FL Division 4 final: Strong start stands Aghabullogue in good stead

Aghabullogue 0-19 (0-5-9)

Bandon 2-2 (2-0-2)

An impressive first-half performance set Aghabullogue up for victory in Sunday night’s McCarthy Insurance Group FL Division 4 final at Ballymah.

With the wind behind them in the opening period, the Coachford side led by 0-16 to 0-1 at half-time, having finished the half with three two-pointers.

Bandon did threaten a revival at the start of the second half as a good Mike Cahalane point was followed by a goal from sub Ben Donegan, who poked home Jonathon Mulcahy’s pass.

Then, after Bandon goalkeeper Ciarán McCarthy denied Matthew Bradley – one of a string of fine saves by McCarthy, the Lilywhites found the net again, with Mark Sugrue setting up wing-back Jack Calnan for a fine finish.

That left it 0-16 to 2-2 with 23 minutes on the clock but, despite the strength of the breeze, Bandon were not to score again. Though Aghabullogue’s shooting efficiency was not what it was in the first half, their supremacy never looked like being shaken and last year’s beaten Premier IFC finalists will move ahead to a championship clash with Bantry Blues – losers of the two deciders before that – in confident form, with a hurling league final to come before that.

The winners led from the off, though it took them a while to build their tally.

Their first two-pointer, from midfielder Colm Gillespie, left it 0-5 to 0-0 and they were unlucky more than once not to get a goal – McCarthy making two good saves while Luke Casey rattled the post with a fierce shot.

It took until the 17th minute for a Mike Cahalane free to open Bandon’s account but it was just brief and respite.

Aaron O’Sullivan landed a double for Aghabullogue before setting up Casey to make it 0-8 to 0-1 and the latter almost added a goal but Peter Murphy - Bandon’s best in the opening half - took his effort off the line, though Casey did palm the loose ball over.

Coming up to half-time, Aghabullogue pushed on well as Aaron O’Sullivan drilled over a free from all of 50 metres and that orange flag was followed by similar efforts from his brother Evan and Adam Murphy.

A 0-16 to 0-1 lead in injury time might even have been augmented further but again McCarthy produced a good save, denying Casey.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: E O’Sullivan 0-5 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), L Casey, A O’Sullivan (1 2pt, 1 2pt f) 0-4 each, C Gillespie, A Murphy 0-2 (1 2pt) each, J Lane, P O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Bandon: J Calnan, B Donegan 1-0 each, M Cahalane 0-2 (0-1 f)

AGHABULLOGUE: J Buckley; P Ring, D Merrion, T Long; B O’Sullivan, S Tarrant, C O’Sullivan; C Gillespie, A Murphy; S O’Sullivan, A O’Sullivan, P O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.

Subs: P Dilworth for P O’Sullivan (58), J Foley for Long, S O’Connell for A O’Sullivan (both 60).

BANDON: C McCarthy; C Twomey, B Crowley, E McSweeney; J Mulcahy, P Murphy, J Calnan; R Long, C Lynch; B Twohig, C Calnan, P Callinan; M Sugrue, M Cahalane, J Lillis.

Subs: E Twomey for E McSweeney, S Ahern for C Calnan, B Donegan for Lillis (all half-time), C Twomey for Twohig (50), N McCarthy for C Twomey (59).

Referee: A O’Connor (Ballygarvan).