East Cork U21 B Football Championship Group 1 Round 2 in Caherlag on Saturday, 21st October

Carrigtwohill  2.13

Erin's Own  2.08

The U21 panel travelled to Caherlag to play their first football championship match in this Round 2 fixture; the Round 1 game against Glenville was not played despite two attempted fixtures, due to the inclement weather.  [This game is now fixed for Tuesday, 7th November at 8pm in Carrigtwohill.  Third time lucky...]

Carrig opened the scoring courtesy of a Daniel Murnane point from a free.  Erin’s Own responded well with an unanswered 1-2 before Murnane doubled his account, splitting the posts from play.  Mark O’Connor kicked his first score and Erin’s Own notched two more points to make it 0-03 to 1-04 midway through the half; Carrig trailing by four points.

Seán Walsh lofted a huge effort over the bar from distance.  Cian O’Riordan fisted the ball between the posts and Daniel converted another free to close the gap to a single point.  Erin’s Own added one more point to their first half tally and Cillian Barry kicked one to bring it back to a single score, 0-07 to 1-05 at the break.

Mark O’Connor raised a white flag just after the restart and Erin’s Own replied in kind.  Daniel Murnane levelled matters again on 38 minutes.  Two minutes later, the Caherlag side scored their second goal.  On 42 minutes, Daniel played a one-two with George McCarthy and neatly placed the ball into the back of the net. Seán Walsh added a point with another long range kick to edge Carrig in front.  Erin’s Own converted a free to level matters (1-10 to 2-07) midway through the second half.

Carrigtwohill had a strong final quarter.  Daniel Murnane kicked his fifth point of the game, from play.  Erin’s Own replied with a free.  Seán Ahern made his way upfield from corner back and got on the end of a move to kick the ball to the back of the Erin’s Own net.  Seán Walsh made it three big kicks from distance with another super strike.  Mark O’Connor finished the scoring with a lovely angled effort off the outside of the boot.  Adam Walsh pulled off a good save in a one-on-one situation during that close-run second half.

Well done to the panel of players and management on their win.  This was a very young team, with only three players on the age and an average age of just 19.  With Bride Rovers having withdrawn from the championship, the Glenville game is the only remaining group match.  A win will see Carrig qualify for the final.

Carrigtwohill Team: Adam Walsh; Ben Allen, Neil Coughlan, Seán Ahern (1-0); Seán Brennan, Seán de Búrca (captain), Cillian Barry (0-1); Cian O’Riordan (0-1), Seán Walsh (0-3); Patrick Walsh, Daniel Murnane (1-05; 0-2f), Joel Joseph; George McCarthy, Mark McCarthy, Mark O’Connor (0-3).  Subs Used: Daniel Nolan.  Other Subs: Success Aregbesola.

Management: Aidan O’Donnell (manager), Aidan Flanagan, Clive Cremen, Tomás Hogan, Tom O’Brien.

Johnny O’Connell (Watergrasshill).