Rockchapel footballers 'fight to the bitter end' to save their season against Bandon

Rockchapel manager Jerry Casey was proud of the character shown by his side to fight back and secure a draw against Bandon in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship.

Heading into the final minute, Bandon had a two-point lead before late scores from Seamus Hickey and Jason O’Callaghan, which means both clubs have something to play for going into the final group games.

Naomh Abán are on top with four points, Glanmire have two and Bandon and Rockchapel one each.

“Bandon were trying to keep the ball,” said Casey.

“We ended up with a great score to level the game. It gives us a bit of hope going into the last game and probably keeps it alive for us.

CHARACTER

“I would never question the character of this team. They just always fight until the bitter end. We did it and it showed.

“We were a bit disappointed with our first half. I felt in the first half, when we were playing with the breeze, we were pushing things a bit too much and we weren’t as relaxed.

“We probably got turned over nine or 10 times in the first half alone. It was very disappointing for us. Our second half was more composed.”

This Rockchapel side is made of stern stuff.

Veteran Seamus Hickey brings strong leadership and experience and they’re a side that can produce moments of quality. This was in evidence against Bandon by Jack Curtin, who scored a fine individually taken goal.

Next up for Rockchapel is a clash with Glanmire on September 13.

Last year three points got us into the quarter-final on scoring difference. We are there and we will fight another day.

“Glanmire will be another battle. We will have to prepare for that in three weeks. We are there and we have another day to fight for.

“We will take that at the moment.”

In Clondrohid on Saturday evening, Rockchapel proved they have the stomach for the fight and will be looking to deliver more of that in a few weeks.

Rockchapel will be hoping to go a few steps further than in the Cork PIFC in 2024 when they made the quarter-finals but suffered a 0-9 to 0-6 defeat at the hands of Naomh Abán.