Carrigtwohill reignite Cork SAHC challenge with emphatic victory over Courcey Rovers
Courcey’s Jerry O’Neill and Carrigtwohill’s Justin Oke battle for possession. Pic: Noel Sweeney
Carrigtwohill needed a strong performance to stay in contention in the Co-Op Superstores Cork SAHC and they delivered in spades at Páirc Uí Rinn on Friday evening, defeating Courcey Rovers by 10 points to collect their first set of points.
Ahead 1-13 to 1-10 at the interval, they dominated the second half proceedings. Their high wide count of 20 is for another day, and when you factor in the brilliance of Courcey Rovers goalkeeper Stephen Nyhan who made a number of outstanding saves, the winning margin could have been bigger.
The overall picture in Group 3 will be clearer come Sunday evening after Inniscarra and Ballinhassig face off, but for now all four teams are in the mix.
James Mulcahy emerged top scorer on nine points. Manager Denis Walsh, however, will be thrilled with the effort from all over the field.
Last year’s semi-finalists were straight into the action when a lengthy Matthew Barrett free following a foul on the hard-working Daniel Murnane hit the upright. From the rebound, twice Carrig went for goal, but were denied by an exceptional double point-blank save from Nyhan.
To compound matters, Nyhan came out the field to knock over a free for the opening score.
They moved three to one in front, before the east Cork side got into their stride, and points from Cian O’Riordan, Mulcahy and Patrick Walsh yielded a slender lead.
The good work was completely undone when Daniel O’Donovan tapped the sliotar into the net in the 10th minute with Seán Twomey and Tadhg O’Sullivan doing the groundwork for Courceys - who were without recent ACL victim Fergus Lordan and Brendan O’Sullivan (ankle).
Carrigtwohill, minus their main man (Seán Walsh) were intent on green flags, which wasn’t productive considering the form Nyhan was in.
When he saved with his leg from Liam O’Sullivan, the referee brought play back and awarded a 20 metre free, which Barrett somehow blasted to the net, 1-4 apiece after 13 minutes.
Carrigtwohill were beginning to find their rhythm, there was no stopping Walsh who hit three-in-a-row, which gave them a five point advantage.
But Courcey Rovers outscored them three to one to cut the deficit to three points at the break. Nyhan once more saved, this time from Murnane.
The second half began with Courceys shooting a run of points - Seán Twomey policed by captain Aaron Walsh Barry - got in on the act and they came within one, 1-15 to 1-14.
Seven unanswered points left them chasing the game, three on the trot from Mulcahy, and Justin Oke finished the rout.
Daniel Nolan, only a few minutes on the field, sealed the deal right on 60 minutes when he intercepted the sliotar for Carrig’s second goal.
So, plenty left to play for.
Round 3 for Carrigtwohill will be Ballinhassig, while Inniscarra meet Courcey Rovers.
J Mulcahy (0-9, 0-1 free), M Barrett (1-4, 1-3 frees, 0-1 65), P Walsh (0-5), C O’Riordan (0-4), D Nolan (1-0), J Oke, L O’Sullivan and S Rohan (0-1 each).
D O’Donovan (1-2, 0-1 sl), R Sweetnam (0-5, 0-4 frees), T O’Sullivan (0-3, 0-1 free), S Twomey (0-2), S Nyhan (free), DJ Twomey, D Cosgrave, J O’Neill, D Lordan and M O’Donovan (0-1 each).
S Devlin; B Twomey, A Walsh Barry (Capt), P O’Sullivan; S Brennan, S de Búrca, D Murnane; J Horgan, J Oke; P Walsh, M Barrett, C O’Riordan; J Mulcahy, L O’Sullivan, S Rohan.
P Hogan for J Oke (52 inj), D Nolan for S Rohan (53), T Hogan for L O’Sullivan (59), S Rohan for C O’Riordan (63 inj).
S Nyhan; D Cosgrave, C Roche (Capt), D Collins; J Harrington, M Collins, R O’Callaghan; DJ Twomey, L Collins; J O’Neill, S Twomey, M O’Donovan; D O’Donovan, R Sweetnam, T O’Sullivan.
C Daly for L Collins (37), D Lordan for R O’Callaghan (44), C Crowley for M O’Donovan (47).
Mark Maher (St Finbarr’s).
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