Cloyne do it again as Noel Cahill strikes killer blow

Cloyne's Noel Cahill netted in the 60th minute to snatch the win from Castlemartyr. Pic: Dan Linehan

Cork PIHC: Cloyne 2-13 Castlemartyr 2-9

Down but never out, Cloyne have done it again.

Another last gasp goal from one of the Cahills, another win snatched from an east Cork opponent.

And this one in Carrigtwohill on Saturday night ensured Cloyne sealed their spot atop Group 2 in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship with a game to spare.

A low scoring affair – and a scrappy one at that – but 1-4 unanswered across the final eight and half minutes including stoppage time sealed a four point win for the black and red.

That run began with a point from Noel Cahill, before a James O’Brien free left the minimum in it. Then, O’Brien’s long-range sideline cut found Adam Lee, and he struck over to level.

For the second game in a row Cloyne sensed blood. For the second game in a row went for the kill.

Conor Cahill broke free with it down the flank, carried himself through a couple of challenges, and lobbed one to the back post where brother Noel arrived. He still had work to do, but Noel Cahill darted around Jack McGann and dispatched to the net on the hour mark.

The Cloyne dugout erupted once more, the players on the pitch as loud. They raised the volume further when Brian O’Shea intercepted a sideline cut and launched it between the posts to seal it.

Far from the highest quality contest by any means, but the tension was palpable throughout. Flashpoints came and went in the second half without ever straying too far, but Castlemartyr were forced to learn the hard way.

Give Cloyne a sniff, and they’ll take it from you.

At no point across the hour were Cloyne led by more than four. But after leading 0-2 to 0-1 before conceding the first goal, Cloyne would not see the lead again until Noel’s major.

With Castlemartyr opting to deploy Mike Kelly as a sweeper again following his outstanding display against Lisgoold in the first round, Cloyne came to Carrig with their homework done. Brian Walsh was given the job of sticking to Kelly, while they used Paudie O’Sullivan in the quarter-back role again.

It took four minutes for Castlemartyr to make their next move in the chess match, as Mike Cosgrave was moved to man-mark the counter-sweeper. When Walsh departed with an injury after 23 minutes, Mikey Cahill was brought in to take over the Kelly job.

It worked a treat for Cloyne, who greatly curbed Kelly’s influence. Still, much more needed to be done to win this game.

Seven minutes had passed by the time Castlemartyr got their first goal, Cosgrave and Niall Madden involved before Brian Lawton dispatched to the net, and a couple of Kelly frees followed.

By the 17th minute, Cloyne had a goal back themselves, Conor Cahill charging through – and though he lost control of the sliotar – he pulled first time and sent it bouncing past McGann to leave it 1-5 to 1-4.

Cloyne would get themselves on level terms after 28 minutes, but couldn’t hold on until the break. Kelly passed to Billy McGann, and he went long to Brian Lawton. Catch, turn, strike, goal.

That left it 2-6 to 1-6 at the break, and Castlemartyr pushed four ahead on the restart through Madden, but they would then endure a 17-minute scoreless spell. And the longer they went without pulling clear, the bigger Cloyne’s confidence grew.

McGann and Brian Lawton points pushed the Castlemartyr lead back out to three with 52 minutes elapsed, but they found themselves get caught in the same headlights that took down Dungourney, three weeks ago.

Scorers for Cloyne: C Cahill (1-3), N Cahill (1-2), A Lee (0-3), J O’Brien (2 fs), B O’Shea (0-2 each), B Walsh (0-1).

Scorers for Castlemartyr: Brian Lawton (2-1), M Kelly (0-4 f), B McGann (0-2), Barry Lawton, N Madden (0-1 each).

CASTLEMARTYR: J McGann; C Martin, D Joyce; M Kelly; C O’Neill, M Cosgrave, D Leahy; B O’Tuama, C Sice; E Martin, B McGann, M O’Dwyer; Barry Lawton, N Madden, Brian Lawton.

Subs: J Stack for E Martin (40), A Kelly for Madden (57), L Martin for O’Neill (59).

CLOYNE: A Walsh; A Sherlock, E Motherway, T Cronin; P O’Sullivan; E Motherway, J Sherlock, D Byrne; S Beausang, B O’Shea; C Cahill, B Walsh, J O’Brien; I Cahill, N Cahill.

Subs: A Lee for I Cahll (22 inj), M Cahill for B Walsh (23 inj).

Referee: B Murphy (Carrigtwohill).