Éire Óg demolish Clyda Rovers to secure Senior A knockout berth

Éire Óg’s Darragh Clifford sails past Clyda Rovers’ Cian O’Sullivan. Pic: Noel Sweeney

Cork Senior A FC: Éire Óg 2-22 (2-3-16) Clyda Rovers 1-3 (1-0-3) 

Éire Óg have secured their place in the knockout stages of the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC in emphatic fashion after a 22‑point victory over Clyda Rovers at Grenagh on Sunday afternoon.

The Ovens outfit now join Kilshannig in the business end from Group 3 ahead of their meeting in the final round of the group in two weeks’ time. It leaves Clyda Rovers and Bishopstown battling to avoid a relegation play‑off.

It was tight and cagey early on, but once Éire Óg flexed their muscles — helped by Cork footballers Colm O’Callaghan and Darragh Clifford lording it around the middle — Eoin Fehily’s side were always likely winners. 

They led by ten at the interval and remained in command throughout the second half to stroll to an easy win.

Clyda Rovers only managed four scores as they struggled badly on a difficult day. They were without star forward Conor Corbett due to injury, and his absence was keenly felt. 

It has been a challenging couple of weeks for the North Cork club, given this fixture was postponed a fortnight ago following a bereavement.

Éire Óg, boosted by Darragh Clifford’s return from abroad, made an encouraging start through a Jack Murphy point. It remained low‑scoring with both sides reluctant to shoot, and quality was in short supply early on.

Clyda levelled via Ben Nyhan, who then nearly found the net but was denied by Éire Óg goalkeeper Chris Kelly. Daniel Goulding converted a routine free before a Conor McGoldrick two‑pointer pushed Éire Óg 0‑4 to 0‑1 ahead.

They were beginning to push on and goaled after 21 minutes when Jerome Kelleher finished from close range after a scramble, making it 1‑4 to 0‑1. 

Murphy extended the lead, and further scores from Goulding (a two‑point free), Kelleher and O’Callaghan left Éire Óg 1‑9 to 0‑1 ahead after 29 minutes.

Mark Griffin also had a goal chance, but Clyda keeper Kevin Coffey saved well. The Mourneabbey side finally added their second point when Kevin Graham split the posts, leaving it 1‑9 to 0‑2 at half‑time.

Éire Óg continued to control matters on the restart, with Darragh Clifford pointing. They added two quick scores before a Cian O’Sullivan goal after 39 minutes gave Clyda a brief glimmer of hope.

It didn’t last. Brian Thompson struck Éire Óg’s second goal two minutes later, pushing them 2‑12 to 1‑2 ahead. From there, it was all too easy. 

They tacked on five unanswered points with seven minutes still to play, Ronan O’Toole’s fisted effort the pick of them.

Goulding added another free as the Muskerry men moved 2‑18 to 1‑2 clear. O’Sullivan curled over a decent point for Clyda, but Éire Óg finished with the last three scores — including a superb two‑point free from Goulding near the sideline.

Scorers for Éire Óg: D Goulding 0-8 (2 2pt f, 0-4 f), J Kelleher 1-1, B Thompson 1-0, C McGoldrick (1 2pt), C O’Callaghan 0-3 each, J Murphy, C Clifford, D Clifford 0-2 each, R O’Toole 0-1.

Clyda Rovers: C O’Sullivan 1-1, K Graham, B Nyhan 0-1 each.

ÉIRE ÓG: C Kelly; C Murphy, M Corkery, J Mullins; D McCarthy, C McGoldrick, B Thompson; M Griffin, D Clifford; O O’Shea, C O’Callaghan, J Kelleher; D Goulding, J Galvin, J Murphy.

Subs: R O’Toole for O O’Shea (h‑t), C Clifford for D McCarthy, S Hurley for J Galvin (both 41), M Brady for J Mullins (43), D Kelly for M Griffin (45‑51, temp), J Kelleher for M Griffin (51).

CLYDA ROVERS: K Coffey; C Cooney, A Walsh, N Burke; C Kelly, G Deane, P O’Grady; A Kelly, D Walsh; K Graham, P Kissane, C Walsh; D Cooney, B Nyhan, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: Cathal Corbett for B Nyhan (34‑39, temp), B Nyhan for D Cooney (39), C Kenny for G Deane (45), S O’Sullivan for C Walsh (48), C Flanagan for P O’Grady (52, inj).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).

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