IAFC and Premier JFC wrap: Downey brothers star as St Nick's record crucial win
Robert Downey in action for St Nick's in 2021. He played a major role in his side's win over Urhan. Picture: Jim Coughlan
While Mallow provided the shock of the weekend, there were also a few surprises in the lower grades of the McCarthy Insurance Group football championship.
It was a crucial weekend on what was dubbed 'moving day' for the second round of the group stage matches.
In the IAFC, Ballinora suffered a shock defeat three weeks ago after losing to Glanworth, but they have now caused a shock of their own after they took down one of the favourites for the county in Mitchelstown on Saturday.
The Muskerry club won the Group 2 clash on a scoreline of 1-12 to 1-10 and on the balance of play, deserved to claim the win. They led 0-7 to 0-4 at the break and maintained their slender lead before a Shane Kingston goal put the team in red and green four clear after 43 minutes. It was level with 13 minutes remaining, with Dave Dineen getting Mitchelstown’s goal, but Ballinora controlled the final stages to come up triumphs. Robert Quirke was the main man with 0-5, two coming from play. Mitchelstown are on two points with work to do if they want to make the knockout stages.
Glanworth are the surprise leaders as they made it two wins from two after an epic victory over St Vincent’s. They recorded a 1-10 to 0-11 success, with Darragh O’Brien’s green flag two minutes from time so crucial. The Avondhu team were trailing 0-11 to 0-9 at that stage, but the eventual winners didn’t look back after that. O’Brien hit 1-4, all from play. Experienced campaigner David Pyne shone again with 0-4, one coming from a free.
Despite St Vincent’s being bottom on no points, they still have a chance of making the top two going into the final group games in four weeks’ time.
Group 1 is also very interesting. Gabriel Rangers are top and are through after their 1-16 to 0-13 triumph over Dromtarriffe who can’t now qualify. The sides were level at the break but a Paddy O’Driscoll goal after half-time proved to be huge. Mark Cronin’s 0-10 for the West Cork outfit went a long way to picking up the win.
Making the knockout stages with Gabriel Rangers will be either Adrigole or Kildorrery. The two sides played out an entertaining 0-13 to 1-10 draw at the weekend leaving the teams on three points and one point respectively. Pierce Pigott netted Kildorrery's goal early in the second half.
Adrigole meet Gabriel Rangers while Kildorrery take on Dromtarriffe in four weeks’ time. Adrigole have a seven-point better scoring difference over Kildorrery.
Boherbue have booked their spot in the knockout stages with a game to spare after the Duhallow outfit got their second consecutive win at the weekend. They beat St Finbarr’s second string, 0-12 to 1-8 in Group 3. Last year’s Premier JFC winners have a point to their name, as the odds are against them to sneak into the top two.
That’s because Glanmire are two points clear of them with a much healthier scoring difference after the Imokilly side had a comfortable win over Na Piarsaigh. Mark Hopkins' team prevailed, 3-19 to 2-6. Daniel Molden starred for the winners, scoring 1-6. Cian O’Donovan and Art Marron were the other Glanmire goal scorers as Na Piarsaigh are eliminated from the championship as they now try and starve off relegation.
Moving down to the Premier JFC, and to Group 1. Kilmurry are the outright leaders after sneaking past St James’ who now bow out the 2024 championship. The Muskerry club are on four points and are safely through to the next stage after the 2-7 to 1-9 success. Goals from Tomás Collins and Kyle Kelleher in either half turned out to be important for the green and gold. A point behind Kilmurry are Canovee after they were held to a 0-12 apiece draw with Cobh.
Muskerry rivals Kilmurry and Canovee face off in the final group outing which gives Cobh, who are on a point, a glimmer of hope of overtaking Canovee.
Kinsale are in pole position to take one of the two qualification spots in Group 2 after eking out a 2-9 to 0-13 win over Cullen to collect their second win. 1-2 for James Murphy and 1-1 for David Looney proved decisive for Kinsale. It’s all to play for following Glenville’s 2-10 to 1-7 win over Ballydesmond.
Cullen and Glenville are on two points apiece with Ballydesmond on zero points, Ballydesmond still have a slight chance going into the final day.
In Group 3, one of the fancied sides for this grade put down another marker as Buttevant hammered Millstreet 5-10 to 2-5 on Friday evening. Mark Lenahan was undoubtedly the player of the match with the forward scoring 3-4, with just two points coming from frees. The Hanlon brothers, Conor and David, scored 1-2 and 0-4 respectively. John O’Neill was Buttevant’s other goal scorer.
Millstreet were without Cork footballer Darragh Cashman and former Cork footballer Kevin Crowley due to injuries.
St Nick’s recorded a massive win over Urhan to overtake the Beara side on scoring difference in second. The Blackpool-based club won 1-11 to 1-8 with Jamie Corkery hitting 1-4. Cork hurlers Robert and Eoin Downey were outstanding for the city outfit. That result was good news for pointless Millstreet as it leaves the door slightly open for them to take one of the qualification spots going into the final round of group games in four weeks' time.
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