Eire Og capture P2MFC title after a fantastic win over Bandon in Pairc Ui Rinn

Eire Og 2-15 

Bandon 0-9 

A superb second-half display from Eire Og paved the way for their impressive win over Bandon in a highly entertaining Premier 2 Minor football championship final at Pairc Ui Rinn on Monday night.

The Ovens side despite getting a great start were made battle in the first half but once they nullified the energetic Bandon forwards they ran out comfortable winners.

Eire Og got the perfect start in the opening minute when a pinpoint Daniel McCarthy assist was met by Josh McCarthy who billowed the back of the net with sheer precision.

Bandon were certainly on the ropes and after a Sean Murphy point a minute later Eire Og drove on and secured a second green flag in the fourth minute.

A high ball into the square was caught by full forward Johnny Galvin as he easily placed his shot to the corner of the net.

Credit to Bandon after a slow start they found their range with captain Kevin Hannon kicking consecutive points from play.

Indeed going forward Bandon looked a tidy outfit and despite their poor start they reduced the deficit to three points following a superb David Whelton point in the 17th minute.

Previous to that play Whelton was denied a goal by a superb reflex save from the Eire Og goalkeeper Brendan Lenihan.

In the closing minutes Eire Og recovered and when Darragh Clifford kicked a wonderful point in the 28th minute it ended a 10 minute drought for the Ovens side.

Consecutive points from Daniel McCarthy and Oisin McLaughlin ensured Eire Og went in at the break commanding a six point lead 2-7 to 0-7.

Both teams looked tentative on the restart as they failied to register a score in the opening ten minutes before Galvin ended the drought for Eire Og with a magnificent point.

Two minutes later it was Galvin again that came to the fore with consecutive points as the Ovens side looked in ascendancy.

Amazingly after being held scoreless for the closing 11 minutes of the first half and the opening 14 of the second half Bandon eventually got up and running when Adam Kelly kicked a neat point.

In the closing minutes Eire Og scored points at will and despite Bandon putting in an honest and hardworking shift they can have few complaints as Eire Og’s class ensured them the title in style.

Scorers for Eire Og: J Galvin 1-5 (0-1f), J McCarthy 1-2, S Hurley 0-3, S Murphy 0-2, D McCarthy, O’McLaughlin, E Hyde (0-1 each).

Bandon: D Whelton 0-4 (0-1f), K Hannon 0-3, A Kelly 0-2.

Eire Og: B Lenihan; D O’Regan, D Dineen, C Murphy; M Sheehan, O McLaughlin, A Hayfield; D Clifford, K Beechinor; D McCarthy, S Murphy, E Hyde; J McCarthy, J Galvin, S Hurley.

Subs: A O’Mahony for D McCarthy (51), S O’Callaghan for A Hayfield (51), P Dineen for M Sheehan (60), D O’Keeffe for J McCarthy (60), D O’Riordan for E Hyde (60).

Bandon: A C O’Regan; R Tarrant, J O’Driscoll, J Minihane; C O’Mahony, C Crowley, G Murphy; E Claesson, M O’Donovan; A Kelly, K Hannon, J Cullianane; R Ahern, D Whelton, A Barry.

Subs: J Heverin for J Minihane (h-t), F Cali for J O’Driscoll (h-t), D Coughlan for M O’Donovan (41), C O’Flynn for R Ahern (46).

Referee: Colm Maher (Buttevant).