East Cork Junior Hurling League Division 3

Carrigtwohill v Sarsfields in Carrigtwohill on Tuesday, 13th June

Carrigtwohill 5-15 Sarsfields 2-16

Carrig and Sars served up a free-flowing entertaining game of hurling in this final round of the league, which was played in balmy conditions on Páirc Séamus de Barra.

Sars edged things in the first quarter, getting eight scores to Carrig's three, to lead 1-02 to 0-08. Dáire Crotty opened Carrigtwohill's account with a fine long range effort, Chris Keegan dispatched a penalty strike to the bottom corner and Alex Kidney doubled Carrig's points tally. The home team settled into the game in the second quarter. A Shane O’Hanlon free, another Crotty strike from the middle of the pitch - after a super direct ball from Lorcán Walsh - and a very well finished goal by Alex Kidney made it all square (2-04 to 0-10) on 23 minutes. Sars goaled before Shane Healy and his namesake, O'Hanlon split the posts. Chris Keegan blasted a 20m free to the roof of the Sarsfields net and Dáire Crotty pointed a third super effort from the West End sideline. Carrig went in at half-time with a three point lead: 3-07 to 1-10.

Carrigtwohill started the second half with clear intent. Dáire Crotty pointed within seconds of the throw-in and Jack Scully burst forward and riffled over the bar twenty seconds later. Sars responded with a brace before Stephen O'Flynn pulled off a super point-blank save. Alex O’Driscoll pointed from an angled strike and Matthew Kidney converted a huge effort from 70m. Sarsfields scored 1-1 during this time to make it level (3-11 to 2-14) midway through the half. Carrig kicked for home in a five minute flurry of scoring. O'Hanlon scored a brace (one free, one '65').  Crotty goaled after intercepting a short puck-out and driving his shot to the roof of the net. Adrian Browne made a trademark surge through the middle and his low shot hopped into the corner of the goal. That put Carrig eight points clear (5-13 to 2-14) with ten minutes remaining. Stephen O'Flynn pulled off another great stop from a dangerous hopping shot across the goalmouth and Éamonn Fitzgerald made a reflex save from a 20m free. Shano finished the scoring for Carrig, trading two more points (one free) with Sars.

This was a very good performance to cap off a respectable league campaign in the first year in Division 3, with the team being promoted from Division 4 last year. Carrig finished the league mid-table with four wins out of seven matches.

Well done to the coaches/mentors and the panel. The best of luck in the junior C hurling championship.

Carrigtwohill Team: Stephen O'Flynn; Tim O'Connor, Éamonn Fitzgerald, Frank Kierans; Jack Scully (0-1), Liam Scriven, Lorcán Walsh; Shane O'Hanlon (0-6; 0-3f, 0-1 '65'), Dáire Crotty (1-4); Ronan McCrave, Alex Kidney (1-1), Shane Healy (0-1); Patrick O'Connor, Chris Keegan (2-0), Matthew Kidney (0-1). Subs (all used): Adrian Browne (1-0), Adam McNamara, Cian Thornton, Alex O'Driscoll (0-1), Dylan Scriven, Adam Walsh.

Management: Peter Hogan (manager), Kieran Horgan.

Referee: Niall O'Neill (Midleton).