Rockchapel rally in PIFC cracker with Bandon
Bandon's Peter Murphy and Rockchapel's Seamus Hiackey contest a high ball during the PIFC match in Clondrohid. Picture: Howard Crowdy
After both suffered defeats in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship first round, Rockchapel and Bandon knew there was no more margin for error here.
At the end of this engaging duel in Clondrohid, the sides could not be separated and had to be content with a share of the spoils. This was a game full of twists and turns, with the tension on a knife-edge going into the closing stages.
Heading into second-half stoppage time, Bandon held a two-point lead; Rockchapel clawed back the deficit in a dramatic conclusion.
It felt like a defeat for Bandon. But credit to Rockchapel for refusing to throw the towel in, especially after an opening half which saw them second best for large portions of the contest. Both are still standing and can still harbour some hope of making the knockout stages.
Rockchapel opened the scoring through Shane Curtin but Bandon gradually grew into proceedings and a well-taken effort by Mark Sugrue opened their account.
Points by Conor Calnan and another Sugrue score saw Bandon lead 0-6 to 0-2 with 20 minutes gone. Rockchapel stayed in the mix, Eoin Collins converting a free, and it was 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.
After 37 minutes, Rockchapel edged in front when they found the back of the net. After a super run from Jack Curtin, he maintained his composure and slotted home with a neat finish.
Bandon responded almost immediately with a goal of their own. Sugrue put the finishing touches to a well-worked move with a cool close-range finish as they now led 1-7 to 1-6.
When the chips were down, Rockchapel showed great fighting spirit and they were much improved in the second half.
Scores from Ciaran Curtin, Shane Curtin and Jason O’Callaghan saw the men from North Cork go two points ahead at the midway juncture of the second half.
Bandon came back again and a lovely two-pointer score from former Cork hurler Michael Cahalane saw the teams back on level terms.
Heading into the closing 10 minutes, Bandon appeared to find a second wind and grew in momentum.
Marquee men Cahalane and Sugrue pushed them 1-12 to 1-10 up as the game headed into the final minute of normal time.
But back came Rockchapel once more. Scores from Seamus Hickey and O’Callaghan, with practically the final kick of the game, rescued a draw.
Next up for Bandon will be a clash against Naomh Abán on September 13. The same day, Rockchapel face off against Glanmire.
J Curtin 1-1, J O’Callaghan 0-3, S Hickey, S Curtin, E Collins (f) 0-2 each, Ciaran Curtin, J McAuliffe 0-1 each.
M Sugrue (0-1 f, 0-1 45) 1-3, M Cahalane (1 2pt), C Calnan 0-3 each, P Callinan, J Cullinane, J Calnan 0-1 each.
C Murphy; P Curtin, E O’Callaghan, S Curtin; D Carroll, B Carroll, M O’Keeffe; S Hickey, Ciaran Curtin; Cormac Curtin, J O’Callaghan, J Walsh; N Lenihan, J Curtin, J McAuliffe.
K Collins for D Carroll (16, inj), E Collins for Lenihan (27), M McAuliffe for Cormac Curtin (HT).
C McCarthy; E Twomey, B Crowley, E McSweeney; C Calnan, D O’Donovan, J Mulcahy; R Long, P Murphy; P Callinan, D Crowley, C Lynch; M Sugrue, M Cahalane, J Cullinane.
C Long for Twomey (44), J Calnan for Callinan (48), N McCarthy for Crowley (57).
Robert Whelan (Gleann Na Laoi).
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