Cork football league: Clonakilty and Nemo Rangers start as they mean to go on

It was a weekend of draws elsewhere. 

DOUBLE TEAM: Douglas's Kevin Shanahan sandwiched between Nemo Rangers' Eoin Nation and Matt Hill during the McCarthy Insurance Group dividsion 1 league game at Trabeg. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Clonakilty and Nemo Rangers were the only winners on a weekend of draws in the opening round of the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 county football league.

A West Cork derby between Carbery Rangers and Clonakilty produced 32 scores and an entertaining contest in Rosscarbery.

Last year’s Division 1 runners-up, Clonakilty, outlasted their newly promoted opponents 0-18 to 1-13 amid difficult conditions.

Kerry native Dara Ó Sé top scored for the visitors with seven points including a brace of two-pointed efforts.

Six points up at the break, thanks to the aid of a strong wind, Clonakilty utilised scoring bursts in both remaining quarters to see off a dogged opponent.

It was 0-13 to 0-12 in the visitors’ favour with 13 minutes remaining when Sean McEvoy (2), Dara Ó Sé and Sean White efforts looked to have won it for Clon.

Not so as a Barry Kerr rocket into the top corner and Darragh Hayes effort left the bare minimum in it with time almost up.

It was fitting that the game’s standout forward, Ó Sé, grabbed the match-clinching score.

Clonakilty will be hoping for a positive league campaign ahead of another assault on this year’s Premier SFC.

“To be fair, it was the first game of the year and Rosscarbery is a tough place to come and, to be honest with you, we are trying to build a bigger panel (during the league),” Clonakilty Head Coach Eoin Ryan said.

“The two points is important for us even though I thought we were sluggish enough starting off. Then we got going and I was happy enough after that.” 

Paul Hodnett’s six point-haul and Kerr’s late green flag weren’t enough to salvage something from an encouraging Carbery Rangers display.

Plying their trade in this year’s Senior AFC, manger Robbie Ahern understands the benefit of facing Division 1 opponents ahead of the championship.

“There were plenty of positives there,” Ahern admitted.

“Conditions dictated a game of two halves where Clon handled the second half fairly well. Matches like this are going to stand to us and we just have to make sure we are here again next year.” Elsewhere in Division 1, Nemo Rangers sounded an early warning by comfortably seeing off Douglas 0-18 to 1-6 in Trabeg.

Brian Hayes was the game’s standout performer, delivering 0-9 of his side’s winning total. Ross Corkery, Colm Kiely and Ronan Dalton each contributed two points apiece during an impressive Rangers performance.

Niall Hartnett’s goal close to the hour mark was of little consolation to a Douglas team in which goalkeeper Andrew Cotter stood out.

Reigning league champions St Finbarr’s were held to a 0-14 to 0-14 draw by Knocknagree in Togher.

Ian Maguire featured for the Barr’s as the Cork senior was serving a one-match inter-county suspension.

An engaging contest, amid awful conditions, produced five two-pointers. The most important of those was Anthony O’Connor’s late leveller to earn Knocknagree a share of the spoils.

Denis O’Connor, Matthew Dilworth and Gearoid Looney were also amongst Knocknagree’s scorers while Cillian Myers Murray kicked eight of St Finbarr’s points.

The draws continued with Cill na Martra and Newcestown finishing level, 0-13 apiece in Cill na Martra. The West Cork side was three ahead with 9 minutes remaining only to concede their third two-pointer and a late equaliser.

Dano Ó Duinnín contributed 0-8, including two two-pointers, with Cianie Ó Foirréidh 0-2, Jason Mac Cárthaigh and Shane Ó Duinnín also featuring on Cill na Martra’s scoreboard.

Eoghan Collins and Richard O’Sullivan combined for seven of Newcestown’s points with Jack Meade, Ciarán O’Donovan, Colm O’Donovan and Micheál McSweeney also scoring.

Yet another Division 1 tie saw Éire Óg and Castlehaven finish 1-8 to 0-11 in Ovens.

Level at eight points apiece with less than quarter of an hour remaining, Chris Kelly brilliantly denied Mark Collins form the penalty spot.

Daniel Healy, who finished with 1-2, netted Éire Óg goal’s but a Collins white flag ensured the Haven left with a point.

Kevin O’Reilly, Niall Coakley and Brian Coakley goals earned Carrigaline a merited 3-14 to 1-13 Division 2 victory at home to Ballincollig on Saturday evening. Also in Division 2, O’Donovan Rossa outlasted Clyda Rovers 0-13 to 1-8 and Dohenys edged Valley Rovers 0-12 to 1-7.