Impressive Carbery Rangers defeat Donoughmore to claim County Junior A Football League crown

Carbery Rangers will have two teams in the McCarthy Insurance Group Football League in 2026.

With their first team promoted from Division 2 last month, their second string will be in Division 7 next year after a great success this week.

The Rosscarbery-based outfit defeated a fancied Donoughmore team in the County Junior A Football League decider on a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-13 played in Newcestown on Wednesday evening.

It's the club's first bit of silverware at adult level since winning the Cork SFC in 2016. A shot in the arm for all concerned in Carbery Rangers.

Ultimately, it was their two goals either side of the half-time whistle that was crucial in them getting over the line in this one. Former Cork minor footballer Conor Twomey struck for a goal just before the interval as Ross led 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

40 seconds into the new half, it would get better for the West Cork outfit when Cork U20 footballer Timothy Cullinane scored a brilliant individual goal to push his team seven points clear.

Cullinane was the pick of the bunch, as he finished with 1-4, all from play. Made all the more impressive given he actually didn't start the game. He came on midway through the first half for the injured Ben Linehan. 

From when the second goal went in, the remainder of the game was largely dominated by Donoughmore, who have won the last two Muskerry Division 1 Football League titles. Declan Keating and Gavin O'Sullivan did the bulk of the scoring.

A goal from David McDonnell left just a goal in it after 59 minutes and it was down to two points in added time. Donoughmore could have snatched it right at the end similar to their divisional league final victory over Éire Óg’s second team last month.

A goalmouth scramble ended up with the ball coming back off the Carbery Rangers crossbar as they just about survived.

It was a significant win for them against a team who will be expected to be in the business end of the Ross Oil Muskerry JAFC later this year.

Carbery Rangers finished top of a very competitive Carbery Division 1 Football League before comfortably taking care of Carrigtwohill in the county quarter-final then Mallow in the last four before securing another win on Wednesday evening.

There was a nice mix of youth and experience on the team throughout the league campaign. It was hoped that Carbery Rangers would be further strengthened by the addition of Cork U20 footballer Dylan O’Neill, but unfortunately he suffered a serious injury a couple of months ago.

Another young player, Pádraig Tobin, a Cork minor footballer in 2024, picked up an injury recently after a promising start to the year for him.

Peter Óg Hill, Caolan Hayes and Paudie Hodnett were excellent in defence against Donoughmore while Mike Maguire and Alan Jennings made sure their team had a foothold in midfield.

Up front, Brian Shanahan, Twomey and Jack O’Regan all impressed, as did Cullinane of course. Sub Mark Hodnett made a telling impression when introduced. He won an All-Ireland medal with the Cork U20 footballers under Keith Ricken in 2019.

The success will give the club a boost with silverware on the table and while a lot will happen between now and next year, playing in Division 7 of the Cork County League will benefit the team and it will give good exposure to the young players as they aspire to push onto the first team.

Before all of that, Carbery Rangers’ reserves will hope to build on last year’s quarter-final exit in the Bandon Co-Op Carbery JAFC.

They will face St Mary’s, St Colum’s and Goleen in their respective championship group.

The Carbery Rangers team are managed by 2010 All-Ireland winner John Hayes with Colin Murphy, Cian O'Mahony and Enda Favier selectors.