Castlehaven in strong position ahead of local derby with Clon but Ballincollig need key players back

Castlehaven manager Seanie Cahalane was delighted to get off the mark at the expense of a dogged Ballincollig in the opening round of the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC at Clonakilty last Sunday.

A 0-22 to 3-10 victory was more comfortable than the final score suggests.

“The onus was just on getting the win,” Cahalane said. “We have had a few topsy-turvy weeks just trying to get our set team together. I suppose when we’ve got a few fellas involved in the county teams and stuff, it’s hard to do much with them. There were a few injuries and stuff as well.

“We knew Ballincollig would be fairly well organised and very disciplined. So, we are delighted with the win and we move on.” 

They had an impressive spread of scorers, nine in total, while Brian Hurley (0-6) and Michael Maguire (0-5) provided the bulk of the Haven’s total. 

“Look, we have a good attacking team. We have been trying to work a bit more on our defensive side but all those lads that are playing, especially in the middle eight, they’re well able to take a score too.

“There were a couple of goal opportunities tonight that we didn’t take so there is plenty of stuff to work on for the next day.” 

The next day is a West Cork derby against a Clonakilty side that were just as impressive in seeing off Knocknagree.

“I was at the Clonakilty game and was very impressed. I thought they were very well organised, good outfit, good forwards, very well structured in defence.

“We will have a tough game against them in a couple of weeks. 

As always, anytime we play Clonakilty, there’s nothing between the teams. They’re a good outfit; a great club and I have massive respect for them.

“I am looking forward to it. It will be a good championship game and a local derby in Rosscarbery. So, a big crowd and the lads will be looking forward to it as well.” 

Go again

As for Ballincollig, scoring 3-10 against such highly regarded opponents pleased new manager Aidan Kelleher.

Fielding a very young team and with more players returning over the coming weeks, offer Ballincollig hope of bouncing back against Knocknagree.

“We had five 18-year-olds making their debut out there tonight,” Kelleher stated. “We’ve had a dodgy run with injuries over the last couple of months. So, it’s been very heartening over the last month.

“Credit to the boys for coming back real strong. There are two Premier Minor winning teams after coming through and we got two from that last year.

“We got five more on the pitch and another couple of lads pushing behind them. There are a few lads in the States to come back and a few lads with injuries to come back, so we’re really happy about that.” 

“It was a good game of football, an entertaining game of football, good for us, good learning.

We have been here the last number of years and still managed to progress. 

"So, we are used to the second game, it’s massive now and we are really looking forward to it. It will be a big, big, big occasion.”