Aghabullogue start as they mean to go on with statement win over rivals Éire Óg

Aghabullogue's Matthew Bradley played well against Éire Óg. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Aghabullogue 3-22 Éire Óg 2-15 

A landmark victory for Aghabullogue as they saw off neighbours Éire Óg in impressive fashion in the Muskerry derby played before a large and vocal crowd in Cloughduv on Sunday evening.

Not since 1974 had the team in green and white taken down Éire Óg in championship hurling, as they finally ended the long wait for a win over their local rivals in the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC Group 1 Round 1 battle.

Micheál McGrath’s team were full value for their 10-point success in what was an outstanding team performance. They outfought and outworked their opposition and perhaps could have won by more.

They did trail by three points at half-time, with two green flags keeping Éire Óg in front. But Aghabullogue had more punch and more about them, with Shane Tarrant and Matthew Bradley doing the bulk of the scoring.

Cillian Timmons and TJ Buckley caught the eye in defence, while Cill na Martra man Dano Dineen was arguably one of the best players on the pitch.

With Ballincollig and Bishopstown also in this group, it’s just the start Aghabullogue required, while the pressure is now on Éire Óg after this flat showing.

Last year’s IAHC winners started brightly, with Dineen on a world of ball in midfield.

Aghabullogue led 0-5 to 0-2 inside the first quarter, with Tarrant prominent and hitting three long-range points.

But Éire Óg struck for a vital goal after 18 minutes when Dylan Foley rattled the net, much to the annoyance of Aghabullogue, who felt there was a free in the build-up.

The sides traded points before a John Corkery effort and a Bradley 65 gave Aghabullogue a 0-8 to 1-3 advantage after 25 minutes.

It was Éire Óg who finished the half stronger, hitting 1-3 without reply. Jerome Kelleher and Seán Hurley added points, while Cork footballer Colm O’Callaghan hit 1-1, his goal well taken after an assist from Jerome Kelleher.

Dineen bisected the posts for the Coachford-based outfit, as Aghabullogue trailed 2-6 to 0-9 at half-time.

The team in green and white dominated the early stages of the new half. They hit two of the first three points before Tarrant scored one of the scrappiest goals you will see, as Éire Óg failed to clear their lines, making it 1-11 to 2-7 after 37 minutes.

The sides traded white flags before Corkery extended the lead to two points.

The teams once more swapped points before Éire Óg were awarded a penalty after 39 minutes when Eoin O’Shea Snr was fouled.

Goalkeeper Dylan Desmond stepped up but saw his shot brilliantly saved by Ian Barry-Murphy.

David Kirwan did cut the gap to one, but Aghabullogue started to pull away from the 42nd minute on. James Lane got his team’s second goal after a clever pass by Dineen, as the winners moved 2-14 to 2-10 ahead.

They kept Éire Óg at arm’s length and effectively put the game to bed 12 minutes from time when Tarrant raised his second green flag with a tidy finish into the corner of the net, making it 3-15 to 2-12.

Aghabullogue hit three of the next four points, with Bradley getting two of them, as they took control all over the pitch.

Seán Hurley pointed for Éire Óg, but sub James Foley and points from Tarrant and Bradley (free) gave Aghabullogue a 3-21 to 2-14 cushion heading into added time.

The rivals swapped late points as Aghabullogue ran out comfortable 10-point winners.

52 years on from Aghabullogue’s last championship hurling win over Éire Óg, they will savour this one.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: S Tarrant 2-6, M Bradley 0-8 (0-3 f, 0-1 65), J Lane 1-1, J Corkery 0-3, TJ Buckley, D Dineen, Odhran O’Connell, J Foley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Éire Óg: D Kirwan 0-4 (0-1 f), C O’Callaghan 1-1, S Hurley, E O’Shea Snr 0-3 each, D Foley 1-0, Jerome Kelleher 0-2, D Desmond (0-1 f), K Beechinor 0-1 each.

AGHABULLOGUE: I Barry-Murphy; T Long, C Timmons, TJ Buckley; C Gillespie, P Ring, P O’Sullivan; D Dineen, C Furey; S Tarrant, M Bradley, S Furey; J Lane, J Corkery, Odhran O’Connell.

Subs: J Foley for S Tarrant (24-26, temp), J Foley for C Furey (48), Oisín O’Connell for Odhran O’Connell (55).

ÉIRE ÓG: D Desmond; John Kelleher, M Kelleher, J Mullins; K Beechinor, C McGoldrick, M Brady; D McCarthy, D Kirwan; D Foley, C O’Callaghan, E O’Shea Snr; Jerome Kelleher, J Galvin, S Hurley.

Subs: O O’Shea for M Brady (36), K Hallissey for Jerome Kelleher (46), D Casey for D Foley (55).

Referee: Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).