, J O’Driscoll; J Walsh, J O’Neill, M Collins; A Whelton, R Maguire; R Minihane, C Maguire, J Cahalane; S Browne, B Hurley, M Hurley.

Subs: M Maguire for M Hurley (38); C Cahalane for Minihane (40); C O’Driscoll for Browne (54); Damien Cahalane for Walsh (56); R Whelton for A Whelton (60).

ST FINBARR’S: D Newman; E Dennehy, A O’Connor, C Scully; C Lyons, J Burns, B O’Connell; I Maguire, E Twomey; E McGreevey, W Buckley, C Doolan; J Wigginton Barrett, B Hayes, S Sherlock.

Subs: E Finn for McGreevey (HT); C Myers Murray for B O’Connell (53).

Referee: D Murnane