The junior A hurlers made the trip eastwards to Páirc Uí Chinnéide to play against St. Ita’s, knowing that a big performance would be needed to overcome the Pilmore outfit.

The game was scoreless for the first seven minutes as both teams adjusted to the wet and windy conditions, with Carrig playing into the strong wind.  St. Ita's then opened the scoring with a goal and added three points, all in a five minute spell.  Luke Kelly O’Regan raised Carrig’s first white flag from a free midway through the half.  St. Ita's then came with a second blitz, scoring an unanswered 2-2 in another five-minute period.  Luke converted a ‘65’ and St. Ita's added two more points to their tally to make it 0-02 to 3-07 at half-time.

Carrigtwohill became more competitive in the second half after a positional reshuffle that saw veterans, Ronan Power and Colm O’Connell repositioned to the back line.  Luke traded a pointed free with an Ita’s score.  Seán O’Sullivan struck a nice effort over the bar after a good pass from Séamus Roche.  Cormac Flynn worked hard to supply Adrian Browne; Browney was fouled and Kelly O’Regan made their hard effort count.  Ita’s added another goal and a point before Adrian Browne found Peadar Downey with a long delivery and Downey split the posts.  Joel Joseph went on a trademark looping run and finished well to the back of the net at the near post to make it 1-06 to 4-09 on 44 minutes.  Ita’s notched another point from a ‘65’.  Rochey lofted a fine effort over the bar from the left wing.  Luke added a free a minute later.  On 53 minutes, he blasted a 20m free into the goal after Adrian Browne was fouled.  That brought it back to eight points (2-08 to 4-10).  Ita’s kicked on, adding a further 1-2 in the closing stages of the game.  David Rooney finished the scoring with a ‘65’ after the St. Ita’s keeper deflected a Luke Kelly O’Regan penalty out over the endline.

This was a disappointing finish to what was, in overall terms, a year of progress and improvement for the team.  In the second team’s first year back up at junior A grade last year, Carrig had to survive a relegation battle to hold the grade.  Making a quarter-final is progression but the players and coaches/selectors will be disappointed with the first half performance.  Credit must go to the team and management for the improved second half display that averted a hammering.

We would like to wish St. Ita’s the very best of luck in the remainder of the championship.

Carrigtwohill Team: Stephen O’Flynn; Jonathan Spillane, David Joseph, Seán Ahern; Cormac Flynn, David Rooney (0-1; ‘65’), Joel Joseph (1-0); Ronan Power , Colm O’Connell; Seán O’Sullivan (0-1), Séamus Roche (0-1), Adrian Browne; Luke Kelly O’Regan (1-5; 1-4f, 0-1 ‘65’), Peadar Downey (0-1), Mark O’Connor.  Subs Used: Oisín Lynch.  Other Subs: Chris Keegan, Jack Barrett, Jack Scully, Daragh Hannigan, Liam Scriven, Alex Kidney, Shane O’Hanlon.

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

Referee: Willie Wallis (Aghada).