Carbery Rangers manager Robbie Ahern: It's always nice when you get five goals

For Carbery Rangers manager Robbie Ahern, it’s always nice to see your team get five goals in a game.

A near-perfect performance saw them defeat Douglas 5-11 to 2-5 in Division 1 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Football Leagues on Sunday morning.

Carbery were dogmatic and left nothing out there with Paul Hodnett grabbing a hat-trick as part of a 3-6 haul. Mark Hodnett and Peadar O’Rourke also hit the back of the net, with Douglas still seeking their first win of the campaign.

“I'm very happy - it was a nice performance,” Ahern said. “It's always nice when you get five goals. So I'm very happy.” 

Paul Hodnett was captain on Sunday and the forward began his day with a searing run through the Douglas half-back line that ended with a blistering strike going for his first green flag. The forward followed that up with a point from play and a free, as Carbery Rangers went into the break trailing 1-3 to 1-2.

Hodnett came out for the second half and got things underway by raising an orange flag from a placed ball, a score that gave the club an advantage they never once relinquished. His second goal came from close range and the hat-trick was sealed with a penalty in the 42nd minute.

“Paul had a good game. He has that in his locker and we're putting a big onus on him this year to really step up as vice-captain. 

He was captain there and he led by example, so I'm very happy.” 

Ahern was keen to place the result into the collective and into the context of their season to date.

UPTURN

Carbery Rangers were winless up until Easter Monday, following a narrow defeat to Clonakilty and a loss to Newcestown.

Their luck turned when Cill Na Martra visited Rosscarbery, and a huge shift on home soil got the win for Ahern and his players. Paul Hodnett, Daragh Hayes and former Cork footballer John O’Rourke all featured for Carbery Rangers as they took charge of the game in the second half.

“Our first game against Clon we were unlucky and we were very disappointed with Newcestown,” he said. “That is two games no this week and we bounced back very well.” 

Sunday involved a different sort of performance as Ahern had to navigate a tit-for-tat opening before a period of play where almost everything went their way. 

The third goal summed up this up as Mark Hodnett had all the space for a squared pass to O’Rourke, who was able to punch the ball in with no resistance. It was a small moment, during a period of play where his side were able to control possession and keep it by picking off Douglas’ kick-outs.

Ahern attributes a lot of their performance to the conditions in the city, especially when compared to other games this season.

“Newcestown was very tough alright to be fair. Out there it was the conditions on the day. We came out here and it was good conditions and a good pitch. We did very well and I am very happy with it.”