Four-goal blitz from Argideen Rangers against St Finbarr's seals Premier JHC quarter-final berth

Argideen Rangers 4-16 St Finbarr’s 2-13 

Four first-half goals propelled Argideen Rangers past St Finbarr’s and into the knockout stages of the Co-op Superstores Cork Premier JHC at Riverstick on Saturday.

A straight Group 3 shootout to see who would progress beyond the Premier JHC group phase alongside Barryroe saw the Timoleague side emerge victorious.

It means they now face Barrygarvan in the quarter-final phase, with Barryoe against Cloughduv. The top two seeds St Catherine's and Kilshannig are into the semis while it's Milford against Nemo Rangers in the relegation playoff to avoid the drop back to Junior A.

Cathal O’Donovan pointed before the West Cork club’s Sean Walsh galloped clear and billowed the net after four minutes.

Aided by the wind, Colm Keane replied with St Finbarr’s first score ahead of a marvellous Caolan O’Connor effort. Two Keane frees completed an impressive Barrs comeback and it was level, 1-1 to 0-4, at the 10-minute mark.

David Murray split the posts but Phillip Flynn hit back to level matters for a second time. Colm Keane quickly restored St Finbarr’s advantage before team-mate Scott Callanan fired into the bottom corner after 17 minutes.

Argideen’s response was devastating.

Phillip Flynn converted a free prior to John Michael O’Callaghan netting. Sean Walsh raised his second green flag ahead of Cathal O’Donovan’s sideline cut floating all the way into the Barrs’ net.

Those three unanswered goals sent Rangers in 4-7 to 1-9 ahead at the break.

Amid intermittent showers, Murray added another score shortly after the restart.

Colm Keane reduced the deficit but Sean Walsh’s response kept Rangers six clear. Phillip Flynn and Sean Walsh scores increased Argideen’s advantage.

Caolan O’Connor notched St Finbarr’s twelfth point prior to Rangers’ Walsh taking his personal tally to 2-5. A superb John Michael O’Callaghan effort made it 4-12 to 1-12 with 10 minutes remaining.

Colm Keane and Phillip Flynn swapped frees during a scrappy ending enhanced by another long-range O’Callaghan effort.

A second yellow for Adam Buckley saw the St Finbarr’s captain sent to the line. Ian O’Callaghan’s late goal proved a mere consolation with late Crowley and O’Callaghan points confirming Argideen’s merited victory.

Scorers for Argideen Rangers: S Walsh 2-5, JM O’Callaghan 1-3 (0-1 f), P Flynn 0-5 (0-3 f), C O’Donovan 1-1, D Walsh, J Crowley 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: C Keane 0-6 (0-4 f), I O’Callaghan 1-1, D Murray 0-3, S Callanan 1-0, C O’Connor 0-2, A Barry 0-1.

ARGIDEEN RANGERS: J Sheehan; J Twomey, G Crowley, B Fleming; S Murray, S Henchion, C Twomey; D O’Donovan, C O’Donovan; P Flynn, E Lawton, JM O’Callaghan; S Walsh, J Crowley, F Butler.

Subs: F Walsh for D O’Donovan (41), J Crowley for D Walsh (42), D Hurley for G Crowley (47), P Buttimer for F Butler (50), K Hennessy for C O’Donovan (55).

ST FINBARR’S: E Kelleher; S Kennedy, S McCarthy, J Kennefick; C Crowley, E Keane, T Egan; A Barry, C O’Connor; C Buckley, A Buckley (c), S Callanan; I O’Callaghan, C Keane, D Murray.

Subs: C Galvin for S Kennedy (25, inj), J Goggin for J Kennefick (h-t), J Brady for C Crowley (ht), E Malone for C Buckley (45).

Referee: Ciarán O’Regan (Ballyhea).