Five-goal Cobh power into Cork Premier JFC semi-finals

A relegation play-off against Na Piarsaigh awaits for Urhan

(Left to right) Urhan captain Micheál Shea, Referee Michael Collins and Cobh captain Sean Cummins prior to Friday night’s McCarthy Insurance Group Cork PJFC Group 2 game in Dunmanway. Pic: Ger McCarthy

Cork Premier JFC: Cobh 5-7 (5-1-5) Urhan 0-14 (0-1-12) 

A five-goal blast sent Cobh into the last four of the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC following victory over Urhan in Dunmanway last Friday evening.

Last year’s semi-finalists began top of Group 2 and requiring a positive result to progress to the knockout stages. Bottom placed Urhan needed victory to avoid a potential relegation play-off.

Ben Sullivan had Urhan on the scoreboard inside the first minute. Cobh’s response was immediate as Adam Lynch cut in along the endline and side-footed into the net.

Alan Elphick split the posts to hand Urhan their second score. Yet, Cobh’s direct running resulted in a brace of converted Eoin Hastings frees to make it 1-3 to 0-3 after 10 minutes.

The Beara club enjoyed a dominant spell with two excellent Ben Sullivan points plus two Jamie O’Neill frees levelling matters after 18 minutes.

Just when it seemed Urhan were gaining a foothold, the concession of a second goal undid all their good work. Ben Geary came up from full-back to fire home a rebounded shot.

Ben Sullivan replied but Eoin Cullimore (free) and Cork U20 hurler Timmy Wilk pointed at the opposite end to make it 2-5 to 0-7. A converted Hastings free extended Cobh’s lead to five at the interval.

Cobh copper fastened their eventual victory with two goals inside the opening minutes of the second period.

Wilk set up Adam Doran to raise a green flag before Eoin Cullimore punched to the net to hand the East Cork club an unassailable lead.

Creditably, Urhan rolled up their sleeves and fought to the final whistle.

Ronan McCarthy, Cian Crowley and Joe O’Shea reduced the deficit.

Once again, Cobh mustered a response and netted for a fifth time when Evan Cummins finished off a flowing move.

The remainder of the game proved untidy as Sean Cummins added Cobh’s final point and Ben Sullivan (two) and Alan Elphick completed their opponent’s total.

The winners will be hoping to go one better than last year's county semi-final exit. As for Urhan, a relegation play-off against Na Piarsaigh awaits.

Scorers for Cobh: E Hastings 0-4 (0-2 f, 1 2pt f), E Cullimore 1-1 (0-1 f), A Lynch, B Geary, A Doran, E Cummins 1-0 each, T Wilk, S Cummins 0-1 each.

Scorers for Urhan: B Sullivan 0-6, J O’Neill (0-2 f), A Elphick, C Crowley (1 2pt f) 0-2 each, R McCarthy, J O’Shea 0-1 each.

COBH: J Bates; A Stanton, B Geary, J McCarthy; T Wilk, G Keating, S Cummins (captain); M O’Rourke, C McLoughlin; A Hastings, E Cullimore, E Hastings; A Lynch, E Cummins, A Doran.

Subs: A McCarthy for E Cullimore (52), C Morrissey for A Doran (59).

URHAN: R Crowley; D Elphick, C O’Sullivan, E O’Shea; M Shea (captain), J O’Shea; C O’Shea; A O’Sullivan, M McCarthy; J O’Neill, A Elphick, J Sullivan; C Crowley, B Sullivan, D Crowley.

Subs: N O’Shea for E O’Shea (20, inj), O Lynch for J O’Neill (27, temp), J O’Neill for D Crowley (30, inj), D Harrington for D Elphick (ht), R McCarthy for J O’Neill (34), J Healy for M McCarthy (55).

Referee: Michael Collins (Clonakilty).