West Cork trio remain at Cork league summit

Clonakilty, Carbery Rangers and Castlehaven set the pace in Cork's Division 1

James Kennefick of St Finbarr’s chases Sean Browne, Castlehaven in the MCCARTHY INSURANCE Group Football League Division 1 game at Castlehaven. Picture: Larry Cummins

Three West Cork clubs occupy the top positions as we head towards the business end of the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork GAA Division 1 county league campaign.

Clonakilty, Carbery Rangers and Castlehaven, along with Knocknagree, are separated by two points at the summit of the Division 1 standings.

League leaders Clonakilty registered their fourth victory in six outings at home to Cill na Martra and moved a point clear of the chasing pack in Ahamilla last Friday evening.

Martin O’Brien’s side were pushed to the limit by the Muskerry club throughout an even contest. Fergal Murphy’s first half goal handed the hosts a 1-7 to 0-6 interval advantage.

Cill na Martra dominated the third quarter, turning a four-point deficit into a four-point lead. Clonakilty finished strongly however, kicking the final four points to emerge the narrowest of winners, 1-14 to 0-16, and maintain top spot.

Jason Mac Cárthaigh (0-6) and Dano Ó Duinnín (0-5) provided the bulk of Cill na Martra’s scorers with Seán Ó Foirréidh, Shane Ó Duinnín and Eoin Ó Conaill also on target. The winners’ scoresheet included Ross Mannix (0-4), Fergal Murphy (1-0), Tom Clancy, Des Kenneally, Brian White, Darragh Gough and Ben Ridgeway.

A fourth consecutive Division 1 victory for Carbery Rangers put Robbie Ahern’s side into second place courtesy of a 3-13 to 1-13 win at home to Nemo Rangers. Nemo were reduced to 14 for much of the second period after Alan O’Donovan’s 37th-minute dismissal.

Free-scoring Carbery were already three points ahead at that juncture and stretched that advantage to seven heading towards full time.

Despite suffering a fourth county league defeat, Nemo will look to Ross Corkery (0-8) and Dara O’Sullivan (1-2) to try and move up the table over their three remaining games.

Carbery Rangers’ productive campaign continued thanks to Darragh Hayes and Peadar O’Rourke each contributing 1-2. Paul Hodnett (0-4), Dylan O’Neill (1-0), Ciarán Santry, John O’Rourke and Mark Hodnett were also on target.

Former Cork senior footballer Mark Collins helped Castlehaven see off old rivals St Finbarr’s in a high-scoring midweek contest at Moneyvollahane.

The last remaining undefeated Division 1 club won an entertaining game 1-18 to 0-17 thanks, in part, to Collins’ four-point haul and an all-action midfield display.

Seán Browne’s 1-3 proved equally crucial to a Castlehaven team that also had Jack Cahalane (0-5), William O’Donovan, David Whelton, Kevin O’Donovan and Donnacha O’Donovan on their scoresheet.

As for St Finbarr’s, a second consecutive Division 1 defeat has the current Cork Premier SFC county champions sitting in mid-table. Bill O’Connell top-scored with five points on an evening when Cillian Myers-Murray (0-3), Darragh Newman, Cian O’Sullivan, Ricky Barrett and John Wigginton-Barrett also contributed.

Knocknagree remain in Division 1 title contention thanks to a convincing 3-17 to 0-11 win away to Éire Óg.

The Duhallow side racked up their third league success thanks to Denis R O’Connor (two) and Michael McSweeney green flags. Leading from pillar to post, Knocknagree rebounded from their previous loss to Douglas in the best possible fashion.

O’Connor finished with 2-5 in a fixture Anthony O’Connor, David O’Connor, Gearoid Looney, Tadc O’Mahony, David Twomey and Matthew Dilworth also scored.

Éire Óg’s fourth Division 1 loss leaves the Ovens club precariously positioned one point above bottom placed Douglas.

The latter lost 1-12 to 0-10 at home to a Newcestown team that had Richard O’Sullivan, Luke Meade, Eoghan Collins, Seamus O’Sullivan and Colm O’Donovan amongst their scorers. Cork U20 footballer Seán Coakley’s eight-point haul couldn’t prevent another Douglas defeat.

Into Division 2 where Uibh Laoire enjoy a three-point advantage over a chasing pack containing Carrigaline, Dohenys, Clyda Rovers and Ballincollig.

Uibh Laoire needed an Oisín Herlihy goal to help see off Castletownbere 1-11 to 0-11 and maintain top spot. Six Shane Barry points saw Dohenys overcome St Michael’s 1-17 to 0-9 while Seán O’Sullivan and Patrick Ryan goals enabled Clyda to defeat fellow promotion-chasers Ballincollig 2-13 to 1-14.

Bishopstown have moved to the summit of Division 3 courtesy of a 1-13 to 0-11 defeat of Naomh Abán. Gary Holland (1-4), Conor Dunne and Mark Scally were amongst Bishopstown’s scorers.