Champions Castlehaven lay down early marker against Clonakilty

Castlehaven 1-18 Clonakilty 1-12 

Castlehaven had the perfect start to their defence of their McCarthy Insurance Cork PSFC title as they eased past Clonakilty in Rosscarbery on Saturday afternoon.

In the final analysis, a blistering opening half from the Haven proved crucial as they led by 1-12 to 1-4 at the interval as Clon were left to rue their seven opening-half wides that sucked the life out of their challenge.

Clonakilty did take the lead with a Conor Daly free but from the kickout, the Haven showed their class as Brian Hurley beat Tom Clancy before squaring the ball to Jack Cahalane who then palmed the ball past Mark White. Simon Murphy responded with a fine point from play before a Mark Collins free and Michael Hurley’s first of the afternoon left a goal between them.

Clon then got themselves back into the game. A high ball in from Fergal Murphy saw Ross Mannix jump higher than Darragh Cahalane and Mannix himself was on hand to bundle the ball over the line. The goal, however, proved to be a false dawn.

The champions kicked the next six points to take total control of the game. Michael Hurley kicked a brace while Sean Browne, Cathal Maguire, Jack Cahalane and Brian Hurley had the others as Clon’s afternoon was made worse when Mannix was shown a black card.

Clon did score two frees through Daly and Darragh Gough to stop the rot, but Andrew Whelton and Jamie O’Driscoll answered them before two more from the excellent Brian Hurley made it 1- 12 to 1-4 at the break.

Clonakilty were transformed on the resumption, as they changed tack, trying to hit the Haven on the break. It worked a treat as they scored three of the first four points of the half through Daly (2) and Mannix to bring them back into it, Brian Hurley with the Haven score. However, when Mannix and Ben Ridgeway sandwiched a Thomas O’Mahony score for the Haven, there was only four in it going into the last quarter, 1-13 to 1-9.

Points from the two Hurleys were answered by David Lowney and Brian White to still leave four in it, and the large crowd waited for something to happen. They were disappointed, however, as two points from Jack Cahalane came either side of Simon Murphy seeing red and Niall Barrett black for Clon to all but finish the game. Mannix and Brian Hurley then traded scores in injury time, but the game was well up by then.

So, Castlehaven plough on and will look to progress from the group when they play St Michael’s next time out, while Clonakilty will need to regroup for a battle with their old rivals from Carbery Rangers.

Scorers for Castlehaven: J Cahalane 1-3, B Hurley 0-5 (0-3 f), M Hurley 0-4, T O’Mahoney, A Whelton, J O’Driscoll, S Browne, M Collins (f), C Maguire 0-1 each.

Clonakilty: R Mannix 1-2, C Daly 0-4 (0-3 f), B White (f), D Gough (f), D Lowney, B Ridgeway, N Barrett, S Murphy 0-1 each. 

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

Subs: C O’Driscoll for Browne (46), C Nolan for O’Neill (53).

CLONAKILTY: M White (c); T Clancy, M Shanley, C Keanneally; D Lowney, B White, S White; B Ridgeway, G Wharton; F Murphy, D Gough, S Murphy; C Daly, C O’Donovan, R Mannix.

Subs: D Peet for O’Donovan (21), N Barrett for Wharton (h-t), A Cullinane for F Murphy (35).

Referee: James O’Regan (Lough Rovers).