Macroom footballers beaten by Kanturk in lively league opener
Eolan O'Leary, Macroom, taking a tumble over Lorcan O'Neill, Kanturk during their Division 3 McCarthy Insurance Group league match at the Castle Grounds. Picture: Dan Linehan
THE first game of the Aidan O’Mahony era in Macroom ended in a Kanturk victory in the McCarthy Insurance Group County Football League Division 3 clash at the Castle Grounds.
Kanturk, who will be fancied to do strongly in the Senior A Football Championship come summer, showed early glimpses here of their quality. They had 2010 All-Ireland winner Aidan Walsh in their side, one of a host of talented players with inter-county experience and that could prove crucial for them over the year ahead.
Five-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry O'Mahony will still take some positives from the game, especially as Macroom are in the grade below in championship.
They got off to a bright start on Sunday morning, with David Horgan and Alan Quinn nabbing fine early points.
After 13 minutes though, Kanturk found the back of the net from the penalty spot, as Grantas Bucinskas slotted the ball into the corner.
Kanturk grew into the contest as the opening half progressed and stamped their authority. Bucinskas continued to prove a reliable option and was composed from frees.
At the break, it was Kanturk that held the advantage at 1-4 to 0-2. Macroom though, were unlucky not to find the back of the net themselves when an effort from Alan Quinn crashed off the crossbar.
Macroom began well early in the second half, with Quinn and Horgan slotting over points.
But Kanturk continued to keep their hosts at arm’s length, with Alan Walsh and Bucinskas splitting the posts.
Former Cork dual underage forward Colin Walsh got crucial Kanturk points at the midway point of the second half and they led 1-8 to 0-6 after 49 minutes.
Macroom finished well, however, and had two decent goal chances late on through Ethan O’Gorman and Eoin O’Mahony.
The Mid Cork side had two further frees from Horgan to reduce the gap down to four going into second-half stoppage time.
Kanturk went close through a goal chance by Walsh, who was denied by a fine save from Macroom goalkeeper Brendan O’Connell.
Another Colin Walsh score sealed the victory for Kanturk, who will be looking to build on this promising start over the coming weeks and months ahead.
The County League action will continue for these two clubs over the next few weeks. Next up for Macroom is an away trip to face Nemo Rangers on March 15, while on March 17, Kanturk host Castletownbere, though they're in hurling action in between.
D Horgan 0-5 f, A Quinn 0-2.
G Bucinskas (1-0 pen, 0-4 f) 1-4, C Walsh (0-3 f) 0-4, Alan Walsh 0-1.
B O’Connell; C Condon, B O’Gorman, G Angland; M Cronin, M Corrigan, J O’Riordan; C Donovan, T Dineen; E O’Leary, M Hunt, S Kiely; A Quinn, D Horgan, R Buckley.
C Dineen for B O’Gorman (15), D Twomey for O’Leary (HT), E O’Gorman for Hunt (45), E O’Mahony for D Twomey (52, inj).
R Cashman; C Mullane, J McLoughlin, L O’Neill; B O’Sullivan, R Walsh, B Healy; J Fitzpatrick, Aidan Walsh; G Bucinskas, L McLoughlin, L O’Keeffe; Alan Walsh, C Walsh, G Kenehan
S Moylan for Kenehan (58).
Peter O’Leary (Cloughduv).
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