Clon and Castlehaven Share the Spoils in Rosscarbery
Clonakilty came away from Rosscarbery with a valuable championship point on Sunday after a gripping Premier Senior Football Championship battle with Castlehaven finished all square.
Both sides had won their opening group games, so there was plenty riding on the afternoon. With a big West Cork crowd looking on and rain making conditions awkward underfoot, it quickly developed into the sort of contest where every score had to be earned.
Clon settled well and were first on the board through Darragh Gough, with Tom Clancy adding another soon afterwards. Castlehaven responded through Conor Cahalane and, after a patient opening spell from both teams, the sides were level after 12 minutes.
Clon then began to find their rhythm.
Des Kenneally edged them back in front before Conor Daly landed a two-pointer to open up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Castlehaven answered with three scores of their own to draw level, but Clon responded in impressive fashion.
Maurice Shanley and Ross Mannix restored the advantage before a fine attacking move produced the opening goal of the game. Tom Clancy and Des Kenneally were involved in the build-up and Chris Kenneally applied the finish, sliding the ball home to put Clon five clear.
It was Clon’s best spell of the opening half, but Castlehaven showed all their experience before the interval. Brian Hurley struck a two-point free and followed it with another free to reduce Clon’s advantage to 1-7 to 0-8 at half-time.
The Haven carried that momentum into the restart and soon brought the teams level through Conor Cahalane and Mark Collins.
Clon’s response was excellent.
Conor Daly created the opening for Chris Kenneally to restore the lead before Tom Clancy, Daly and Dara Ó Sé all added scores. With 40 minutes played, Clon were four points clear again and playing with real purpose.
Castlehaven, however, were not going away, working the ball forward through Rory Maguire and Andrew Whelton finished low to the corner of the net. In one movement, Clon’s four-point cushion had been cut to the minimum.
From there, it became a real test of nerve.
Brian Hurley added a free, but Daly replied for Clon. Another Hurley free left the sides level at 1-12 apiece with only three minutes remaining.
The closing stages were frantic, with both teams pushing for the score that might win it. Chances came and went at either end, but neither side could find the decisive breakthrough before the final whistle.
For Clon, there was plenty to be encouraged by. They led by five in the first half, rebuilt a four-point advantage after Castlehaven had drawn level, and showed composure again after Whelton’s goal had swung the momentum towards the Haven.
Against a side that has had the better of recent championship meetings between the clubs, this was a strong and resilient Clon performance.
With two group games played, Clon remain unbeaten and firmly in contention heading into the final round.
Scorers
Clonakilty: C. Daly 0-4 (1 two-pointer, 0-1 free), C. Kenneally 1-1, T. Clancy 0-2, D. Gough 0-1 (free), D. Kenneally 0-1, M. Shanley 0-1, R. Mannix 0-1, D. Ó Sé 0-1.
Castlehaven: B. Hurley 0-5 (1 two-point free, 0-3 frees), C. Cahalane 0-3, A. Whelton 1-0, M. Collins 0-2, M. Hurley 0-1, J. O’Driscoll 0-1.
Teams
Clonakilty
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.
Subs: S. White for D. Gough (half-time, injured), S. McEvoy for B. Ridgeway (43).
Castlehaven
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.
Subs: D. O’Donovan for M. Hurley (39), S. O’Connell for S. Browne (58).
Referee: Ciarán Murphy (Glanworth).
Match Timeline:
