Carrigtwohill hurlers in electric form against Courcey Rovers
Carrigtwohill’s Justin Oke solos towards the goal against Courcey Rovers. Picture: Noel Sweeney
A superb second half of quality and controlled hurling yielded a comfortable victory for Carrigtwohill over Courcey Rovers in the Co Op Superstores Senior A Hurling Championship at Pairc Ui Rinn.
In a must-win game for the East Cork side, they showed serious hunger throughout. Even with the 10-point margin, they amassed 18 wides and Courcey Rovers keeper Stephen Nyhan denied them five certain goals with quality saves.
Following a surprise opening round defeat to Inniscarra and without their star man Seán Walsh for the season, Carrig knew it was all on the line whereas Courceys had drawn with Ballinhassig in their first game. Patrick Walsh, Cian O'Riordan and James Mulcahy, particularly, were in lethal scoring form.
In the opening minute, super saves by the Courcey Rovers keeper Nyhan denied Mathew Barrett and James Mulcahy certain goals.
The game was open and free-flowing but players were allowed far too much space as the sides shared six points in the opening nine minutes.
Courceys actually got the opening goal and it was sheer class. It began with a telling run from Sean Twomey, whose pass found Tadhg O’Sullivan with Daniel O’Donovan getting the final touch with a sublime strike to the back of the net.
Carrigtwohill did get close to raising a green flag in the 12th minute when full-forward Liam O’Sullivan was put through on goal but his attempt to beat Nyhan with his boot failed. The pressure was rewarded when Mathew Barrett caught Courceys off guard when he struck a 20-metre free straight to the back of the net.
Carrigtwohill looked the better side and with the points coming from all angles, they commanded a four-point lead with three minutes remaining to the interval.
Courceys didn’t drop their heads and although Nyhan saved them again with a magnificent stop from Daniel Murnane, there was little to choose between the sides at the break with Carrigtwohill commanding a 1-13 to 1-10 lead.
On the restart, Courceys looked lively and consecutive points from Sean Twomey and Tadhg O’Sullivan put them back within a score.
Suddenly Carrigtwohill went into overdrive and six unanswered points that included three on the bounce from Mulcahy put them in the driving seat.
Indeed, as the opening quarter matured, Courceys were in trouble as Carrigtwohill outmuscled them all over the pitch, winning the majority of the dirty ball.
There is no doubt the loss of the Carrigtwohill ace talisman Sean Walsh is a blow but they showed enough in this game to suggest that on their best day they could be a match for the best in this grade.
In the closing quarter, it was all about keeping their momentum going and sub David Nolan was on hand to guide the ball to the net in the final minute following poor defending.
Next up for Carrigtwohill is a mouth-watering clash with Ballinhassig, with Courceys facing a do-or-die clash against Inniscarra.
J Mulcahy 0-9 (0-1 f), M Barrett 1-4 (1-3 f), P Walsh 0-5, C O’Riordan 0-4, D Nolan 1-0, L O’Sullivan, J Oke, S Rohan 0-1 each.
R Sweetman 0-7 (0-5 f), D O’Donovan 1-2, T O’Sullivan, S Twomey 0-2 each, S Nyhan, D J Twomey, M O’Donovan, D Lordan, D Cosgrave 0-1 each.
S Devlin; B Twomey, A Walsh-Barry, P O’Sullivan; S Brennan, S de Burca, D Murnane; J Horgan, J Oke; P Walsh, M Barrett, C O’Riordan; J Mulcahy, L O’Sullivan, S Rohan.
P Hogan for J Oke (52), D Nolan for S Rohan (54), T Hogan for L O’Sullivan (59), S Rohan for C O’Riordan (inj 60).
S Nyhan; L Collins, C Roche, D Collins; J Harrington, M Collins, R O’Callaghan; D J Twomey, D Cosgrave; J O’Neill, S Twomey, M O’Donovan; D O’Donovan, R Sweetman, T O’Sullivan.
C Daly for L Collins (38), D Lordan for R O’Callaghan (44), C Crowley for M O’Donovan (48).
Mark Maher (St Finbarr’s).
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