Premier IFC: Five-star Aghada send Ilen Rovers to relegation play-off
Aghada's Danny Creedon shoots at goal in Saturday's McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC game against Ilen Rovers at Brinny. Picture: David Creedon
Aghada led throughout as they earned the win necessary to ensure safety in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC, in the process condemning Ilen Rovers to the relegation play-off.
Going into the game in Brinny on Saturday night, qualification for the knockout stages was not a possibility for either side after defeats to both Aghabullogue and Uibh Laoire, but victory carried the prize of third place and the easing of relegation fears. Aghada scored five of the game’s first seven points before a Tim Hartnett goal solidified their advantage in the 14th minute and by half-time Aaron Berry had added two more as they led by 3-7 to 0-4.
Though a goal from Ilen sub Simon O’Shea did contribute to a purple patch for them in the third quarter, Aghada replacement Jamie O’Hanlon marked his arrival by finding the net to restore the momentum to Aghada and Berry raised a third green flag near the end.
While the win brings Aghada’s football season to an end, the hope is that the confidence gained from this win can translate to next weekend’s intermediate A hurling relegation play-off against Cloughduv. For Ilen, a victory over Macroom is needed if they to avoid a third demotion in four seasons.
They were on the back foot from the off here, with 44-year-old Pearse O’Neill and Diarmuid Phelan giving Aghada midfield supremacy while Berry was a threat inside and Michael Russell functioned well as a sweeper.
Hartnett’s goal, set up by Danny Creedon’s lovely pass, had them 1-6 to 0-2 in front and another goal arrived in the 26th minute when they were awarded a penalty as Phelan was fouled when through on goal.
Though Ilen goalkeeper Emmett Hourihane got his trailing leg to Berry’s shot, the ball looped in and the corner-forward bundled in another goal moments later. While Dan Mac Eoin had a couple of good points for Ilen late in the half, a 3-7 to 0-4 deficit was considerable.
Aghada almost had a fourth goal on the resumption but Jack Whooley made a brilliant block to deny Creedon. Though O’Neill and Creeedon added points to move Aghada 14 clear, O’Shea’s goal for Ilen was followed by points from Mac Eoin, Peter O’Driscoll and Micheál Sheehy, leaving it 3-9 to 1-7 with 17 minutes left.
However, O’Hanlon’s first touch stemmed the tide for Aghada, reacting quickest after a well-struck ground shot by the impressive Cian Hegarty was saved by Hourihane. Hartnett was the creator for Berry to get his third and Aghada’s fifth goal and there 13 points between the sides at the end.
A Berry 3-1 (1-0 penalty), C Hegarty 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), D Creedon 0-3 (0-2 f), T Hartnett, J O’Hanlon 1-0 each, D Phelan 0-2, P O’Neill 0-1.
D Mac Eoin 0-6 (0-1 f, 0-1 45), S O’Shea 1-0, M Sheehy 0-2, Peter O’Driscoll, D Ryan 0-1 each.
C O’Shea; S Whyte, J Colbert, K O’Shea; J O’Donoghue, E Leahy, D Collins; P O’Neill, D Phelan; D Byrne, T Hartnett, C Hegarty; A Berry, D Creedon, M Russell.
J Norris for Leahy (29, injured), J O’Hanlon for Creedon (44), S Maloney for Byrne (52, injured), A O’Connell for O’Neill (57), J Corkery for Whyte (56).
E Hourihane; S Minihane, J Whooley, J Collins; D O’Driscoll, B Collins, K O’Driscoll; C O’Driscoll, Peadar O’Driscoll; J Hickey, Peter O’Driscoll, M Sheehy; D Mac Eoin, D O’Sullivan, D Hegarty.
S O’Shea for K O’Driscoll (29, injured), A O’Sullivan for Peadar O’Driscoll (37), C Harrington for D O’Driscoll (52), D Ryan for Collins (54, injured).
M Maher (St Finbarr’s).
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