IAHC: Bandon take victory despite late Aghada fightback
Bandon’s Michael Cahalane in possession during Saturday's Co-op SuperStores IAHC final against Aghada at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Noel Sweeney
Bandon held out for victory in Saturday’s Co-op SuperStores IAHC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh but it was a close-run thing.
When veteran Darren Crowley – who had played when the club won the old IHC in 2011 – got his third point of the game in the 56th minute, the Lilywhites were 0-25 to 0-17 ahead, having been superior for almost the entirety.
Aghada sub Mark McCarthy reduced the gap slightly but then the east Cork side, who had scarcely threatened a goal, suddenly conjured. First, a low long-range effort from John Looney was kept out by Oisín Hennessy but another replacement, Jude Devoy, turned the ball to the net.
Then in injury time, Looney’s delivery from the centre wasn’t dealt with and Pearse O’Neill – a month short of his 47th birthday – looked to have got a touch as the ball ended in the net.
Bandon, beaten by a point by Aghabullogue in last year’s final, managed to quell any nerves, though. They didn’t allow any further scoring opportunities and captain Mike Cahalane might have had a late clinching goal – his shot was blocked by goalkeeper John Walsh and, before Eolann McSweeney could send the loose ball over the bar for his third point, referee Canice Walsh brought proceedings to a close, sparking loud celebrations from those in white and yellow.
Bandon never trailed – while Charlie Long’s opener in the first minute was responded to with a John Looney point for Aghada, it was the only time that parity prevailed as the Lilywhites began to get a foothold.
While the good work of Long as a third midfielder was cancelled out to some extent by Ronan Murphy’s similar role for Aghada, centre-back Peter Murphy was totemic as the Lilywhites’ spare man and man of the match Conor Calnan was able to influence the game from his centrefield berth too.
They led by 0-6 to 0-3 inside ten minutes, a would have been further ahead but for a fine early John Walsh save to deny Mark Sugrue. Even so, a huge effort from the left sideline by wing-back Dylan O’Donovan was followed by scores from Jack Cullinane and Sugrue as they opened up a six-point gap.
Aghada did mount a mini-revival with three on the trot, two coming from good blocks by half-back Fionn O’Connell, but Bandon remained in control and looked the likelier to get a goal. The hardworking Kevin Hannon was denied by an Aaron Kearns hook while the veteran Crowley had an immediate impact with a points after he came on as a sub.
That score was set up by an Eolann McSweeney turnover and McSweeney then pushed them 0-13 to 0-7 in front before a lovely score that epitomised their patient play: Peter Murphy and Cathal Lynch exchanged passes before Long launched a boomer from way out.
While Aghada’s Samuel O’Driscoll had the last score of the half, Bandon were good value for a 0-14 to 0-8 advantage and Sugrue extended the advantage on the restart.
Again, Aghada came with a surge: two William Leahy points for Aghada sandwiched one by Charlie Terry that Leahy assisted but even with that they still trailed by four, 0-16 to 0-12, and having gone 40 minutes without a score from a dead ball, Bandon added three in quick succession from Cahalane.
At the other end, Rory O’Connell’s drive goalwards was ended illegally by Tim Twohig – with the black-card penalty restricted to inter-county, Leahy tapped over the free to leave six in it as the final quarter dawned.
The lead stretched as they drove for the line, with Long and Cullinane on target again. When good play from Calnan was followed by superb skill from Crowley for his third, they were eight ahead and looking comfortable in terms of bringing the trophy home.
The silverware was to pass under the Viaduct, but not without a few nervy moments.
M Cahalane (0-3f), C Long, J Cullinane, C Calnan 0-4 each, D Crowley 0-3, E McSweeney, M Sugrue 0-2 each, D O’Donovan, K Hannon 0-1 each.
W Leahy 0-8 (0-5f, 0-2 65), J Devoy 1-1, P O’Neill 1-0, C Terry, R Murphy, J Looney 0-2 each, M McCarthy, S O’Driscoll, T Hartnett 0-1 each.
O Hennessy; C Lynch, T Twohig, P Calnan; D O’Donovan, P Murphy, C Twomey; M Cahalane (captain), C Calnan; J Cullinane, M Sugrue, D O’Mahony; C Long, E McSweeney, K Hannon.
D Crowley for O’Mahony (25, injured), S Carey for Sugrue (44), P Barry for Hannon (59).
J Walsh; K O’Shea, J McDonnell, A Kearns; F O’Connor, M Russell, F O’Connell; W Leahy, T Hartnett; R O’Connell, C Terry, S O’Driscoll; J O’Hanlon, J Looney, R Murphy.
J Devoy for O’Driscoll (43), P O’Neill for R O’Connell, N Devoy for Terry (both 45), M McCarthy for F O’Connell (48), A Stafford for Kearns (57, injured).
C Walsh (Nemo Rangers).
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