Inniscarra's late burst sees them defeat Carrigtwohill in SAHC opener

Inniscarra 0-22 Carrigtwohill 0-18 

Inniscarra are up in running in the Co-op SuperStores SAHC after a four point victory over Carrigtwohill in Blarney.

The two clubs were level nine times over the course of the hour, and a scoring surge after the 55th minute got the job done for Sean Holland and his players.

It was a game played at a furious tempo, between two clubs with very real aspirations of making it out of the group and challenging for promotion.

Carrigtwohill went into this after making last year’s semi-final and losing to eventual winners Bride Rovers. Their plans for 2026 had to be altered in recent weeks over a season-ending injury to Sean Walsh, the top scorer in Division 1 of the RedFM Senior Hurling Leagues for the last two years.

For Inniscarra, this game marked their fourth year in the Senior A grade and a chance to build on their quarter-final appearance last season. The club were made to work for their first win this season, after going into the break trailing 0-11 to 0-9.

Denis Walsh’s team took control late in the first half, and they would have been further in front if not for an excellent save from Kieran Rice to deny Liam O’Sullivan. Carrigtwohill went on to outscore Inniscarra 0-4 to 0-2, while dominating possession and play in midfield.

Cian O’Riordan, Matthew Barrett, and James Mulcahy all converted during that run, before Padraig Holland sent over a sideline and Conor Geoghegan split the posts from play for Inniscarra. Carrigtwohill were then awarded a free and that was tapped over by Mulcahy on the whistle.

Inniscarra were level within seconds of the restart, as Geoghegan and Darragh O’Brien got in to score.

That made it 0-11 apiece and Carrigtwohill responded with a goal chance for Barrett that was blocked down by Cork star Sean O’Donoghue on the edge of the square in the 48th minute.

Carrigtwohill did not dwell on that and followed up with points that were neatly taken by O’Riordan and Patrick Walsh. O’Donoghue hit back for Inniscarra, before a well-worked effort by Patrick Walsh made the scoreboard read 0-14 to 0-13 in favour of Carrigtwohill.

What turned things in Inniscarra’s favour was substitutions, with three brought on between the 45th and 50th minute. Ardal O’Connell was the only one to score, while Frankie Horgan and Liam Ryan helped create space during a sustained drive that ultimately won the game for the Muskerry side.

This began in the 55th minute, just after Justin Oke edged Carrigtwohill back in front at 0-17 to 0-16.

O’Connell was the first to split the posts, and this was followed by scores from Daniel Murphy and Joseph Enright. Inniscarra led by now and their advantage increased when Joseph Enright drove the sliotar over twice in quick succession.

Suddenly, it was 0-21 to 0-17 and Carrigtwohill looked stunned. Their next score came from a 65 after a scrambled goal chance around the square, and Barrett tapped that over.

There was no big finish. Instead Padraig Holland converted a free to seal the win for Inniscarra at the end of three minutes of added time.

Scorers for Inniscarra: J Enright 0-7 (0-4f ), B Daly, S O’Donoghue, P Holland, D Murphy, D O’Brien, C Geoghegan 0-2 each, A McCarthy, D Enright, A O’Connell 0-1 each.

Carrigtwohill: J Mulcahy 0-5 (0-2 f), J Oke, C O’Riordan, P Walsh 0-3 each, M Barrett 0-2 (0-1 65), P Hogan, S Brennan 0-1 each.

INNISCARRA: K Rice; D Keane, C O’Leary, C Dineen; B Daly, S O’Donoghue, A McCarthy; J Enright, D Enright; P Holland, D Murphy, D O’Brien; D O’Keeffe, C Geoghegan, J O’Mahony.

Subs: A O’Connell for Geoghegan (45); F Horgan for O’Keeffe (45), L Ryan for Dineen (50), T Lyons for J Enright (60).

CARRIGTWOHILL: S Devlin; B Twomey, A Walsh Barry, P O’Sullivan; S Brennan, S De Burca, D Murnane; J Horgan, J Oke; D Nolan, M Barrett, C O’Riordan; J Mulcahy, L O’Sullivan, P Walsh.

Subs: T Hogan for Nolan (45); P Hogan for O’Sullivan (52).

Referee: Ian McCarthty (Bandon)