'Ross had beaten us three times so the Haven lads had plenty of incentive'

CASTLEHAVEN reclaimed west Cork bragging rights against great rivals Carbery Rangers in Clonakilty yesterday.

Cork stars, brothers Michael and Brian Hurley, steered then to a 0-14 to 0-9 win in the Bon Secours county senior football championship.

The pair form an all-west group along with Newcestown, who recorded a big win over Ilen Rovers in the other game.

But, the Haven’s joint-manager, John Cleary, was quick to emphasise the Rosscarbery club’s injuries as a factor in the victory.

“In fairness to them they were missing a number of players because of injury. John Hayes has been a thorn in our side for a long number of years and he didn’t start.

“Neither did their county player, John O’Rourke, and naturally Ross were handicapped.

“Yet, we still had to go out and beat them. The Ross players gave it 100 per cent, to be fair,” he said.

The sides were deadlocked at 0-7 each at half-time, but the Haven pulled away in a wind-assisted second-half, despite recording nine wides.

“Ross are a hard team to play against. They beat us the last three times, so the lads had even more incentive.

“When the game was there to be won in the second half, we did it and that was the most important thing.

“I thought at times we didn’t show enough composure, but we got over the line and winning the opening game in the group is very important,” Cleary added.

Mark Hodnett and Seamus Hayes were the stand-out performers for Ross, who gave themselves too much to do after the interval.