Senior hurlers back in the mix

SENIOR A COUNTY HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 Fermoy 1-18 Bandon 0-16

This was a must win game for us and we headed up to Blarney hoping that Fermoy would move on from last week’s defeat and get ourselves back in to contention for the championship.

The boys did not disappoint as they played with guts, sheer determination and a huge amount of skill in what were, in the first half in particular, horrendous conditions. As the ball was about to be thrown in by referee Aidan Hyland the heavens opened and it pelted down for the whole first half.

It was Bandon who opened the scoring with a point in the first minute, but after collecting the greasy sliothar down the right wing in the second minute, Adam Creed opened the scoring for us with a sumptuous point. We got our second point on 4 mins from a Jake Carr free but Bandon levelled matters on 6 mins. We got the next two points, one from Martin Brennan and a second free from Jake to go 0-04 to 0-02 up. Bandon got the next points before Brian O’Sullivan got a great point from play on 15 mins and this was followed on 19 mins by a Jake free. Bandon scored a point on 21 mins, but Peter Murphy scored a brilliant point to cancel out the Bandon score.

From the puck out Bandon were awarded a free which they duly converted to make it 0-07 to 0-05 in our favour. Jake scored another free on 26 mins which was followed by Brian’s second point of the game on 29 mins. Bandon responded with a free on 30 mins but Jake scored a super point on 32 mins only for Bandon to finish the first half scoring with a point on the 33rd minute. Under the circumstances this was a very exciting half of hurling and everyone in the sizeable crowd was looking forward to the next 30 mins of this vital fixture. Half time: Fermoy 0-10 Bandon 0-07.

THE PERFECT START

The second half started and immediately Fermoy were awarded a free and Jake struck it over the bar to give us the perfect start to the half. We got another free a minute later and Jake scored that one as well before Bandon got their second half scoring under way with a free on 33 mins. They scored another free on 39 mins in what was a recurring theme for them in the second half as the referee seemed to award them a lot of frees.

Martin got his second point on 40 mins which was followed by a spectacular point from Kieran Morrisson on 41 mins. Jake scored from play on 42 mins before Bandon got one back from a free on 43 mins. Both sides exchanged points on the 44th and 45th minutes at which time the referee blew for the sos uisce with the scoreline reading Fermoy 0-16 Bandon 0-12.

Play resumed and Bandon made it a three point game when scoring from play in the 48th minute. Shane Aherne got in on the scoring on 52 mins with a fine point from play and then the crucial moment of the game occurred. A long ball into the Bandon backline ended up in a tussle between Adam and one of the Bandon backs, Adam won the race and tipped the ball forward towards the 13 metre line. Their goalkeeper came thundering out to stop Adam but using his poise and skill he pulled on the ball and it went under the diving body of the goalkeeper. We watched as if in slow motion as the ball seemed to take an eternity to reach the net, but it got there for a terrific vital score for us. This goal gave us a seven point cushion going in to the final minutes.

To be fair to Bandon they did not give up and hit back with a free on 54 mins. They scored another free on 60 mins and then made it a four point game with a point from play on 61 mins.

We were getting a bit edgy at this stage, but up stepped Jake to score a tremendous point from 45 metres on the right hand sideline to stretch our lead to five. There was no more time left after this and the final whistle was blown much to the joy of the Fermoy supporters. We were all soaking wet but the victory was all that mattered.

Well done to everyone involved especially the players who never leave us down and who bounced back from a poor display last week to prove they are far from finished in this year’s championship. It is now down to a winner takes all clash with Kanturk in three weeks where hopefully we will carry on this good form and go through to the knockout stages. Fermoy Abu!

Team: Conor Quinn, Eoin Clancy, Ronan O’Callaghan, Jack Scannell, Peter Murphy (0-01), Brian O’Sullivan (0-02), Kieran Morrisson (0-01), Darragh O’Carroll, Martin Brennan (0-02); Jake Carr (0-10, 0-06f), Tomas Clancy, Shane Aherne (0-01); Padraig de Róiste, Ruairi O’Hagan, Adam Creed (1-01). Subs: Greg Lardner for P Murphy (blood sub), James Molloy for Ruairi O’Hagan (58m).

AVONDHU JUNIOR A HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 Fermoy 2-10 Ballygiblin 0-16

In front of a very excitable crowd in Kilworth, Fermoy and Ballygiblin played out a thrilling draw which in the end was a fair result.

Looking it from a Fermoy point of view we got a dream start and had Ballygiblin in all sorts of trouble, but unfortunately we could not keep the momentum going and just about held out at the end for the draw.

As I said above we got off to an incredible start and Ballygiblin were stunned. Playing with the beautiful evening sun at our backs, David Lardner opened the scoring from play in the third minute and then followed it with a free on 5 mins. Ballygiblin got their first point on 8 mins but almost immediately Gary O’Callaghan, from play, scored our third point.

On 13 mins Davy Chambers struck a shot towards the Kilworth goal where it was contested by two players from both sides. They all missed the ball and the goalie was unsighted so the ball beat everyone and landed in to the net for a fortuitous goal for us.

We scored another goal on 15 mins when Alan O’Connor ghosted on to a loose ball in the Kilworth defence to dispatch it beautifully to the net past the advancing Kilworth keeper. This was followed almost immediately by a point from David Lardner to make it an incredible 2-04 to 0-01 in favour of Fermoy at the water break.

There must have been a few harsh words spoken in the Ballygiblin camp as the came out in the second quarter and took over. Two pointed frees on 20 and 23 mins got the going, then they followed those up with points on the 24th, 25th (free) and 26th (free) mins to bring our lead back to four points.

It became a 3 point game on 28 mins when Ballygiblin scored their seventh point. We brought some calm to proceedings in the 31st minute when David Lardner scored a free for us. The referee blew the half-time whistle to give both sets of players and supporters a breather. Half-time score: Fermoy 2-05 Ballygiblin 0-07.

OPPOSITION COMEBACK

Ballygiblin continued on their comeback when they scored the first three points of the second half to make it a one point game.

A point from play and two frees for them before a David free put us in to a two point lead on 40 mins. Ballygiblin reduced this to one point on 41 mins, but another David free on 44 mins made it two again. Ballygiblin scored a free on 45 mins, but yet another David free put us two up again and we were really under the cosh at this stage.

Mark Flynn got his name on the scoreboard for a vital point on 50 mins to give us a three point cushion with ten mins to go. The scoreboard now read Fermoy 2-09 Ballygiblin 0-12.

Our opponents were not finished by a long shot and reduced the margin to two points with a free on 51 mins and then it was a one point game on 52 mins when Ballygiblin struck over a point from play. Sub Ben Twomey struck over a superb point on 56 mins to make it a two point game again and it was now all fists to the pump to try and hold out.

Back came Ballygiblin and on 60 mins they scored a free to leave the minimum between the sides.

They got one more chance when their full forward made a tremendous catch, went bearing down on goal and was stopped illegally by our backs. Free in! They duly struck this over the bar to level the game for the first time and everyone in the stand was wondering how much time would be added on. It was answered immediately as the referee blew the final whistle which meant he added no time on.

It would be fair to say that both sides were content with a draw as the match was swinging one way and another and could have been lost at the death.

Fermoy will now go on to play Kilavullen in the final round to try and cement a place in the knock-out stages. Well done to the boys on a brave fighting display and if ye produce the same the next day I have no doubt we will qualify for the next stage. Fermoy Abu!

Team: Josh Shanahan, James O’Sullivan, Cian Condon, Luke Aherne, Cormac Roche, Sean McCarthy, David O’Callaghan; Danny O’Flynn, Arlen Aherne; David Lardner (0-07, 0-05f), Gary O’Callaghan (0-01), Davy Chambers (1-00), Alan O’Connor (1-00), Jack Hutchings, Mark Flynn (0-01). Subs: Bryan Barry (30m), Paudie Shanahan (40m), Ben Twomey (43m, 0-01).

SENIOR AND JUNIOR FOOTBALL

It’s now over to our senior and junior A footballers this weekend as they continue in their quest to qualify for the knock-out stages of both their competitions.

The seniors are up first with a tricky must win match against West Cork opponents Bantry Blues. Having lost our opening fixture to Mallow we know what is required and it is hoped that we can persevere and then advance to a decider against Clyda Rovers.

Following the seniors, our junior A team will be hoping to follow up their excellent victory over Liscarroll/ Churchtown Gaels with a defeat of the very strong Charleville outfit. Hopefully everything will go right for the boys in the match and maybe we can upset the apple cart with a victory.

We wish the best of luck to both sets of team management and players. Fermoy Abu! Please support the lads in Ovens and Shanballymore.

FIXTURES

Bon Secours 2021 senior A football championship round 2, Fermoy v Bantry Blues in Ovens on Sunday, September 26 at 13.30. Hibernian Hotel junior A football championship group 1 round 2, Fermoy v Charleville in Shanballymore on Sunday, September 26 at 18.00.

LOTTO

Results for September 21st, jackpot €20,000. Numbers drawn 05, 20, 23 and 24. Result: no winner. Lucky dips - €40 Norann Galvin c/o website; €40 Vera Ring c/o Paul Lardner; €40 Olan Hartnett c/o Sportsman’s Inn; €40 John Dineen c/o The Long Bar; €40: Margaret Kiely c/o website.

Jackpot Tuesday, September 28th €20,000, venue: Charlie Mac’s Bar.