Premier 2 MHC: O'Donovan stars as Bandon battle to victory over Shandrum

Bandon 2-15 

Shandrum 1-13 

Michael O’Donovan was in impressive scoring form as Bandon progressed to the semi-finals of the Rebel Óg Premier 2 MHC with victory over Shandrum at the Mardyke on Wednesday night.

While the Lilywhites never trailed at any stage – O’Donovan had the game’s first three points, his hurley broken as he scored the last of them – they were pushed by a resilient Shandrum outfit that managed to claw their way back in the second half.

After O’Donovan brought his tally to 0-7 just after half-time with a shot touched over by Shandrum goalkeeper Ethan Boles, Bandon led by 0-8 to 0-4 but with Cork minor captain Bobby Carroll influential around the middle, Shandrum ate into the deficit.

Two frees from JD Egan, sandwiching a Carroll point, left it 0-11 to 0-10 after 43 minutes but Bandon captain Denis O’Mahony was making his presence felt as well and a super effort after winning a break at midfield was followed by a huge free to open up a three-point lead again.

That deficit was wiped out, however, when a Carroll free broke and Liam Coughlan was able to divert the ball to the net, but Bandon’s response was strong. O’Mahony did well to win possession on the left and he fed a low delivery to O’Donovan, who managed to avoid giving away a free as he made space for himself before firing beyond Boles.

Bandon were reduced to 14 players in the wake of that as Cathal O’Riordan received a second booking and Shandrum pressed again, with Ben Jordan Reidy drawing a good save from Kyle O’Connell. The attacker did point soon after, following a Carroll score as the lead was cut to one, 1-13 to 1-12.

Even so, Bandon were resolute and Aidan O’Driscoll landed a brilliant score before O’Donovan moved to 1-9 for the evening with a free. Shandrum’s Ben Farrissey made it a two-point game but, while a goal did come, it was at the other end.

O’Donovan, pulled to a deeper role after the red card, launched a ball upfield and the ever-energetic Daniel Murphy would surely have added to his two points but for an illegal challenge – penalty was the verdict and O’Donovan drilled it to the net, setting up a last-four tie with fellow west Cork side Ibane Gaels.

Bandon had enjoyed the better of a low-scoring first half, with Daniel Coughlan in defence and midfielder Joe Heverin showing up well for them while O’Driscoll was unlucky not to goal.

They led 0-6 to 0-1 before Shandrum came back in the second quarter and it was 0-7 to 0-4 when Egan got his first point of the game on 29 minutes. But for a good Cillian O’Flynn block, Jordan Reidy might have sent Shandrum in level, but, while they did manage to achieve parity in the second half, Bandon were able to push on.

Scorers for Bandon: M O’Donovan 2-9 (1-0 penalty, 0-3 f), D O’Mahony 0-3 (0-2 f), D Murphy 0-2, A O’Driscoll 0-1.

Shandrum: JD Egan 0-5 f, L Coughlan 1-2, B Farrissey, B Carroll 0-2 each, B Jordan Reidy, B O’Gorman 0-1 each.

BANDON: K O’Connell; T O’Riordan, L O’Driscoll, M Foley; D Coughlan, R Tarrant, C O’Flynn; J Heverin, C McSweeney; D O’Mahony, D Murphy, A O’Driscoll; C O’Flynn, M O’Donovan, C O’Riordan.

Sub: O Coughlan for McWeeney (52, injured).

SHANDRUM: E Boles; C Roche O’Connell, E Keating, E Sheedy; O O’Brien, B Carroll, J Noonan; N Finn, J Morrissey; L Coughlan, B O’Gorman, B Jordan Reidy; JD Egan, L O’Mahony, C Finucane.

Subs: C Finn for Noonan (14, injured), B Farrissey for Carroll (18-21, injured), Farrissey for Finn (half-time).

Referee: M Carey (Bride Rovers).