McCarthy hat trick fires Dunmanway into last four

JERRY McCarthy scored a terrific hat-trick as Dunmanway Town eased into the semi-finals of the mygaff.ie Cup last Sunday

BY KIERAN McCARTHY

JERRY McCarthy scored a terrific hat-trick as Dunmanway Town eased into the semi-finals of the mygaff.ie Cup last Sunday.

On the same weekend their West Cork League Premier Division title charge was officially ended – Dunmanway can’t mathematically catch leaders Drinagh Rangers now – Town booked their place in the last four of the cup after a 3 – 1 win against Ballydehob (West Cork League Division 2 champions).

McCarthy found the net in the 14th, 36th and 73rd minutes to put Dunmanway 3 – 0 up before Mark Cronin pulled a goal back for Ballydehob ten minutes from the end.

It was a mixed weekend for Crookstown because while they defeated Riverside Athletic 4 – 2 to move into the semi-finals of the mygaff.ie Cup, they were also relegated from the Premier Division after Mizen AFC’s massive 2 – 1 win against Skibbereen that caused huge implications at both ends of the table.

However, in this cup win James Kelleher, Daniel Sullivan, Mick Deasy and Andrew Kenneally were all on target for Crookstown while Jason Collins and Danny Twomey replied for 2013 cup champions Riverside Athletic.

In the remaining two mygaff.ie Cup quarter-finals the game between Bunratty United and Castletown Celtic was postponed as the Bunratty pitch was unplayable, while Togher Celtic v Kilmichael Rovers was abandoned after 90 minutes, with the score at 2 – 2, also due to the bad weather conditions (read main report). Both quarter-finals are fixed to be replayed this Sunday.

League action

Turning to league action, as stated earlier, Mizen’s 2 – 1 win against reigning Premier Division champions Skibbereen has caused massive reverberations in the league. Not only did it confirm Mizen’s Premier Division status and relegate Crookstown, but it has all but handed the title to leaders Drinagh Rangers.

Skibbereen are now six points behind Drinagh, as are Clonakilty AFC, with just two games left to play each, and the table toppers have a superior goal difference than both.

Last weekend Drinagh were awarded an away win against already relegated Rosscarbery, which as well as ending Dunmanway Town’s title bid, has left the leaders within touching distance of the league crown.

John Cullinane and Daniel O’Driscoll were Mizen’s goal-scoring heroes while Glen Spearink scored Skibb’s only goal on a decisive day in the league.

In West Cork League Division 2 Courtmacsherry’s home game against Dunmanway Town B was abandoned at 0 – 0 and awarded to Courtmacsherry. Drinagh Rangers B v Ardfield was postponed, as the Drinagh pitch was unplayable.

Meanwhile, Aidan Pendlebury and Gearoid Calnan both scored as Clonakilty AFC defeated Leeside 2 – 1 in a semi-final of the Parkway Hotel/Maybury Coaches Cup. Brian Cronin replied for Leeside.