Castlehaven and Clonakilty draw leaves West Cork rivals well placed to qualify
Damien Cahalane is in no mood to relinquish possession against Clonakilty in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Senior Football Championship game at Rosscarbery. Picture: Martin Walsh.
Castlehaven and Clonakilty couldn’t be separated following a gripping McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC clash in Rosscarbery on Sunday.
Having registered victories in their opening Group 3 fixtures, a second championship win would have all but guaranteed a place in the knockout stages. A typical West Cork derby with no quarter asked or given developed in front of a huge attendance.
A Chris Kenneally goal pushed Clonakilty 1-7 to 0-5 clear late in the opening half.
Castlehaven responded as only Castlehaven can.
Led by Brian Hurley, the Union Hall-Castletownshend club rattled off a succession of scores either side of the interval before an Andrew Whelton goal pushed the Haven a point ahead in the closing stages.
Scores, wides, chances came and went at either end before Clonakilty and Castlehaven had to settle for a share of the spoils.
This result sets up an intriguing final round of group games with everything to play for. On balance, it was the fairest result as neither team did enough to secure what would have been a crucial win.
History favoured the Union Hall-Castletownshend club following recent championship victories over Clonakilty in their four previous encounters in 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2016.
Persistent rain made for slippery underfoot conditions at throw-in with Darragh Gough getting Clon off the mark. Tom Clancy added a second before Conor Cahalane responded.
Both teams were happy to retain possession and wait for an opening. That patient approach led to few goal chances until Micheál Maguire raced from deep only to angle wide of the goal. A superb Conor Cahalane long-ranger levelled matters after 12 minutes.
Clon’s reply was instant with Des Kenneally and a Connor Daly two-pointer making it 0-5 to 0-2.
Immediately after however, Castlehaven enjoyed their most productive spell heading towards the break. First, Damien Cahalane fired across the goalmouth before unanswered Mark Collins, Michael Hurley and Jamie O’Driscoll efforts made it 0-5 apiece.
The pace increased and so did the scoring opportunities as Maurice Shanley and Ross Mannix restored Clonakilty’s two-point advantage.
Better was to follow as Tom Clancy and Des Kenneally were involved in the build-up to Chris Kenneally sliding home a 24th-minute Clonakilty goal.
That was Brian Hurley’s cue to drag his side back into the game. The Cork forward's two-point free preceded an injury-time free to reduce the deficit back to two, 1-7 to 0-8, at the short whistle.
Conor Cahalane’s third score of the afternoon left the bare minimum between the sides early in the second period. Mark Collins’ fisted point brought parity to the score and Castlehaven looked in control until Conor Daly supplied Chris Kenneally and Clonakilty edged back in front, 1-8 to 0-10.
Tom Clancy’s second point, a converted Conor Daly free and Dara Ó Sé score kept a rejuvenated Clon on the front foot and four clear after 40 minutes.
Once again their opponents mustered a response in an increasingly high-tempo encounter.
Rory Maguire was instrumental in getting the ball to Andrew Whelton who fired low into the bottom corner and pushed the Haven 1-11 to 1-10 ahead.
Brian Hurley converted a close-range free and Conor Daly split the posts as play became stretched heading into the final 10 minutes.
Another Hurley free made it 1-12 each with three minutes to go and it was anyone’s game at this late juncture.
Chances went begging at both ends including a late Danny O’Donovan effort that drifted wide before the final whistle heralded a draw.
B Hurley 0-5 (1 2pt f, 0-3 f), C Cahalane 0-3, A Whelton 1-0, M Collins 0-2, M Hurley, J O’Driscoll 0-1 each.
C Daly 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-1 f),C Kenneally 1-1, T Clancy 0-2, D Gough (f), D Kenneally, M Shanley, R Mannix, D Ó Sé 0-1 each.
D Cahalane; J Bohane, T O’Mahony, S Walsh; R Maguire, D Cahalane, M Collins (c); C Cahalane, C Maguire; S Browne, J O’Driscoll, A Whelton; M Maguire, B Hurley, M Hurley.
D O’Donovan for M Hurley (39), S O’Connell for S Browne (58).
M White (c); D Darragh, D Peet, D Lowney; C Kenneally, T Clancy, J O’Mahony; B Ridgeway, M Shanley; D Kenneally, D Ó Sé, D Harrington; D Gough, R Mannix, C Daly.
S White for D Gough (ht, inj), S McEvoy for B Ridgeway (43).
Ciarán Murphy (Glanworth).
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