Munster Club SFC: Castlehaven pull away from Rathgormack to book final place

Castlehaven: 1-16 

Rathgormack: 1-7 

CASTLEHAVEN have advanced to the Munster SFC final following a comfortable victory in the end over Waterford side Rathgormack at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon.

The first-half in particular was very similar to the Haven’s quarter-final victory over Cratloe, tight and tense with scores very hard to come by, but the West Cork side found a way in the second-half to come through another tricky looking tie.

Underfoot conditions were difficult as the home side hit the front when Adam Murray kicked a point after six minutes. Backed by a huge vocal support, Castlehaven drew parity a minute later, a gorgeous Michael Hurley white flag after good play from Mark Collins and Brian Hurley in the build-up.

But, it was Rathgormack who were the more livelier early on and they bagged a goal after nine minutes when Billy Power buried the ball low into the corner of the net, an unstoppable shot. Rathgormack pushed four points clear when Jason Gleeson landed an easy free, 1-2 to 0-1 after 17 minutes.

Castlehaven registered a much needed score after 18 minutes when Michael Hurley split the posts which was followed by three points on the trot from James McCarthy’s side as the teams were now level after 25 minutes, 0-5 to 1-2.

The Haven went in front for the first time three minutes before the break when the impressive Michael Hurley pointed. The West Cork side kicked the last two points of the half, a Michael Hurley effort and a free from Brian Hurley as the Haven led 0-8 to 1-2 at half-time.

After two Rathgormack wides, Castlehaven went four points ahead when Brian Hurley tacked on a free in front of goal six minutes into the new half. The Waterford side pointed from a free through Jason Curry after 40 minutes, which was their first score in 23 minutes.

Rathgormack kicked two of the next three points to leave just two points in it with 11 minutes remaining, 0-10 to 1-5. White flags from Brian Hurley, which was a free, and efforts from Collins and Michael Hurley gave the Cork champions a five-point buffer with six minutes left.

Curry landed a 45 for his side before the Haven scored a goal through Brian Hurley after 57 minutes as it sneaked into the net from close-range, 1-13 to 1-6. The Haven kicked three of the last four points as they will face Dingle in the final in two weeks with a venue and time to be confirmed in due course.

Scorers for Castlehaven: B Hurley 1-6 (0-3 f, 0-1 45), M Hurley 0-5, M Collins, S Browne, J Cahalane, C O’Driscoll, C Maguire 0-1 each. 

Rathgormack: J Curry 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), B Power 1-0, J Gleeson 0-2 f, A Murray 0-1.

CASTLEHAVEN: Darragh Cahalane; J O’Regan, Damien Cahalane, R Walsh; T O’Mahony, R Maguire, M Collins (c); C Cahalane, A Whelton; J O’Neill, B Hurley, C Maguire; S Browne, J Cahalane, M Hurley.

Subs: C O’Driscoll for A Whelton (h-t), J O’Driscoll for S Browne (54), C O’Sullivan for C Maguire (57), R Minihane for C Cahalane (59), M Maguire for B Hurley (61).

RATHGORMACK: P Hunt; C Walsh, M Power, W Hahessy (c); S Hahessy, T Walsh, L Connolly; B Power, G Power; J Power, J Curry, D Hassett; J Gleeson, S Curry, A Murray.

Subs: S Kirwan for D Hassett (51), P Walsh for A Murray (54).

Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).