Carbery Rangers razor sharp as they beat St Finbarr's in Togher in SFL

St Finbarr’s 2-9 (2-2-5) 

Carbery Rangers 2-16 (2-1-14) 

A solid second-half performance from Carbery Rangers ensured they inflicted a first defeat of the season on St Finbarr’s in the McCarthy Insurance Senior FL at Togher on Sunday morning.

The west Cork side who had two wins in the campaign over Cill na Martra and Douglas showed enough over the hour to suggest they will be making a serious attempt to get back playing Premier Senior football next season following their relegation in the last campaign.

Plenty of solid displays from the winners but in full forward Darragh Hayes they had a jewel in the crown when finishing with 1-6 from play.

Granted the Barrs were without the nucleus of their winning championship side from last season but this was a gritty display from their west Cork opponents.

To be fair both sides were intent in playing high tempo football and John Wigginton Barrett only took 45 seconds to edge the home team into an early lead with a classy point.

The west Cork outfit responded in style and consecutive points from Darragh Hayes and John O’Brien settled them into their stride.

Enda Dennehy will be wondering how he managed to miss the target in the fifth minute but credit to goalkeeper Aaron O’Brien he produced a magnificent save.

On the next Barrs possession Killian Myers-Murray produced a magnificent two pointer that brought the sides on parity.

Indeed, the Barrs looked as if they were settling into the game as the half matured and a magnificent solo effort from Enda Dennehy saw him split the posts in the 21st minute that edged his side into a slender one- point lead.

Amazingly the Barrs went into meltdown and failed to score for the remainder of the half as their opponents began winning key possession and a John O’Brien two pointer in the last minute gave them a three point lead.

There was still time for another score and Carbery punished the Barrs at the death with a clinical goal.

After beautiful move saw the ball kicked across the square and when Darragh Hayes punched his shot it crashed off the crossbar only for him to follow up and guide it to the back of the net.

Trailing 1-8 to 0-5 at the break the Barrs needed a good start and they got it courtesy of superb Cillian Myers-Murray goal just three minutes into the restart.

Darragh Hayes did respond a minute later with a classy white flag but once again the kicking skills of Myers-Murray saw him nail a second two pointer that reduced the deficit to two points 1-9 to 1-7.

Midway through the half the Barrs lost two key players in John Wigginton-Barrett and Billy Hennessy that affected their depleted side big time.

In fairness the Togher outfit continued to battle and a second Myers-Murray goal brought his total to 2-6 in the 49th minute but it was to be the last score they registered as Carbery Rangers completely took over.

Showing maturity Carbery Rangers used the ball better and slotted over points at will that finally broke the Barrs shackles.

The icing on the cake for Rangers came in their final possession when substitute Conor Twomey got on the end of a classy move to drill a low shot to the corner of the net that made the journey back to Rosscarbery a little shorter.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: C Myers-Murray 2-6 (0-2f, 2pt-f), J Wigginton-Barrett, E Dennehy, B O’Connell (0-1 each).

Carbery Rangers: D Hayes 1-6, P Hodnett 0-4 (0-3f), C Twomey 1-0, J O’Brien 0-3 (1-2pt), J O’Rourke, K Scannell, A O’Brien (45) (0-1 each).

St Finbarr’s: D Newman; S Ryan, J Burns, D Quinn; B Hennessy, A O’Connor, E Dennehy; C Doolan, C Crowley; A Lyne, J Wigginton-Barrett, B O’Connell; T Howe, C Myers-Murray, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: R Buckley for J Wigginton-Barrett (inj 40), S Kirby for B Hennessy (43).

Carbery Rangers: A O’Brien; C Daly, T O’Rourke, D O’Dwyer; J O’Rourke, G Riordan, B Hodnett; E Scannell, J O’Brien; B Carr, P Hodnett, J Hodnett; M Hodnett, D Hayes, P O’Rourke.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for M Hodnett (49), C Twomey for B Hodnett (49).

Referee: Canice walsh (Nemo Rangers).