Clonakilty edge out rivals Carbery Rangers in Division 1 league opener

Carbery Rangers 1-13 (1-1-11) Clonakilty 0-18 (0-2-14) 

Dara Ó Sé’s seven-point haul helped Clonakilty overcome Carbery Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League.

Two West Cork rivals clashed on the opening weekend of the new league campaign in Rosscarbery. Newly promoted from Division 2, Carbery Rangers gave as good as they got against last year’s Division 1 runners-up, Clonakilty. Clon were able to call on former Cork senior and recent transfer Kevin O’Driscoll from the bench.

At the end of an even contest, Clonakilty better utilised the elements and won thanks to Ó Sé’s accuracy and an encouraging team display.

Clon enjoyed the benefit of a strong wind in the opening half and would change ends five points ahead despite some poor early shooting.

It was 0-2 to 0-1 to Rangers after 15 uninspiring minutes. John O’Brien and Des Kenneally exchanged scores before Paul Hodnett punished Clon for a three-up infringement.

Then the scoring floodgates opened.

Clonakilty moved 0-5 to 0-4 ahead courtesy of Sean White, Fergal Murphy and a Ó Sé two-pointer. Peadar O’Rourke and John O’Brien responded before their opponents embarked on another scoring spree. Consecutive points from Sean McEvoy, Des Kenneally and Ó Sé edged the Brewery Town 0-8 to 0-4 clear.

Another flurry of scores ended the half with a brace of Paul Hodnett frees for the hosts. Sean McEvoy and an Ó Sé two-point free made it 0-11 to 0-6 to Clon at the break.

Rangers restarted with the wind at their backs and were only a goal behind once Paul Hodnett and Darragh Hayes fired over.

Mark White produced an excellent save to deny Hayes in between and Clon worked a Ross Mannix score to go 0-12 to 0-8 in front.

That was their opponents’ cue to up the tempo as Peadar O’Rourke and a fisted Darragh Hayes effort reduced the gap to two.

Clon’s Ross Mannix replied but a second three-up infringement was punished by Paul Hodnett’s two-point free after 46 minutes.

Now 0-13 to 0-12 ahead and playing into a strengthening wind, Clonakilty enjoyed their best spell. McEvoy (2), Ó Sé and White provided four unanswered scores to seemingly seal the points.

Not so as a Barry Kerr rocket into the top corner and Darragh Hayes' point made it 0-17 to 1-13 with time almost up. Clon used all their experience to retain possession and work the match-clinching score via Ó Sé.

Scorers for Carbery Rangers: P Hodnett 0-6 (0-3 f, 1 2pt f), D Hayes 0-3, B Kerr 1-0, J O’Brien, P O’Rourke 0-2 each.

Clonakilty: D Ó Sé 0-7 (1 2pt, 1 2pt f), S McEvoy 0-4, D Kenneally, R Mannix, S White 0-2 each, F Murphy 0-1.

CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan; P Óg Hill, J O’Riordan, C Daly; J Kevane, J O’Rourke (c), B Hodnett; B Kerr, K Scannell; J O’Brien, P Hodnett, C Santry; P O’Rourke, C Twomey, D Hayes.

Subs: S Lenihan for J Kevane (36), J Hodnett for J O’Brien (42, inj), M Hodnett for K Scannell (53), C Hayes for C Santry (58).

CLONAKILTY: M White (c); D Darragh, D Peet, D O’Sullivan; J O’Mahony, T Clancy, S White; B Ridgeway, C Ryan; D Ó Sé, A Cullinane; F Murphy, R Mannix, S McEvoy.

Subs: K O’Driscoll for C Ryan (42), J Campbell for F Murphy (42), B White for D Kenneally (55).

Referee: Alan Long (Argideen Rangers).