Canovee crowned JAFC champions after dominant win over Mayfield
Canovee players celebrate after defeating Mayfield in the Bon Secours Cork Junior 'A' FC final at Pairc Ui Rinn. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
Under the lights in Páirc Uí Rinn, Canovee’s Junior A FC success on Sunday evening never looked in doubt, even when Jake Courtney got one back for Mayfield.
Hat-trick hero Darragh McMahon stole the show, but for a team who have scored 13 goals in their last three championship games, it’s been an incredible run.
Since going two goals down early on against Inniscarra in the Muskerry JAFC final, Canovee have simply been ruthless.
They fought back to defeat Scarra in style and followed it up with three unrelenting wins to cruise to their first title in 16 years.
Their performances this year have certainly been a warning shot for those in the Premier Junior grade. This Canovee side are a real threat.
Their dominant start gave them a 1-4 to 0-1 after 10 minutes. The goal came from McMahon when he was set up by Conor O’Neill, but it was a well worked team effort and he finished in style.
Mayfield did get two back to bring Canovee’s lead down to four, and goalkeeper Eolan Bond’s fantastic double save provided a much-needed lift.
Canovee took charge once again though, as Conor Dodd pointed a superb effort from the 45.
McMahon added their second goal in the 19th minute as this time Brian McNabola assisted the corner-forward, and it went into the back of the net after a deflection from a Mayfield defender.
Paul Condon responded with a good score – his and Mayfield’s fourth point, but they looked second best.
You could get a sense that the contest was already over, with Canovee seven ahead.
They outscored their city opponents four to two and went in at the break with a 2-8 to 0-5 advantage.
Early in the second half, James Moynihan set up McMahon, but the latter was brought down by Bond for a penalty. Moynihan drilled it into the bottom corner, giving them a 13-point lead after 33 minutes.
To their credit, Mayfield responded with a brilliantly worked goal finished by Courtney, and Dilan O’Donovan added a point to give the city outfit a sliver of hope.
The Seandún champions added a couple of more scores, bringing the gap down to nine, but it was too great an ask. McMahon’s third green flag was the final nail in the coffin, with Canovee ahead by 12 with a quarter to go, and they finished strongly.
D McMahon 3-0, J Kelleher 0-6 (0-3 f), J Moynihan 1-0 pen, D Cronin, C Dodd, C O’Neill 0-2 each, E Dodd, P O’Leary 0-1 each.
P Condon 0-8 (0-5 f), J Courtney 1-0, D O’Donovan, D O’Neill, D Lucey 0-1 each.
C O’Driscoll; C Cronin, M Dunne, W Ahern; E Dodd, O O’Driscoll, E Lehane; C Dodd, A Murphy; J Moynihan, D Cronin, C O’Neill; D McMahon, B McNabola, J Kelleher.
D Moynihan for Dunne (13 inj), P O’Leary for D Cronin, M Healy for McNabola (both 47), E McNabola for C Dodd (53), S Riordan for Moynihan (57).
E Bond; B Punch, K Punch, B O’Leary; J Gibson, D Malone, D O’Neill; S O’Donovan, J Courtney; D Granger, N Kelly, E O’Sullivan; D O’Donovan, D Lucey, P Condon.
C Horgan for Granger (43), C Bond for E O’Sullivan (56), T Horgan for Lucey, C Moynihan for B Punch (57).
Liam O’Shea (Carbery Rangers)
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