Bandon hurlers stay focused after improving on last season's campaign

Bandon deservedly qualified for the Co-Op Superstores Intermediate AHC knockout stages following a 10-point victory over a Mayfield team that has been condemned to a relegation play-off.

They were made to work for it but a second-half 15-point surge saw the Lilywhites come out on top in their concluding Group 1 fixture in Ballinhassig.

Michael Cahalane’s 0-12 were central to the West Cork club’s victory, an outcome that saw them finish top of the group on scoring difference ahead of Midleton and Russell Rovers and progress to a quarter-final with Erin's Own.

Down 1-10 to 0-10 heading towards the interval, Jack Cullinane’s opportunistic goal sent Bandon in level at the break. That proved a hammer blow for Mayfield who were the better team in the opening half.

The second period was all Bandon, however, and they deservedly won by 10to solidify first place in the group. Bandon coach James Nyhan was a relieved man as his team needed to up the tempo to see off a dogged opponent.

“We were slow at the start a little bit but look, there was a lot at stake for both clubs,” Nyhan stated.

“I put a bit of pressure on the lads this week. Bandon is a proud club and don’t want to just be playing in the group stage. All week I told them that we want to be in the knockout stages of the championship.

“We found it hard to get by Mayfield’s half-back line, who were very good, in the first half. Look, Mayfield is a proud club and they weren’t coming down here just to fulfil a fixture."

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Relegation-threatened Mayfield certainly made a game of it, especially in the opening half. Yet, the city side were unable to deal with Bandon’s increased intensity or Michael Cahalane’s accuracy throughout the second period. Jack Cullinane's goal was also critical.

“We came down here looking for a performance and I’m happy with how the lads performed,” Mayfield coach Eoin Barry said.

“Conditions were tough. We struggled to get a lot of lads right who were carrying injuries this week. That goal just before half-time, where we were three ahead, was just a lapse in concentration.

"He did very well to take the goal so credit to him for that. These things happen in games.

We have to go back to the drawing board, reassess and see where we are going." 

Youghal now await in the relegation playoff to avoid the drop to Premier Junior.

"We'll hopefully, get a better performance."

As for Bandon, two wins out of three has the West Cork club looking forward to the latter stages of a competition they failed to qualify for last year.

“There is more in these lads but look, they have dual commitments and that is tough on them,” Nyhan concluded.

“We have 38 lads training. We are building this panel and trying to improve our junior team as well. 

"We brought on substitutes who made a big difference today. Thanks be to God that we are into the next round.”