Cork SFL: In-form Knocknagree pip Nemo, no separating Newcestown and Barrs

The recently promoted side now have five points from a possible eight.

Sun, 12 Apr, 2026 - 10:54

Jack McKay

Cork Football Leagues roundup round 4

Knocknagree continued their flying start to life in the top flight of the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League, edging out Nemo Rangers by a point at home on Sunday.

The recently promoted side and Senior A champions of last year now have five points from a possible eight. Knocknagree were ahead at the break, 0-9 to 0-7, but pushed on in the second half when Denis R O’Connor – who finished with 1-2 – caught Fintan O’Connor’s ball in and buried to the net.

Nemo would get back into contention, Conor Horgan clipping scores before Ronan Dalton grabbed a goal back for the City side.

They couldn’t find an equaliser, though, leaving Knocknagree victorious on a 1-13 to 1-12 scoreline. John Fintan Daly’s team now move to second, tied three ways with Clonakilty and Cill na Martra. Nemo Rangers now have three defeats in four and sit seventh. Anthony O’Connor scored 0-4 (1 tp, 0-1 f) for Knocknagree, while Horgan top-scored for Nemo with 0-6 (1 tpf).

Division 1 leaders St Finbarr’s continued their unbeaten start, but failed to put Newcestown to the sword on Saturday, their contest ending in a draw, 1-9 apiece.

Richard O’Sullivan was the Newcestown hero as they battled back from a five-point deficit in dire conditions. The Barrs led 1-9 to 1-4 with 19 minutes left to play, but the Carbery side fought back to close the gap, Colm O’Donovan then teed up O’Sullivan for the leveller.

Both sides finished with 14 men. Eoghan Collins was shown two yellows, while John Wigginton-Barrett was black-carded shortly after. Cillian Myers Murray was the Barrs’ primary scorer, he kicked 1-5 (1-2 from play), while Enda Dennehy clipped 0-2. Richard O’Sullivan finished with 0-6 (0-3 from play) as Humphrey Canty kicked 1-1 for Newcestown, in a game where two-pointers were unavailable due to the poor visibility.

Saturday’s conditions affected the west Cork derby between Clonakilty and Castlehaven too – they played out a draw, 0-6 each – with only four points tallied in the second half, all from Castlehaven.

Cathal Maguire’s two-pointer preceded a point each from Conor Nolan and Seán Browne, which left the teams level after 43 minutes, but neither side managed another score in the remaining 17 minutes. Darragh Gough was Clon’s top scorer with 0-3 (1 tp, 0-1 f).

A dominant second-half display from Carbery Rangers saw the west Cork side hammer Douglas to finish 5-11 to 2-5 winners. Paul Hodnett ended the game with a resounding 3-6 (2-1 from play), while Mark Hodnett and Peadar O’Rourke got the other Carbery Rangers goals.

The score was 1-3 to 1-2 at the break in favour of Douglas, Adam Cantwell having scored a penalty while David Buckley netted their other goal in the second half. The southsiders remain on zero points with four defeats from four.

Also in Division 1, Cill na Martra finished strongly to secure a win in Ovens against Éire Óg, 0-13 to 0-10. Dan Ó Duinnín, Shane Ó Duinnín and Micheál Ó Deasúna each scored 0-3 for the Gaeltacht side, while Éire Óg’s top scorers were Dylan Foley and Brian Thompson (0-3 apiece).

In Division 2, Ballincollig got the better of St Michael’s to register their third win in a row, a 1-12 to 1-8 victory as Cian Aherne grabbed 1-2. Luke O’Herlihy scored 1-3 from play in the second half for Michael’s.

Uibh Laoire fell to their first defeat of the campaign in a one-point defeat to Carrigaline, 0-13 to 0-12. Cathal Vaughan scored 0-4 – including a two-pointer – while Éanna Desmond kicked 0-5 with two orange flags.

Clyda Rovers almost turned a five-point deficit early in the second half into a one-point win by the finish, but Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh levelled at the death for it to conclude 2-6 to 0-12.

Sean O’Sullivan and Kevin Graham grabbed a goal each for Rovers. The other Division 2 games set to take place were Dohenys v Castletownbere and O’Donovan Rossa v Valley Rovers, but both were postponed.

In Division 3, four teams remain tied at the top on six points after the first four rounds. Bishopstown got the better of Fermoy as Neil Crowley got the only goal in a 1-15 to 1-14 win, while Conor Dunne kicked three points from play.

Mallow defeated Rockchapel 0-11 to 1-3, Aghabullogue continued their strong start to the campaign as they beat Newmarket 2-12 to 0-16, while Kanturk saw off Bandon by two points, 1-18 to 3-10. Naomh Abán moved up to fifth in Division 3 after beating Kilshanning, 1-22 to 0-18.

In Division 4, Nemo Rangers’ second team beat Macroom 2-14 to 1-7 to go top of the table. Glanmire sit two points behind in second – tied with Buttevant and Adrigole – after the Seandún side defeated Aghada, 3-12 to 1-17.