Castlehaven come from 13 points down to pip Nemo with last-gasp goal

CHASE: Nemo Rangers defender Neville O'Shea looks to disrupt the progress of Castlehaven's Micheal Maguire in Sunday's thrilling Cork SFL Division 1 tie at Trabeg. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

An intense McCarthy Insurance Group Cork SFL Division 1 title battle has five clubs separated by a mere two points at the summit.

Castlehaven and Clonakilty sit joint-top of Division 1 on ten points apiece. Newcestown, Knocknagree and Carbery Rangers are right behind following the weekend’s action and with only a couple of fixtures remaining.

Things are even tighter at the opposite end where bottom placed Douglas and Nemo Rangers sit a point adrift of Éire Óg.

A repeat of the 2023 and 2024 Premier SFC county finals saw Castlehaven stage a remarkable second half comeback to defeat Nemo in Trabeg on Sunday. Oisin Whyte netted after 26 minutes and that green flag helped Rangers build a 1-10 to 0-6 interval advantage. Another goal midway through the second half from Nemo’s Jack O’Brien looked to have decided the result.

Thirteen points behind at one stage of the second period, Castlehaven roused themselves in the closing quarter. The West Cork club slowly chipped away at Nemo’s lead thanks to a succession of Cathal Maguire, Danny O’Donovan and Conor Cahalane two-pointers.

Jamie Walsh’s goal completed Castlehaven’s incredible comeback a minute before the end and Seanie Cahalane’s side emerged 1-19 to 2-15 winners.

Conor Cahalane (0-8), Danny O’Donovan (0-4), Jamie Walsh (1-1), Cathal Maguire and Micheál Maguire (0-3) scored for the Haven. Ross Corkery (0-5), Luke Horgan, Micheál Aodh Martin and Ronan Dalton were amongst Nemo’s contributors.

Rosscarbery was the venue for Éire Óg’s second league win of the campaign. The Ovens club defeated a Carbery Rangers side coming off a four-game winning streak to aid their battle against relegation.

Former Cork net-minder Chris Kelly lined out for an Éire Óg team that blitzed their opponents in the opening half to lead 2-13 to 1-6 at the short whistle. Daniel Goulding and Jack Murphy each rippled the net with Dylan O’Neill raising Rangers’ green flag.

The hosts were much improved in the second period with Paul Hodnett twice finding the net including one from the penalty spot. Carbery Rangers’ efforts proved in vain however, as Éire Óg won 2-17 to 3-12. Daniel Goulding (1-4), Jack Murphy (1-1), Mark Griffin and Darragh Clifford (0-3 each) were on target for Éire Óg in a game Paul Hodnett (2-4) and Dylan O’Neill (1-2) top scored for Carbery Rangers.

Douglas were another Division 1 relegation-threatened club to pick up a much-needed win on Sunday. Sean O’Leary’s last-minute goal earned his side a 1-17 to 2-13 triumph away to Cill na Martra.

Danny Ó Conaill netted twice, Jason Mac Cárthaigh kicked five points and Seán Ó Foirréidh, Dano Ó Duinnín, Cianie Ó Foirréidh and Mícheál Ó Deasúna also featured on the home team’s scoresheet. It wasn’t enough to prevent Cill na Martra’s third league loss in five games as eight Sean Coakley points helped Douglas to victory.

Newcestown and Knocknagree couldn’t be separated following a 0-13 to 0-13 draw, a result that does little to help either clubs’ Division 1 title hopes. Seamus O’Sullivan’s six points along with Tadhg Twomey, Jack Meade and Eoghan Collins scores kept Newcestown in the title hunt.

Earlier in the week, a late David Lowney goal earned Clonakilty a 1-12 to 1-12 draw away to St Finbarr’s. The Togher club failed to register a win for the fourth game running despite a spirited performance plus Bill O’Connell (0-5), Cillian Myers-Murray (0-4) scores and Trevor Howe’s goal.

Lowney’s personal haul of 1-2 along with Darragh Gough, Tom Clancy and Sean McEvoy efforts kept Clonakilty’s Division 1 title aspirations alive.

Into Division 2 where Dohenys and Clyda Rovers served up a classic in Dunmanway. The visitors inflicted their opponents first league defeat following a thrilling finish. Down 0-18 to 2-8 with time almost up, Rovers’ Cian O’Sullivan converted a two-point free prior to Ben O’Connor’s match-winning goal 5 minutes into injury-time. Euan Lehane, Stephen Daly and Fionn Herlihy provided the bulk of Dohenys’ scores.

Elsewhere in Division 2, leaders Uibh Laoire edged Ballincollig by a goal, 2-13 to 1-13, to maintain their position at the top of the table. Béal Athá’n Ghaorthaidh and Valley Rovers drew 1-17 apiece, the former’s third draw in seven league outings.