Champions Castlehaven open with impressive victory over Mallow
Castlehaven's Jack Cahalane is tackled by Mallow's Trevor Kiely during their Premier SFC clash at Ovens. Picture: David Keane.
Champions Castlehaven made the perfect start to the defence of their title with a hard-earned win over Mallow on Saturday night in Ovens in Group 2 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork PSFC.
In the final analysis, their superior accuracy and Jack Cahalane’s 17th-minute goal were key to the win over an impressive Mallow side.
They led by 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval, and Cathal Maguire extended their lead on the resumption with a fine score from play. Matty Taylor, returning from a black card, brought Mallow back to within two, but the Haven then went on to outscore Mallow by 0-6 to 0-2 over the next 10 minutes to take control of the tie.
Maguire and Mark Collins kicked two-pointers, Sean Browne got on the scoresheet and Collins clipped over a free to make it 1-12 to 0-9, Jimmy Glynn and Michael O’Rourke with the Mallow points. It could have been worse for Mallow but for a sensational Kevin Doyle save from Conor Cahalane that was followed by a heroic goal line clearance from Bill Myers after Michael Maguire looked certain to hit the net.
Collins then made it 1-13 to 0-9 with ten to go, and from there, Castlehaven just did enough. Points from Eoin Kelleher, Jack Dillon and Sean McDonnell gave Mallow hope, but they never looked like getting the goal they needed, even when the Haven lost Andrew Whelton to a black card. Damien Cahalane was central to that feeling, as he was simply outstanding in every way.
From the off, there was a determination to the Haven’s play with players popping up in different places, constantly forcing Mallow to keep on their toes. Michael Hurley and Conor Cahalane gave the Haven the early lead with two fine points from play, but Mallow were winning their fair share of possession with Shane Merritt playing well at midfield.
Kelleher had their opening point in the fifth minute, Collins responded with a free before a brilliant two-point effort from Mallow’s Dillon brought the sides level for the first and only time.
Mallow then took the lead at the end of the opening quarter with Taylor setting up O’Rourke who fired over a classy point from just inside the arc. The Haven then put together a gorgeous move with Conor Cahalane and Cathal Maguire’s pace setting up Jack Cahalane who took a step before putting the ball past Kevin Doyle for the game’s only goal.
The challenge was laid down, but Mallow showed that they weren’t for turning with O’Rourke’s second point coming from the next play to make it 1-3 to 0-5. However, their shooting was leaving them down as they kicked six first-half wides, and when Taylor got a black card for dragging Jack Cahalane to the floor, they looked to be in trouble.
They did well from there to half time well though, with Dillon’s third point sandwiched by Collins and Michael Maguire scores for the Haven to leave the champions 1-5 to 0-6 ahead at half time.
From there, the Haven were as good as they needed to be. They will play Valley Rovers when the competition resumes, while Mallow will face Newcestown.
M Collins 0-6 (0-3 f, 1 2pt), J Cahalane 1-0, C Maguire 0-3 (1 2pt), S Browne, C Cahalane, M Hurley, M Maguire 0-1 each.
J Dillon 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), M O’Rourke 0-3, E Kelleher 0-2, S McDonnell (f), M Taylor, J Glynn 0-1 each.
Darragh Cahalane; J O’Regan, Damien Cahalane, S Walsh; M Collins, R Minihane, C Maguire; A Whelton, R Maguire; S Browne, J Cahalane, J Walsh; M Maguire, C Cahalane, M Hurley.
J O’Driscoll for J Walsh (47).
K Doyle; B Myers, P Lyons, G Daly; T Kiely, M Taylor, J Glynn; S Merritt, A Bolster; S McDonnell, M O’Rourke, J Dillon; M Tobin, K Sheehan, E Kelleher.
C Mullins for Tobin, J Loughrey for Sheehan (both 40), E Stanton for O’Rourke (52), P Britton for Kiely (60).
Robert Whelan (Kilworth).
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