Senior A football: Clyda Rovers lead all through as they beat Kiskeam to preserve status

Clyda Rovers 1-9

Kiskeam 0-7

Senior A football status was retained by Clyda Rovers as they enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory over Kiskeam in Kanturk on Saturday afternoon.

Against the wind in the first half, the Mourneabbey side did enough to retire with a half-time lead of 0-5 to 0-3 and then, after Cian O’Sullivan had extended the advantage on the restart, the same player found the net to open up a six-point lead.

With Kiskeam – plagued by cheap wides throughout – foiled in their attempts at creating a goal to get themselves back into the game, Clyda maintained their breathing space thereafter and a winning margin of five points was far from flattering for them.

Relegation games rarely live long in the memory for their flowing play and high scoring rates; the result is all and this was not an exception to that.

Despite having the elements in their favour, Kiskeam had three early wides and Clyda gave themselves an early cushion as David Cooney and Conor Flanagan were on target while captain David Walsh was unlucky to see a goal attempt come back off the crossbar.

Though Davo Scannell landed a nice point to get Kiskeam off the mark and they drew level with a Seán O’Sullivan mark, it was the only time the sides were level. Clyda, with Flanagan prominent at midfield, were back in front thanks to a Cooney free before good work from O’Sullivan set up Walsh to make it 0-4 to 0-2.

While Seán Meehan set up Scannell for a lovely point for Kiskeam, Clyda – who had brought on Paudie Kissane – had the final score of the half. Walsh did well to give Eoin Walsh half a sight of goal and his shot whizzed over the bar for a two-point interval lead, extended as Niall Burke and Kissane set up O’Sullivan for 0-6 to 0-3 on the restart.

The advantage was buttressed when Kevin Graham won a good mark from a kickout, leading to Eoin Walsh working his way in from the right flank, handpassing across for O’Sullivan to palm home.

Though Adrian Carroll did have a Kiskeam response with a good point, the task in front them was considerable, not least because the wides tally was 9-1 in their ‘favour’ by that stage.

Kiskeam did manage to cut the lead to three as Seán O’Sullivan converted a couple of frees but their goalkeeper Billy Daly was required to deny Aidan Kelly a second Clyda goal and even though Walsh was black-carded, the victors deal well with the period of numerical disparity.

Chris Kenny and Garry Deane stood strong in defence with goalkeeper Seán Dennehy reliable when called upon, saving well from Scannell just after Kissane had made it 1-8 to 0-7 with a pressure-relieving point.

Another quick Clyda break ended with O’Sullivan pointing a free and it was fitting that he had the final say as they look to regroup and make the most of this let-off. Unfortunately for Kiskeam, the premier intermediate grade awaits.

Scorers for Clyda Rovers: C O’Sullivan 1-2, D Cooney 0-2f, C Flanagan, D Walsh, K Graham, P Kissane, E Walsh 0-1 each.

Kiskeam: S O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1m), D Scannell 0-2, A Carroll 0-1.

CLYDA ROVERS: S Dennehy; M Forde, C Kenny, D Buckley; C Kelly, G Deane, C O’Reilly; D Walsh, C Flanagan; K Graham, D Cooney, C O’Sullivan; C Walsh, E Walsh, N Burke.

Subs: P Kissane for Kelly (27, injured), A Kelly for Cooney (39), S Kelly for O’Reilly (43), C Kelly for Forde, A Walsh for O’Sullivan (both 60).

KISKEAM: B Daly; D Murphy, J O’Connor, J Daly; Mike Casey, AJ O’Connor, M Collins; S Meehan, T Dennehy; D Fitzgerald, A Carroll, E Daly; M Herlihy, S O’Sullivan, D Scannell.

Subs: K O’Connor for Fitzgerald, C Murphy for E Daly, Maurice Casey for Mike Casey (all 37), A Dennehy for Herlihy (42), T Casey for Scannell (55).

Referee: D Murnane (Macroom).