Cork Premier JHC: St Catherine's clinch semi-final spot

Full forward Daniel Mangan, St Catherine's in action against Tracton in the final minutes of the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship at Pairc Ui Rinn. Picture: Larry Cummins

A dramatic win for St Catherine’s settled a chaotic set of permutations in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship, as they advanced straight through to the semi-finals along with Kilshannig.

The quarter-finals will see Barryroe take on Cloughduv, while Argideen Rangers face Ballygarvan. The relegation playoff will be between Nemo Rangers and Milford.

St Catherine’s two-point win over Tracton – 0-16 to 0-14 – left the Minane Bridge side eliminated on scoring difference by a single point. Cloughduv (+2) advance at Tracton’s (+1) expense, while Milford (-14) fall into the relegation playoff despite all three teams finishing on two points.

Catherine’s late point from an Eoin Davis free pushed the winning margin out to two at Páirc Uí Rinn, which ultimately led to Tracton’s elimination. Davis’ Imokilly teammate Eoghan O’Riordan was in fine form at centre-back for the Ballynoe side, while Daniel Mangan led the way with 0-5 (0-2 f, 0-1 65) and Brian Mulcahy finished with 0-4 from play.

Cian Quinn top-scored for Tracton with 0-7 (0-5 f, 0-2 65), while Mark Byrne clipped 0-3.

In the other Group 2 fixture, a strong second-half display from Cloughduv ensured they comfortably saw off Milford at Kanturk, 0-20 to 0-12, booking their quarter final spot.

In Group 3, Mayfield pulled off a superb win against semi-final-chasing Barryroe at Belgooly to avoid the relegation playoff on scoring difference. They had led comfortably with 10 minutes to go – 1-19 to 0-12 – and while Barryroe ramped up the pressure in the closing stages and hit six of the next eight points, Mayfield hung on for victory.

Nicky Kelly was immense up top and finished with 1-8 (0-5 f), while David O’Neill notched 0-5. The northsiders moved corner-back Dan Lucey to corner-forward for this one, and he chipped in with an impressive 0-4. Dilan O’Donovan showed up well in full-back and Shane O’Donovan was solid.

Barryroe, without the injured Olan O’Donovan, struggled to find the net with Mayfield goalkeeper Darren Wyse in good form, but Donal O’Buchalla eventually got through for a late goal to leave the margin at three by the finish, 1-21 to 1-18, taking his tally to 1-3.

In the other Group 3 game, Argideen Rangers saw off St Finbarr’s by nine points – 4-16 to 2-13 – to book their quarter-final spot, as four goals in the first half put them in the driving seat. Seán Walsh grabbed two of the majors at Riverstick while John Michael O’Callaghan and Cathal O’Donovan raised the other green flags, with O’Donovan’s coming straight from a sideline cut.

Argideen led 4-7 to 1-9 at the break – Scott Callanan had raised the St Finbarr’s green flag – and while the Barrs started the second half brightly they couldn’t get any closer as Walsh took his tally to 2-5. Colm Keane top-scored for St Finbarr’s with 0-6 (0-4 f).

Adam Buckley was shown a second yellow late on for St Finbarr’s, and while Ian O’Callaghan netted their second goal near the end, the result had already been confirmed.

In Group 1, Kilshannig got the better of Ballygarvan to preserve their 100% record, while Ballygarvan’s three points were enough to ensure they, too, went through.

It was a tight one, Kilshannig winning by the minimum – 2-23 to 2-22 at Ovens – despite playing the final 15 minutes with 14 men. Jack Twomey and Andy Hourigan were both on song, finishing with 0-6 from play each for Kilshannig.

Ballygarvan battled back from two points down in the final five minutes to draw level, but their opponents found the late winner to see them through and seal a semi-final placing.

Paddy Walsh and Diarmuid O’Sullivan netted the two Kilshannig goals, while Dylan O’Connor led the way for Ballygarvan as he finished with 0-12 (0-8 f), but Ray O’Halloran was electric and finished with 1-5. Stephen Fenton netted the other Ballygarvan goal.

Glen Rovers got the better of Nemo Rangers in a de facto relegation semi-final, winning 1-16 to 2-12 at Whitechurch. Shane Horgan top-scored for Nemo with 0-11 (0-10 f), while Ronan Dalton and Alan O’Donovan got the goals for the Trabeg outfit.

O’Donovan and Horgan were excellent for Nemo in the defeat.