SAHC: Bride Rovers far too good for Cloyne
Bride Rovers Brian Roche battles Cloyne's Noel Cahill during the Co-Op Superstores SAHC at Killeagh. Picture: Howard Crowdy
An easy win for Bride Rovers as got their Co-op Superstores SAHC campaign up and running at Killeagh.
From start to finish, they were by far the better team as they never gave Cloyne an inch and dominated all over the pitch. They showed here why are they are deemed one of the favourites to lift the title.
They will face far tougher tests in the coming weeks, but Bride can only beat the team in front of them and that they did, with the game effectively over as a contest with only 18 minutes gone. By then they led by 1-10 to 0-3 and there was no way back for Cloyne.
Bride had impressive displays all over the pitch, with Eoin Roche dropping back to mark Ian Cahill and he didn’t give him an inch over the hour. In front his twin brother, Brian, controlled midfield, with Patrick O’Flynn and Denis Cashman also playing well in defence.
Up front Cloyne found it difficult to handle the likes of Ronan O’Connell, Adam Walsh and Louie Roche. Early scores from O’Flynn and Adam Walsh got Bride on the scoreboard, with Ashley Walsh replying for Cloyne.
Two from Brian Roche made it 0-6 to 0-3 after 11 minutes and Cloyne didn’t score again until the 27th minute. Josh Ahern, O’Connell and Conleith Ryan all pointed for Bride and with 17 minutes on the clock they were 0-10 to 0-3 in front.
They got their first goal a minute later when a Louie Roche shot from out near the sideline deceived all and dipped into the net and from there it was a case of what Bride were going to win by. Two minutes later and that became a bigger gap when O’Connell got their second goal as Cloyne were struggling all over the pitch.
Jamie Peters added a point, to make it 2-12 to 0-3, before Ashley Walsh pointed another free for Cloyne. Adam Walsh and Ryan pointed for Bride, with Brian Walsh scoring for Cloyne as the Rathcormac side led by 2-14 to 0-5 at half-time.
Adam Walsh extended their lead before Ashley Walsh hit back for Cloyne. Their chances of a comeback were dealt another blow after 38 minutes when Conor Cahill was sent off, for his second yellow card offence in the space of two minutes. Shane O’Connor, O’Connell, Denis Cashman and Davy Barry all raised white flags for Bride as they continued to pile the pressure on Cloyne.
Two more from Ashley Walsh reduced the deficit, which were no more than consolation scores. Bride could have had a third goal when Adam Walsh set up O’Connell but his effort was well blocked by Tom O’Regan.
Ian Cahill and Brian Walsh pointed for Cloyne but two late points from O’Flynn helped Bride to a comprehensive win. They face Castlelyons in their second game, which will be far tougher test than this encounter.
R O’Connell 1-4, A Walsh 0-7 (0-5 f), P O’Flynn 0-5, B Roche 0-4, L Roche 1-1, C Ryan, J Ahern 0-2 each, J Peters, S O’Connor, D Cashman, D Barry 0-1 each.
A Walsh 0-7 f, B Walsh 0-2, C Cahill, N Cahill, I Cahill 0-1 each.
C Hogan; J Peters, D Cashman, C Hazelwood; P O’Flynn, E Roche, S O’Connor; B Roche, D Barry; C Ryan, R O’Connell, A Walsh; L Roche, J Mannix, J Ahern.
T O’Sullivan for J Peters (48).
D Costine; T O’Regan, Eoin Motherway, A Sherlock; D Byrne, C Motherway, J Sherlock; Eanna Motherway, A Walsh; B Walsh, L Sugrue, C Cahill; N Cahill, I Cahill, M Cahill.
B O’Shea for L Sugrue (h-t), C Whyte for M Cahill (54).
Arthur Murphy (Killeagh).
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