Richard Sweetnam point saves Courcey Rovers and sends Carrigtwohill into SAHC relegation playoff

Courcey Rovers 2-13 Carrigtwohill 0-19 

A late stoppage-time point from Richard Sweetman saved Courcey Rovers as they salvaged a draw in a pulsating Co Op Superstores SAHC clash at Carrigaline.

Sweetman finished with an impressive 14 points but Carrigtwohill will be wondering how it took them 50 minutes to realise they were involved in a crucial championship game. The Ballinspittle side commanded a seven-point lead with seven minutes remaining but the Carrigtwohill spirit rose to another level and in the end, their courage almost ensured their status in this championship was kept intact.

However, the draw wasn't enough to prevent them heading to a relegation play-off final against East Cork neighbours Cloyne.

The opening exchanges were competitive and tense with both sides sharing four points up to the seventh minute, all from placed balls.

The play was scrappy but with Courceys winning the majority of dirty ball they took over with four unanswered points from play Richard Sweetman (3) and Tadhg O’Sullivan, which changed the trend of the game.

Carrigtwohill relied heavily on the free-taking of Sean Walsh to keep them in sight. They were denied two good goal opportunities with the Courceys keeper Stephen Nyhan saving from James Mulcahy and Sean Brennan.

Leading 0-11 to 0-7 at the break, Courceys were hoping to drive on and looked in control when Richard Sweetman nailed his 12th point in the 53rd minute.

Then a Carrigtwohill ambush began and a minute later Jamie McCarthy was hauled down on route to goal with Sean Walsh blasting the resultant penalty to the net.

For some strange reason, Courceys had lost their shape in defence and three minutes later James Mulcahy brought the teams on parity following a superb three-man move. He then had the Carrigtwohill players and supporters in raptures when he split the posts from an acute angle.

Just when Carrigtwohill thought they had sealed the deal they were punished with a heartbreaking free for picking the sliotar off the ground, which Sweetman duly executed with precision.

Scorers for Courcey Rovers: R Sweetman 0-14 (0-10 f), S Twomey 0-2, A O’Donovan 0-2, T O’Sullivan 0-1.

Carrigtwohill: S Walsh 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5 f), J Mulcahy 1-1, L Gosnell 0-2 (0-1 f), J Oke, P Hogan, J McCarthy, A Walsh-Barry 0-1 each.

COURCEY ROVERS: S Nyhan; K Collins, B Mulcahy, D Collins; C Roche, F Lordan, L Collins; M Collins, D J Twomey; O Twomey, S Twomey, R Sweetman; A O’Donovan, T O’Sullivan, B Ryan.

Sub: R O’Callaghan for O Crowley (49).

CARRIGTWOHILL: T Hogan; S De Burca, A Walsh-Barry, P Sullivan; B Twomey P Hogan, D Murnane; J Oke; J Horgan; B Twomey; J McCarthy, S Walsh, S Brennan; J Mulcahy L O’Sullivan, L Gosnell.

Referee:

Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).