Four-star Bride Rovers impress against 14-man Courceys
Courcey's Rory O'Callaghan fights for possession with Bride Rovers men Conor Gazelwood and Adam Walsh. Picture by Noel Sweeney
Bride Rovers took control of Group 3 in the Co-op Superstores Cork SAHC with an emphatic win over 14-man Courcey Rovers in Riverstown last night. A powerful second half that saw them fire four goals to take control of the game before a late rally from the Ballinspittle/Balinadee men.
There was only a point in at the break but as soon as Conleith Ryan goaled after latching onto a ball that broke off Adam Walsh three minutes after the interval, they took complete control. Walsh, Shane O’Connor and the excellent Cormac O’Sullivan all raised white flags before Ryan struck for his second major, slaloming in along the endline before firing past Michael O’Donovan.
Courceys had become too reliant on the excellent free taking of Richie Sweetnam and the game was all but over when Brian Roche flicked home goal number three with Walsh again causing havoc under the dropping ball. Roche shipped a heavy blow from O’Donovan in scoring his second goal that saw the Courceys ‘keeper sent to the line.
It was 4-17 to 0-16 with five minutes to play, but Courceys, to their credit, kept at it. Aidan O’Donovan set up Daniel O’Donovan for a goal. The later O’Donovan then pounced on a loose puck-out for a second but there was to be no fairytale as that man O’Sullivan fired two late points to help make it two wins from two for Bride Rovers.
The opening half was a tale of two halves in itself. Bride Rovers had the best of the opening fifteen minutes, taking a 0-8 to 0-4 lead before Courceys got a grip around the middle of the field meaning that when half time came, they trailed by 0-12 to 0-11.
The Rathcormac based side looked slick in their period of dominance. Eoin Roche was outstanding at full-back, Cillian Tobin was sweeping with aplomb while five players got their names on the scoresheet. Adam Walsh floated over three frees, Brian Roche scored one and made scores for Conleith Ryan and Louie Roche while Tobin and Shane O’Connor scored from deep.
Richie Sweetnam with two, Aidan O’Donovan and Tadhg O’Sullivan were on target for the Courceys, but soon they found their rhythm. Colin Roche took control at centre back and they gradually chipped away at the deficit. O’Donovan and Sweetnam continued to impress while Rory O’Callaghan fired over two beauties from midfield.
They had two chances to level it after the break, but from there, they’d no answer to the Bride onslaught. Courceys will need Blarney to beat Watergrasshill today to keep their hopes of qualification alive, while Bride Rovers are on the verge of knockout hurling.
A Walsh (0-8, 0-6 frees), B Roche and C Ryan (2-1 each), C O’Sullivan (0-4), S O’Connor (0-3), C Tobin, C Barry, K Kearney, L Roche and J Mannix (0-1 each).
R Sweetnam (0-9, 0-8 f), D O’Donovan (2-1), A O’Donovan and R O’Callaghan (0-3 each), B Ryan and T O’Sullivan (0-1 each).
C Hogan (JC); J Peters, E Roche, D Cashman; C Hazelwood, C Tobin, S O’Connor; C O’Sullivan, D Barry; C Ryan (JC), B Roche, K Kearney; L Roche, A Walsh, R O’Connell.
Subs: P O’Flynn for Kearney (39), C Barry for L Roche (45), J Mannix for O’Connell (56).
: M O’Donovan; D Collins, F Lordan, C Roche (c); K Collins, M Collins, L Collins; DJ Twomey, R O’Callaghan; R Sweetnam, O Crowley, T O’Sullivan; D O’Donovan, B Collins, A O’Donovan.
Subs: D Lordan for D Collins (inj, 21), B Ryan and C Crowley for O Crowley and B Collins (39), G Moore for O’Sullivan (inj, 51).
: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).
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