Cork football Team of the Week: Newcestown and Carrigaline combine for six picks
Rickey Barrett, St. Finbarrs, Brian O'Driscoll, Carrigaline during their McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Senior Football Championship match at Ballinhassig. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
With the return of club championship action, it’s time to bring back the Echo’s Cork Football Team of the Week. As is the case every year during the group stages, the XV will span the top three grades, while nine more will join them on the bench.
An abundance of options for the number one jersey after last weekend, and Ó Deasúna gets the nod. His three scores from outside the arc were key along with the clean sheet, with two of those orange flags arriving in the second half when momentum was with Carbery Rangers.
Put in a stellar shift at centre-back, and so couldn’t be omitted from this week’s team. Outstanding all throughout in the win over Carbery Rangers, particularly in the closing stages when they were forced to show their nerve.
The heartbeat of the Dohenys defence last week, he delivered an exceptional showing as they came from behind to draw with Aghabullogue.
Ventured forward for a couple of white flags in their win over Mallow, but was more than willing to put in the graft at the other end, especially when their opponents were piling on the pressure in the second period. An excellent display at both ends.
Fantastic work rate, quality in and out of possession, and key to Aghabullogue’s result. O’Sullivan was excellent against Dohenys at the weekend.
Integral to one of two remarkable Premier Senior results we saw on the opening weekend. What a performance from McSweeney and Newcestown. Vindication for last year’s semi-final.
Was electric Douglas at the weekend. It was sharpness at both ends – when attacking and defending ¬– that helped the southsiders to the perfect start, and he popped up a crucial goal in that win over Mallow.
Marched his way into the Cork hurling set up this year and his return to action with the big ball seemed better for it. Was the metronome for Kanturk in their dominant opening round win.
Another one of many heroes in red and yellow at the weekend, Collins was the engine at midfield as they saw off Nemo Rangers.
Another Cork hurler to make an appearance, though hardly surprising when O’Connor is easily one of, if not the best dual players in the county. Kicked a couple of stunning two-points and showed real mettle when Newmarket needed a cool head.
And while Newcestown rightfully take much of the credit, lets no forget that Carrigaline overturned the champions. Brian O’Driscoll has been immense for Carrig since transferring a number of years ago, and he came up trumps once more.
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His scoreboard contribution was impressive, but it was everything else Buckley brought to the Nemo win that stood out. Everything Newcestown did well flowed through him.
Superb showing from Desmond, a ridiculous haul to put up against any team in the PSFC, let alone the reigning champions.
Not spectacular and yet so influential, Coakley was very well-rounded in his performance at Grenagh. Scoring tally only adds to that.
Chris Óg just seems to make goalscoring look stupidly easy. Seems as though every year he routinely lands two, three or four goals in championship games like it’s nothing. Everything Uibh Laoire could want from their Cork star.
Conor Casey (Rockchapel)
Brian O’Keeffe (Newmarket) 0-1
Gearóid Ó Goillidhe (Cill na Martra)
Kevin Davis (O’Donovan Rossa) 0-12 (2 tpf, 1 tp, 0-3 f)
Conor Daly (Clonakilty) 1-5 (1 tp)
Seamus O’Sullivan (Newcestown) 0-7 (2 tp)
Matthew Bradley (Aghabullogue) 1-5 (1 tpf, 0-2 f)
Ben Twomey (Fermoy) 0-10 (2 tp, 0-1 f)
Robert Quirke (Ballinora) 1-5 (1 tp, 0-1 f)
App?
