INSPIRED by in-form Darragh Gough and Cork senior Thomas Clancy, Clonakilty took outright ownership of top spot in Cork Credit Unions Football League Division 2 after a Good Friday against Kanturk.
The home side won 0-18 to 1-4, having raced into a 0-9 to 0-0 lead after 22 minutes at Ahamilla. At the break Clon’s lead stood at 0-12 to 0-1, and there was no catching them in the second half.
Darragh Gough, very accurate from frees, finished with 0-7, while Thomas Clancy kicked 0-5 and was the best player on the pitch. Others to catch the eye for Martin O’Brien’s Clon were Tony O’Connell in defence and Jonathan Leahy in attack. Clon have seven points from four games, and their next league outing is away to bottom side Aghada on April 23rd.
Newcestown moved up to joint second in Division 2, on six points and just one behind Clon, after they hammered Aghada 2-22 to 1-9. This was an emphatic win for Newcestown, led by Seamus O’Sullivan who kicked 0-9, including eight from play. Tadhg Twomey in the first half and Conor Goggin in the second period scored the Newcestown goals, as the Carbery club led 1-13 to 1-4 at the break. The two goal scorers, as well as Niall Murray, Micheál McSweeney, the two Kenneally cousins and Seamus O’Sullivan all impressed. Next up up Newcestown footballers in the league is an away trip to Fermoy on April 23rd.
O’Donovan Rossa sit sixth in the table, three points off Clonakilty, after they drew 2-12 to 0-18 away to Clyda Rovers. The Skibb side trailed by two at the break, 0-11 to 1-6, but hit back in the second half to lead 2-10 to 0-13 at the three-quarter mark before the home side rallied late to level the game in injury time.
Darren Daly and sub Luke Connolly scored Rossas’ goals while Niall Daly topped the scoring charts for the away side that was without captain Paudie Crowley, Kevin Davis and Brian Minihane. Rory Byrne, Sean Fitzgerald, Donal Óg Hodnett, Kevin Hurley, Darren Daly and Dylan O’Donovan played well, while two of the young guns, Dylan Hourihane and Ciarán Coombes, took their chances as well. Coombes younger brother, Fionn, made his senior debut when he was introduced in the second half. The Rossas are home to Carrigaline on April 22nd.
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Dohenys maintained their unbeaten run in Division 3 with a 0-11 to 0-8 win at home to previously unbeaten Bishopstown on Good Friday. The Dunmanway men now top the table with seven points after four rounds, one point ahead of Mallow, Bishopstown and Macroom who are all on six points. Dohenys trailed 0-6 to 0-4 at half time, but turned in a much-improved second-half performance to outscore the city side by 0-7 to 0-2. Colm O’Shea hit 0-8, including six frees, while Keith White, Mark Buckley and Rhys Coakley all scored 0-1 each. Dohenys' players to impress were Donal Rice, Jerry Collins and Keith White. Next up for Dohenys is a local derby away to Ilen Rovers on April 22nd, with the home side having one win from their four games.
In the latest round Castletownbere had a resounding 1-16 to 0-7 win against Ilen, with the Carbery side not scoring in the first half; the Beara club led 0-8 to 0-0 at the break en route to their second league win. Castletownbere are away to Macroom on April 23rd.
Meanwhile in Division 4, Bandon slipped to a third loss in four league games, going down by 2-18 to 2-6 against table-toppers Kilshannig, while Bantry Blues picked up their first points after a walkover from Na Piarsaigh. Uibh Laoire sit in second place after they beat Naomh Abán 4-12 to 1-9. Bandon, Bantry Blues and Naomh Abán are all on two points, with just Na Piarsaigh below them in the standings.
