Frewen Cup: Hammies edge seven-goal extra-time thriller against Coachford

With howling wind, downpours of rain and glorious sunshine all prevalent at times, Hammies came good down the stretch to topple this Coachford side

Paul Deasy wins possession in midfield for Hamilton Highschool vs Coachford College in the Munster PPS Frewen Cup at Newcestown. Pic: Larry Cummins

Frewen Cup: Hamilton HS, Bandon 4-13 Coachford College 3-13 

Hamilton High School, Bandon edged a thrilling Frewen Cup (Munster PPS under-17A) tie to advance past Coachford College after extra-time in Newcestown.

With howling wind, downpours of rain and glorious sunshine all prevalent at times, Hammies – led by superb full-forward Conail Hurley – came good down the stretch to topple this Coachford side despite the best efforts of Éire Óg’s Sean Hogan (3-4) and Donoughmore’s Fionn Buckley (0-6).

Let’s start with that 20-minute extra-time period. It was when Hammies stood that inch taller. The second-half of that period was when Coachford finally surrendered.

With the scoreline reading 3-10 to 4-7 prior to the opening stanza, Coachford would fare the better.

Hammies points from Conor Murphy and Hurley sandwiched two fine efforts from diminutive yet powerful midfielder Danny Buckley and a Hogan free for Coachford.

Ten minutes done. Ten to go. The Bandon school grasped their chance.

Enjoying greater territory and possession in that crucial period, Hurley stood up and landed two, and there were contributions from Clonakilty’s Mattie Coffey and sub Shane Casey as well.

Conail Hurley in action for Hamilton High School. Pic: Larry Cummins

Coachford and centre-forward Hogan had started this contest like a train, grabbing 1-2 inside the opening two minutes.

His partner in crime up front, Fionn Buckley, found his range shortly after, meaning Coachford led 1-3 to no score after five minutes.

Albeit wrestling with a desperately tricky wind, narrowly missed goal chances from lively Hammies corner-forward Jack Allen distorted the above scoreline, but it would be nine minutes before Hurley opened their account from a free before adding one from play.

The Coachford threat kept coming, however, and they found themselves 1-7 to 0-3 up after 26 minutes.

Hammies’ waywardness in front of goal during that period can be excused by the difficult conditions but they certainly had enough ball and opportunities to be closer.

That wastefulness was punished when Coachford pushed their lead to 10 when, after a quick counter involving both the aforementioned Buckleys, Hogan swept home to the net.

Sean Hogan, Coachford College, is tracked by Ewen Hourigan, Hamilton High School. Pic: Larry Cummins

Jack Allen pounced for Hammies to cut the gap to seven (2-7 to 1-3) prior to referee Niall O’Mahony’s half-time whistle.

Hammies raised another green flag shortly after the interval, with centre-back Russell Crowley launching a two-point effort towards Joe Carter’s goal, and the Canovee ‘keeper was unable to stop the ball from creeping in under the crossbar.

Gap cut to four. Different ball game.

Their shooting errors would continue however, in terms of pointed efforts at least.

Not so much on the goal front, though. They found themselves 4-3 to 2-7 up by the 41-minute mark thanks to Alex White and towering midfielder Paul Deasy.

Game turned on its head.

Coachford’s reply would come from Hogan - as it so often did – two minutes later. His third goal brought his tally to 3-3 and put his school back in front by two.

Bandon full-forward Hurley was on hand again to draw level with a brace before it was Coachford corner-forward Fionn Buckley turn to shine.

His quick-fire double with three minutes to go was surely to be the winning of it for Coachford, wasn’t it?

Hammies and Argideen Rangers midfielder Deasy had other ideas.

Their pressure eventually tolled and Deasy struck over a two-pointer to force another 20.

From there, we know the story. Hammies, out the gap, but only by the skin of their teeth, and with a wastefulness in front of goal to shake from their game in the coming weeks.

Scorers for Hamilton HS: C Hurley 0-8 (0-3f), P Deasy 1-2 (2pt), R Crowley, A White, J Allen (1-0 each), C Murphy, M Coffey, S Casey (all 0-1).

Scorers for Coachford College: S Hogan 3-4 (1 2pt, 0-2f), F Buckley (0-6), D Buckley 0-3.

HAMILTON: C Curtin (Valley Rovers); R Murphy (Bandon), C Guinane (Valley Rovers), P O’Sullivan (Bandon); T O’Mahony (Bandon), R Crowley (Bandon), C Murphy (Ahan Gaels); P Deasy (Argideen Rangers), E Hourigan (Bandon); S Molumphy (Valley Rovers), D McSweeney (Newcestown), M Coffey (Clonakilty); A White (Valley Rovers), C Hurley (Bandon), J Allen (Newcestown).

Subs: S Casey (Valley Rovers) for S Molumphy (60), S Evans (Newcestown) for T O’Mahony (14, ET).

COACHFORD: J Carter (Canovee); E Buckley (Aghabullogue), C Twomey, (Aghabullogue), S Twomey (Aghabullogue); D Attar (Éire Óg), C Cremin (Donoughmore), T O’Sullivan (Canovee); D Buckley (Aginagh), K Cooney (Aghabullogue); L McNeill (Éire Óg), S Hogan (Éire Óg), C Sheehan (Éire Óg); N Perrott (Aghabullogue), C Lyons (Inniscarra), F Buckley (Donoughmore).

Subs: D O’Riordan (Aghabullogue) for C Sheehan (56).

Referee: N O’Mahony (Newcestown).