Last year's defeated county finalists Carbery Rangers are through to round four but only after surviving an almighty Clyda Rovers' effort.
BY KIERAN McCARTHY
DECLAN Hayes’ 42nd minute goal was the crucial score in Carbery Rangers’ Cork SFC round two win, 1-7 to 0-8, against Clyda Rovers in Coachford on Sunday.
Up until that point last season’s defeated finalists were finding the going extremely tough against a well-organised Clyda, who had star performances from Ray Carey and Paudie Kissane.
Leading 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, having played with the wind, Clyda were expected to come under severe Ross pressure in the second half, but that never materialised, until the West Cork side scored 1-2 in two minutes to take control, albeit only on the scoreboard.
James Murphy (free) had given Clyda a 0-6 to 0-3 lead but two excellent scores from distance by Seamus Hayes and Declan Hayes were followed instantly by a close-range Declan Hayes goal, set up by John Hayes, as the Ross duo made the most of a poor Clyda short kickout. Ross now led 1-5 to 0-6.
Credit to Clyda as Cian O’Sullivan and Conor Flanagan (free) levelled the game entering the last ten minutes, but it was Carbery Rangers that finished the strongest with points from James Fitzpatrick and sub Christopher O’Donovan.
Relief, so, for Ross, who move into round four, but no team will want to draw this resolute Clyda team in round three.
Scorers
Carbery Rangers: Declan Hayes 1-1, Seamus Hayes 0-2, Kieran Fitzpatrick, John Hayes, James Fitzpatrick, Christopher O’Donovan 0-1 each.
Clyda Rovers: James Murphy 0-4 (2f, 1 45), Conor Flanagan 0-2f, Cian O’Sullivan 0-2.
See Thursday's Southern Star for reaction from Carbery Rangers' Brian Shanahan and Micheál O'Sullivan.
