Macroom avoid the drop to send Ilen Rovers to Intermediate A

Macroom 1-13 Ilen Rovers 1-11 

Following a dramatic and tense encounter Macroom survived this McCarthy Insurance PIFC relegation playoff in Dunmanway.

As recently as 2019 Ilen Rovers made it to the top-tier quarter-finals but have now suffered three relegations in four seasons.

Macroom were unfortunately back in familiar territory as well, having survived by beating Na Piarsaigh last season.

Knowing the significance of what was on the line, both sides went on the front foot from the outset.

Ilen Rovers opened the scoring through Michael Sheehy then Macroom got off the mark with a pair of Alan Quinn points.

The scores were level at 0-4 each after 17 minutes, with Quinn and John Murphy pointing, after Ilen pointed through Dan MacEoin and Dermot Hegarty.

Ilen edged ahead when Sheehy landed another over. On 22 minutes Macroom struck for the back of the net. A lovely pass by John Murphy picked out Eolan O’Leary who neatly finished to the bottom corner.

Ilen responded through points from MacEoin and Jack Collins. But Macroom ended the opening half with a Dylan Twomey point on the stroke of half time.

At the break, the tension was still in the air and all was still up for grabs, with Macroom holding a narrow one-point lead at 1-5 to 0-7.

Points from O’Leary and Tony Dineen extended the Macroom advantage to three in the early stages of the second half.

While the impressive Alan Quinn landed a point to edge the Mid Cork men further ahead, as they held the momentum.

Ilen got a much-needed point through Conor O’Driscoll. But Macroom continued to charge and Don Creedon, Quinn and Murphy pointed to see them lead 1-11 to 0-8 after 50 minutes.

Ilen Rovers set up a grandstand finish when Emmet Hourihane fisted to the net from a long ball by Hegarty, with MacEoin pointing also as the West Cork side looked to mount a late rally.

Macroom though refused to press the panic button and they saw things out, as Jack O’Riordan slotted the ball over the crossbar.

Managed by Kerry All Ireland winner Aidan O’Mahony, Macroom completed their job and will ply their trade at PIFC level for 2024. While for Ilen Rovers it is now a dreaded third relegation suffered in four years.

Scorers for Macroom: A Quinn 0-6 (0-5 f), E O’Leary 1-1 , J Murphy 0-2 , D Creedon, T Dineen, D Twomey, J O’Riordan 0-1 each.

Ilen Rovers: D MacEoin 0-4 (0-2 f), M Sheehy 0-3 (0-1 m), E Hourihane 1-0, D Hegarty 0-2, J Collins, C O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

MACROOM: B O’Connell; C Condon, R Buckley, J Murphy; J O’Riordan, M Corrigan, C Buckley; F Goold, S Kiely; D Creedon, A Quinn, M Hunt; E O’Leary, D Twomey, T Dineen.

Subs: E O’Mahony for Twomey (40), S Meaney for O’Riordan (60).

ILEN ROVERS: D O’Sullivan; B Collins, S Minihane, J Collins; C Harrington, S Carey, D O’Driscoll; C O’Driscoll, D Hegarty; P O’Driscoll, A O’Sullivan, C Dwyer; J Hickey, D MacEoin, M Sheehy.

Subs: S O’Shea for Minihane (inj, 10), E Hourihane for O’Shea (inj, h/t), K O’Driscoll for Harrington, P O’Driscoll for Hickey, D Ryan for O’Sullivan (54).

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).