Cork GAA season in review: Senior A final rematch on hold until spring

Dermot O'Herlihy, Éire Óg, and Cian O'Riordan, Mallow, will meet again in the Senior AFC final in 2021. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Éire Óg got off to a great start, with points from Daniel Goulding, Colm O’Callaghan, and Brian Hurley helping them to a 0-8-to-0-4 half-time lead, but the introduction of Cork star Ruairí Deane — who had been unable to start — gave Bantry a major boost and they were back within two points when Éire Óg goalkeeper, Chris Kelly, made a superb save to deny Stephen Coughlan. Éire Óg made the most of that let-off and Goulding finished with eight points, as they won 0-14 to 0-7.

They had goals from Cian O’Riordan and Eoin Kelleher as Bantry were beaten 2-11 to 1-10 in Macroom. Three defeats meant that Bantry had to negotiate the relegation play-off, but there they easily saw off St Nicholas.

Playing again in quick succession definitely stood to Mallow and to Cian O’Riordan, in particular, as he kicked four first-half points in Glanworth, with the scoreboard 0-6 to 0-1 in their favour by the time of the water break, with Daniel O’Sullivan impressive, too, while Cork stars, Mattie Taylor and James Loughrey, were very much to the fore.
