RedFM Hurling League: DJ Cahill grabs 1-1 as Bride Rovers rally to draw with Fermoy

Fermoy 1-20 Bride Rovers 1-20 

THIS RedFM Division 2 HL derby at Rathcormac attracted a fine attendance despite the very wet second-half conditions.

The teams were level eight times, seven in the first half and the other at the final whistle with DJ Cahill hitting 1-1 late on to rescue a draw for the visitors. 

The hosts opened with points by Jason Mannix and Adam Walsh (2), with Fermoy replying through Shane Aherne and Darragh Daly, before Adam Creed and Brendan Daly combined to set up an Arlene Aherne score. 

Both sides exchanged points with impressive Ronan O'Connell and Walsh splitting the posts and they were deadlocked 0-10 each before Shane Aherne edged Fermoy ahead. 

Walsh and Daly exchanged scores as Fermoy held an interval lead of 0-12 to 0-11.

Bride Rovers then hit a purple patch on the resumption with O'Connell, Paddy O'Flynn, Conor Hazelwood and Walsh to the fore as Fermoy keeper Shane Coughlan made some good saves. 

Sean Knox in the Rovers goal also did well and rapid points by O'Connell (2) and Cian O'Connor opened up a four-point advantage before Fermoy's subs shifted the momentum

Shane Coughlan landed a long free with Daly converting another three. However, by the 45th minute, Walsh and O'Connell's fourth made it 0-18 to 0-16. 

Fermoy grabbed a goal in the 54th minute through Brendan Daly after good play by Creed, Shane Aherne and Daly as they forged ahead, 1-17 to 0-19.  They then clipped three points to move 1-20 to 0-19 clear by the 58th minute.  

Cahill then became the match-winner with a goal and a point for the Rovers in the dying moments as the game finished all square.

Scorers for Fermoy: D Daly 0-9 (0-7 f), B Daly 1-0, S Aherne 0-3, A Aherne 0-2, L Aherne, M Brennan, B O'Sullivan (f), S Coughlan (f) 0-1 each.

Bride Rovers: A Walsh 0-13 (0-11 f), DJ Cahill 1-1, R O'Connell 0-4, C O'Connor, J Mannix 0-1 each.

FERMOY: S Coughlan; L Cronin, S Shanahan, D O'Brien; G Lardner, D O'Carroll, P de Roiste; M Brennan, P Murphy; A Aherne D Daly, L Aherne; B Daly, S Aherne, A Creed. 

Subs: B O'Sullivan for A Aherne, K Fitzpatrick for L Aherne, T Clancy for D O'Brien, C Roche for M Brennan (inj). 

BRIDE ROVERS: S Knox; T O'Sullivan, P O'Flynn, J Peters; C O'Sullivan, C Hazelwood, S O'Connor; R O'Connell, J Aherne; W Finnegan, C O'Connor, A Walsh; L Roche, D Dooley, J Mannix. 

Subs: DJ Cahill for W Finnegan, Cillian Barry for C O'Connor, Conor Barry for C O'Sullivan.

Referee: Niall O'Neill (Midleton).