Barrs, Clonakilty and Nemo neck and neck in race for Cork SFL Division 1 title
BALANCED: St Finbarrs' James Kennefick holds onto possession despite the pressure from Alan O'Hare of Douglas in their McCarthy Insurance Cork SFL Division 1 tie on Saturday in Togher. Pic: Jim Coughlan.
High-flying Clonakilty fell to their first defeat of the Cork SFL Division 1 campaign as Nemo Rangers bested them by a point in Trabeg. The result brought the hosts onto 12 points, along with Clon while St Finbarr’s joined them when they defeated Douglas on Saturday. Clon’s superior scoring difference leaves them top with two to play in what is now very much a three-horse race for the final.
It was Nemo’s ability to kick two-pointers that earned them a 1-16 to 1-15 win over the West Cork men. 0-10 of Nemo’s scores came from two-pointers. Ross Corkery kicked three while Ronan Dalton and Bryan Hayes also raised orange flags with Hayes supplementing his two-pointer with another 1-3 from play. Conor Daly once again showed his class for Clon, kicking 1-6 while he was ably assisted by Dara Ó Sé who helped himself to 0-5. Ó Sé’s fifth and a point from Luke Griffin tied the game up with time running out before Colm Kiely kicked the winer for the home side.
Two-pointers were also the story of the day in Togher Saturday as St Finbarr’s beat Douglas by 0-16 to 1-7. Steven Sherlock once again showed how suited his skills are to the new rules as he kicked 0-12 for the home side with 0-8 of that coming from outside the arc. Half of the remainder of his total come from play while Cillian Myers Murray and John Wigginton Barrett also raised orange flags. Douglas played with the wind in the opening half and led by 1-4 to 0-3 at the break. Adam Cantwell hit 1-1 for the visitors, while Conor Russell landed a couple of frees.
Newcestown kept their slim chance of reeling in one of the top three alive with their 0-18 to 1-9 win over Éire Óg. The west Cork men’s ability to kick from outside the arc was key again with 0-6 of David Buckley’s 0-8 coming from distance while Colum Dineen also got in on the act. Niall Kelly kicked 0-3 for Newcestown, while Jack Meade and Richard O’Sullivan both had a brace of points. Daniel Goulding and Jack Murphy both kicked 0-3 for the Ovens men, Johnny Galvin landed the goal while Brian Hurley scored 0-2.
Reigning county champions, Castlehaven, eased their relegation worries with a 3-15 to 1-15 win away to Carrigaline. The west Cork men were boosted by the availability of Conor Cahalane, Cathal Maguire and Rory Maguire. Cahalane bagged 1-2, Andrew Whelton and Robbie Minihane raised the other green flags while Michael Hurley kicked 0-6. Kevin O'Reilly shot 0-4 for Carrig, Kieran McCarthy hit 1-1 and Seán Andrews scored 0-3.
Finally, Cill na Martra's 3-9 to 0-14 win over St Michael's leaves the city side locked on two points with Carrig at the bottom of the table. Jason MacCárthaigh shot 0-5 for the Gaeltacht men while Ciarán Duinnín and Seán Ó Fóirréidh both hit 1-1. Luke O'Herlihy carried the fight for Michaels, kicking 0-12, with 0-8 of those being two-pointers.
In Division 2, Carbery Rangers confirmed their return to the topflight after they beat Fermoy by 1-23 to 0-11. The Rosscarbery outfit have been impressive all season as they possess one of only two perfect records across the divisions. John O’Rourke and Ciarán Santry led the way for them in this one, as they both kicked 0-7 with Santry hitting one two-pointer. Daragh Hayes helped himself to 0-5, Sam Linehan hit Fermoy for 1-1 while Peadar O’Rourke had a brace of points. The result also relegated Fermoy.
Knocknagree and Dohenys duked it out Sunday morning to see who would have the best chance of being promoted along with Carbery Rangers. Knocknagree's 1-11 to 1-10 win all but assured them of promotion and a place in the final. David O'Connor landed the goal for Knock, Anthony O'Connor kicked 0-6 while Denis O'Connor and Micheal McSweeney both shot 0-2.
O’Donovan Rossa moved into fourth spot as a result of their 1-13 to 0-10 win over Ballincollig. The home side trailed by 0-6 to 0-3 at the break but a goal from Thomas Hegarty helped them to turn the game around. Kevin Davis kicked 0-6, including a two-pointer while 0-2 of Dylan Hourihane’s 0-3 also came from outside the arc.
Béal Átha ‘n Ghaorthaidh are a point back from Rossa, with a game in hand, after they beat Kanturk by 2-12 to 0-15 on Saturday. Seán Ó Muineacháin had a goal in each half for the Gaeltacht men with the second one putting Béal Átha seven clear going into added time in the second half. Kanturk remain on two points and will need to get something from their games with Castletownbere and Ballincollig if they are to avoid the drop.
Finally, Castletownbere took a large step towards safety as a result of their 1-14 to 3-7 win over Valley Rovers in Brinny. Billy Murphy had the goal for the Beara men while Fintan Fenner and Gary Murphy both contributed 0-4 to the cause. Fiachra Lynch impressed for the Valleys, while Adam Walsh Murphy and Rory O’Sullivan shared the goals between them.
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