Carbery Rangers master the elements to halt Castlehaven’s unbeaten run

Carbery Rangers: 4-10 (4-1-8) Castlehaven: 0-12 (0-4-4) 

Carbery Rangers have given themselves a fighting chance of reaching the final of the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League after defeating rivals Castlehaven in Rosscarbery on Friday evening. 

Robbie Ahern’s side move level with the Haven on ten points at the summit with just one game remaining.

Carbery Rangers fully deserved the victory, produced in extremely difficult weather conditions with heavy rain throughout and a driving wind. 

The winners did the hard work in the opening 30 minutes, aided by the elements, and led by 13 points at the interval. They had a broader spread of scorers and were efficient and composed after the break when playing into the wind.

Castlehaven suffered their first defeat of the league season, but they will take encouragement from their second half display considering the significant number of players unavailable for various reasons.

In horrendous conditions and played under a yellow rain warning, Carbery Rangers made full use of the strong wind as they moved 0-5 to 0-0 ahead after eleven minutes. A two-pointer from John O’Brien and a 45 from goalkeeper Paul Shanahan were the pick of the early scores.

Micheál Maguire got Castlehaven off the mark with a free after 14 minutes, but they struggled to make any real inroads into the wind. The home side then took a vice-like grip on proceedings with two goals in four minutes. 

Daragh Hayes and Cork U20 footballer Dylan O’Neill struck the close range finishes, with O’Neill setting up Hayes for the first green flag, pushing the lead to 2-5 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.

Another Maguire free was much-needed for Castlehaven, but Carbery Rangers finished the half strongly, adding 1-1 before the whistle. Paul Hodnett fired a low finish to the net while O’Neill added a point, leaving it 3-6 to 0-2 at half-time.

Castlehaven restarted brightly with an orange flag from the excellent Maguire. Carbery Rangers, though, responded with three points on the trot and looked set to keep their opponents firmly at arm’s length, Jack O’Regan’s effort the standout of those scores.

Seanie Cahalane’s outfit then hit the next four scores, including two orange flags from Jamie O’Driscoll and a Maguire free, reducing the deficit to 3-9 to 0-10 after 53 minutes.

Against the run of play, Carbery Rangers struck for their fourth goal. Substitute Pádraig Tobin, on the pitch only seconds, finished off an excellent team move to the net. Maguire did land a two-point free for the Haven, but it was merely a consolation.

Another sub, Colm Hayes, pointed deep into added time to round off a ten-point victory for Carbery Rangers.

Scorers for Carbery Rangers: D O’Neill 1-2, P Hodnett (0-1 f), D Hayes 1-1 each, P Tobin 1-0, J O’Brien 0-2 (1 2pt), P Shanahan (45), M Hodnett, J O’Regan, Colm Hayes 0-1 each.

Castlehaven: M Maguire 0-9 (2 2pt f, 1 2pt, 0-3 f), J O’Driscoll 0-3 (1 2pt).

CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan; C Daly, J Kevane, P Óg Hill; C McCarthy, J O’Riordan, B Hodnett; J O’Brien, K Scannell; M Hodnett, P Hodnett, J Hodnett; J O’Regan, D Hayes, D O’Neill.

Subs: Caolan Hayes for J Kevane (42), P Tobin for J O’Regan (54), Colm Hayes for D O’Neill (56), E Hayes for P Hodnett (61), N Keane for B Hodnett (63).

CASTLEHAVEN: J Walsh; J O’Regan, J Bohane, S Walsh; J O’Driscoll, R Minihane, S Bohane; A Whelton, S Browne; F Collins, M Maguire, C Nolan; K O’Donovan, D Whelton, S Nolan.

Subs: D O’Neill for S Nolan, J Buckley for S Bohane (both 61), T O’Leary for F Collins, R Courtney for J Walsh (both 63).

Referee: Andrew Whelton (Clonakilty).