Premier JHC: Good finish to first half sets Erin's Own up for victory over St Catherine's
Erins Own's players celebrate after defeating St Catherine's in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier JHC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A strong finish to the first half on Saturday evening laid the foundation for Erin’s Own to achieve back-to-back county hurling titles.
For the third year in four since the reformatting of the Co-op SuperStores Cork Hurling Championships, the junior A winners have gone on to immediate glory in the next grade – previously known as the Lower IHC and now the Premier JHC.
Having led by four points early in the first half, Erin’s Own found themselves pegged back in the wake of Daniel Mangan’s goal for St Catherine’s and the game was level after 19 minutes.
In the final seven minutes before the break, Erin’s Own made a decisive burst. After Bowen’s fourth put them back in front, it was he who broke O’Sullivan’s delivery to allow John Kavanagh pounce for a goal and a 1-8 to 1-4 lead. Midfielder Mark Collins was on hand to send them in leading by five.
Andrew O’Sullivan moved them six clear after the restart and, while a fortuitous late goal from Shane Cotter meant Catherine’s were back in it near the end, the Caherlag side were not to be denied.
They benefited from the trickle-down effect that comes from being a senior club. Veterans Shane Murphy at midfield and Alan Bowen in attack were excellent, as were defenders Ian O’Mahony and Brian Nolan. In the closing stages, they also had the luxury of springing Robbie O’Flynn from the bench and the Cork star scored two trademark points.
Catherine’s deserve some credit for battling back in the final stages. With the clock showing 65 minutes, they trailed by three and won a free just outside the D. Goalkeeper Eoin Davis, who had just cut the gap with a point from play, came forward take it but couldn’t keep his shot down and his second point was the last action.
Backed in the first half by the stiff breeze that blew towards Blackrock, Erin’s Own took full advantage. Bowen’s 65 inside two minutes was followed by a good effort from captain James McMahon and Andrew O’Sullivan made it 0-3 to 0-0.
Tom Foley landed a big point from halfway before Brian Mulcahy opened the St Catherine’s account but the Glounthaune men continued to hold the upper hand – Mark Collins’ delivery was the catalyst for Bowen’s second before he scored his third, from a free. In between those, Foley had a half-chance of a goal, his pulled effort wide under pressure.
A 0-6 to 0-1 lead was a fair reflection, but it was almost fully eroded as Seán O’Donoghue scored a point for Catherine’s and full-forward Daniel Mangan followed it with a goal, doing well to generate the opportunity himself and finishing smartly.
Though McMahon replied for Erin’s Own, Catherie’s were back level by the 19th minute after points from Oisín Fitzgerald Kevin Barry. However, their joy was tempered by an injury to Mangan that would necessitate his removal at half-time.
They struggled to make inroads into the lead and fine points from Bowen and Kavanagh opened up a 1-12 to 1-5 advantage for Erin’s own. When Brian Mulcahy had sight of goal, O’Mahony made a great block but Catherine’s got a lifeline as Cotter’s ball from halfway ended in the net.
O’Flynn’s introduction allowed Erin’s Own to stay in front but Catherine’s kept at it in the closing stages to give themselves half a chance. Erin’s Own held out, though.
As the Munster club championiship is limited to first teams, Catherine's will represent Cork in that.
A Bowen 0-4 (0-1 f, 0-1 65), J Kavanagh 1-1, J McMahon 0-3, A O’Sullivan, R O’Flynn 0-2 each, T Foley, M Collins 0-1 each.
D Mangan, S Cotter 1-0, S O’Donoghue 0-3 (0-2 f), E Davis (0-1 f), B Mulcahy 0-2, O Fitzgerald, K Barry 0-1 each.
T Dillon; A Moynihan, P Fitzgerald, B Nolan; B Óg Murphy, I O’Mahony, C McDonnell; S Murphy, G O’Mahony; A Bowen, J McMahon, T Foley; A O’Sullivan, M Collins, J Kavanagh.
R O’Flynn for Foley (41), A Power for McMahony (54), C Dunphy for O’Mahony, C O’Mahony for Collins (60).
E Davis; F O’Connell, E O’Riordan, L O’Conor; E Wallace, K Wallace, C Hegarty; O Fitzgerald, S Cotter; D Morrisson, R Galvin, S O’Donoghue; B Mulcahy, D Mangan, K Barry.
E Condon for Mangan, G O’Brien for E Wallace (both half-time), K O’Donoghue for Morrison, M Mulcahy for Barry (both 40), J Neville for O’Connell (51).
A Hyland (Kilworth).
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