East Cork Junior Hurling League Division 1 in Pilmore on Saturday, 13th May

St. Ita’s 2-15 Carrigtwohill 2-10

St. Ita’s were more lively at the start of this game, going three points up in the opening two minutes.  Carrig settled with a Mark O’Connor point and Luke Kelly O’Regan kept them in touch from placed balls.  Matthew Kidney fired in the first goal of the match.  Shortly before half-time, a goalward St. Ita’s shot broke the bas of Chris Keegan’s hurley and the sliotar ended up in the net.  Carrigtwohill went in at half-time with a slender lead on a scoreline of 1-05 to 1-06.

The home team again started the second half better than their opponents and opened up an early lead.  As the half progressed, Carrig ran out of steam and with only one sub, there was a lack of fresh legs.  Matthew Kidney doubled his goal tally with a well-taken strike to the net.

Carrigtwohill Team: Chris Keegan, Jack Scully, Peadar Downey, Daragh Hannigan, Cormac Flynn, Dáire Sullivan, Seán O’Sullivan, Oisín Lynch, Liam Scriven, Séamus Roche (0-1), Luke Kelly O’Regan (0-6; 0-5f), Adrian Browne (0-1), Oliver Baverstock, Matthew Kidney (2-0), Mark O’Connor (0-2).  Sub (used): Colm Cronin.

Referee: Arthur Murphy (Killeagh).

East Cork Junior Hurling League Division 1 in Aghavine on Tuesday, 22nd May

Fr. O’Neill’s 0-14 Carrigtwohill 0-19

Fr. O’Neill’s took their scoring chances better in the opening ten minutes, going 0-04 to 0-01 ahead, with David Joseph opening Carrig’s account.  Three Luke Kelly O’Regan frees levelled the match before O’Neill’s struc a brace to go two clear.  Carrigtwohill dominated the last five minutes of the match, with as many points; primarily down to a spectacular three point blitz in two minutes from Ollie Baverstock.  Baver struck three sublime efforts, one from far out on each wing and followed up with a fine effort that he lofted over the bar under pressure.  Two frees from Luke and a single score from Fr. O’Neill’s made it a two point game, 0-07 to 0-09 at half-time in favour of the visitors.

The teams traded two points apiece early in the second half.  Adrian Browne knifed in off the wing and split the posts and Luke Kelly O’Regan pointed from the wing after a good delivery from Cormac Flynn.  Three scores on the bounce in as many minutes pushed Carrig five points ahead (0-09 to 0-14) midway through the half.  David Rooney’s direct ball found Seán Brennan who scored on the turn; Luke pointed after DJ’s grafting drew a free; Baver pointed after collecting a lengthly Rooney sideline cut.  The teams again exchanged a brace apiece to make it 0-11 to 0-16 with ten minutes remaining.  A neat Adrian Browne lay-off fed Seán O’Sullivan for a good score and Seán Brennan doubled his account.  Luke converted a ‘65’ and O’Neill’s struck two frees over the bar to close the gap to four points.  Jay Horgan scored a beauty from right on the left sideline after a lovely dummy/side-step combo and Daniel Murnane followed up with a huge effort from his own 65m line on the opposite wing.  Fr. O’Neill’s finished the scoring with a point in injury time.  Stephen O’Flynn made a good save from a 20m free just before the final whistle.

This was a very good team performance with eight players scoring from play. These two league points put Carrig in third place in the table. The team is progressing well in their first year back up in Division 1 of the East Cork league. There is no upcoming fixture yet ratified.

Carrigtwohill Team: Stephen O’Flynn, Seán Ahern, Peadar Downey, Niall Harte, Daniel Murnane (0-1), David Rooney, Cormac Flynn, Seán O’Sullivan (0-1), Jay Horgan (0-1), Liam Scriven, Luke Kelly O’Regan (0-8; 0-6f, 0-1 '65'), Jonathan Spillane, Seán Brennan (0-2), Oliver Baverstock (0-4), David Joseph (0-1). Subs Used: Adrian Browne (0-1), Jack Scully, Jack Barrett. Other Sub: Chris Keegan.

Management: Cian Rohan (manager), Pádraic Hogan, Niall Barrett, Deccie Collins.

Referee: Paudie O’Brien (Midleton).

[Photos are from Fr. O’Neill’s game.]