Bench press puts Fermoy back in SAHC mix after beating Cloyne
Fermoy's Jake Carr breaks away from five Cloyne players near the sideline during the Co-Op Superstores SAHC match in Youghal. Picture: Howard Crowdy
Fermoy got their Senior A Hurling Championship campaign back on track thanks to an impressive second-half performance against Cloyne in Youghal.
Both sides came into this clash seeking to reignite their campaigns having come away empty-handed from their opening group two tussles with Bride Rovers and Castlelyons, respectively. The win resurrects Don O’Connell’s side’s chances of knockout qualification, but they face a stiff challenge against Bride Rovers.
The Fermoy bench contingent were to provide the goods on a day when the shooting radar was a touch-off for the opening half hour. Subs Arlen Aherne – originally named to start – and James Molloy were both introduced shortly after the interval and contributed 3-2 from play between them.
Further contributions came from more replacements, David Lardner, Cillian Fitzpatrick and Brian O’Sullivan. Molloy’s goal was sandwiched in between two Aherne green flags in the third quarter to kill any Cloyne challenge.
Matters had been level at 0-8 apiece up to the 38th minute, but Aherne was on hand to slot home after Cloyne keeper Dylan Costine had made a good save from Martin Brennan.
That put daylight between the sides. Fermoy never looked back. Molloy’s goal arrived after persistent work in the goalmouth area seven minutes later.
Aherne grabbed his second two minutes after that. 3-10 to 0-9. Goals win games.
There wasn’t much for either set of supporters to shout about early on, in a positive manner anyway, as the scoreboard read 0-1-0-1 with 12 minutes on the clock.
A first half that featured a litany of wides, particularly from Fermoy, did manage to improve as the clock ticked towards the short whistle. Goal chances for both were denied by sharp goalkeeping on either sides.
Cloyne’s Ashley Walsh was clinical from placed ball opportunities, and although Fermoy’s Darragh Daly missed a few early frees, he steadied himself to keep his side in touch just after the quarter-hour mark.
Ashley’s work was complemented by a superb Brian Walsh score, and the duo combined to help Cloyne into a 0-7 to 0-4 lead by the 23rd minute.
The following 10 or so minutes were to belong to Fermoy, however. Sharp forward Jake Carr landed two points, one from a ’65, while the aforementioned Daly landed his only score from play.
It meant Cloyne took a one-point advantage into the interval, but proceedings were to swing in Fermoy’s favour thereafter. O’Connell’s changes worked a treat and Fermoy are now looking up, rather than down.
A Aherne 2-0, J Molloy 1-2, J Carr 0-4 (0-1 f, 0-1 65), D Daly 0-3 (0-2 f) P Murphy, D Lardner, C Fitzpatrick, B O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
A Walsh 0-6 f, I Cahill 1-0, C Motherway, B Walsh, N Cahill, M Cahill 0-1 each.
S Coughlan; L Aherne, T Clancy, G Lardner; D O’Carroll, J O’Brien, P Murphy; D Daly, P De Róiste; A Creed, B Daly, M Brennan; J Carr, D O’Callaghan, S Aherne.
A Aherne for D O’Callaghan (37), C Fitzpatrick for B Daly, J Molloy for D Daly (both 40), D Lardner for S Aherne (43), B O’Sullivan for Jake Carr (50).
D Costine; T O'Regan, Eoin Motherway, A Sherlock; D Byrne, C Motherway, J Sherlock; Eanna Motherway, A Walsh; B Walsh, S Beausang, C Cahill; N Cahill, I Cahill, M Cahill.
C Mullins for S Beausang (50), L Sugrue for C Motherway, C Whyte for A Sherlock (both 60).
Simon Stokes (Tullylease).
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