St Finbarr’s 1-10 (1-0-10) Carbery Rangers 0-11 (0-0-11)
St Finbarr’s survived a scare against Carbery Rangers in Group 2 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC after a terrific battle at Charlie Hurley Park in Bandon on Sunday evening.
The Barrs have now four points from two matches and are through to the knockout stages with a game to spare, but they were pushed all the way here.
Also following this result, last year’s SAFC winners Carrigaline have also booked their spot in the business end after their victory over Clonakilty.
This second successive win for St Finbarr’s was done so without the injured Brian Hayes. It wasn’t a perfect display, but they will be pleased to have won. They were level at half-time having played against the wind, but they were up five points at one juncture. They went 25 minutes without a score during the game.
The second half was an improvement of sorts with big displays from the likes of Steven Sherlock, Ethan Twomey and Ian Maguire to get their team over the line by two points.
Carbery Rangers are now out of the picture to finish in the top two following a second successive loss, but they will take plenty of positives. Eight wides in the opening 30 minutes will be a frustration for them, 11 wides in total.
Having ended up in the relegation play-off last year, the Rosscarbery-based outfit face a crunch final group game against Clonakilty, who are also without any points.
Carbery Rangers’ Brian Hodnett is challenged by Cillian Myers-Murray of St Finbarr’s. Picture: Denis Boyle
St Finbarr’s, playing against the wind, started with intent with a Twomey point and a Rickey Barrett palmed effort for a goal went narrowly wide after an Enda Dennehy pass.
A Timmy Cullinane free did draw Carbery Rangers level and they were full value for it too.
Twomey tacked on another point before Maguire set up Sherlock who billowed the back of the net, 1-2 to 0-1 after 11 minutes.
Sherlock then added a sweet point after 14 minutes. Carbery Rangers did register five wides in that period. The Barrs wouldn’t score for the remainder of the half.
Cullinane and John O’Rourke did reduce the deficit for their side in a game that was yet to catch fire, 1-3 to 0-3 after 22 minutes.
The West Cork team were enjoying a sustained purple patch. Jack Kevane left two points in it before Cullinane had an excellent goal opportunity, but St Finbarr’s goalkeeper Darragh Newman got down brilliantly to make a save.
Seamus Hayes’ charges were in the ascendancy, the O’Rourke brothers, John and Peadar, tacked on white flags to draw Carbery Rangers level, 0-6 to 1-3 at half-time.
The quality and intensity wasn’t what was expected, but that didn’t bother Carbery Rangers as they went ahead for the first time four minutes into the new half through a John O’Rourke free.
The Rosscarbery men pushed two points clear when Conor Twomey was on the end of patient play to bisect the posts.
After 25 minutes without a score, a Sherlock free was timed perfectly for the winners followed minutes later by another converted free by the sharpshooter, 1-5 to 0-8 after 41 minutes.
Carbery Rangers’ Peader O’Rourke in action against Billy Hennessy of St Finbarr’s. Picture: Denis Boyle
Twomey nudged the Barrs ahead as they put the foot down. A super 45 from Carbery Rangers netminder Paul Shanahan drew his team level, but their opposition were definitely improving and showing the quality that they have.
Twomey, who was so effective in his overall display, kicked his fourth point with the Barrs having their noses in front, but only just.
The teams traded points with St Finbarr’s 1-8 to 0-10 clear with 10 minutes left. Maguire and Sherlock pointed to push their team three points clear after 57 minutes.
A Conor Twomey effort did leave two points in it, but time had run out for Carbery Rangers in their search of a goal to keep their top two hopes alive.
Scorers for St Finbarr’s: S Sherlock 1-4 (0-2 f), E Twomey 0-4, C Myers-Murray, I Maguire 0-1 each.
Carbery Rangers: J O’Rourke 0-3 (0-1 f), T Cullinane (0-1 f), C Twomey, P O’Rourke 0-2 each, P Shanahan (45), J Kevane 0-1 each.
ST FINBARR’S: D Newman; B O’Connell, A O’Connor, S Ryan; B Hennessy, J Burns, E Dennehy; I Maguire, R Barrett; C Doolan, E Twomey, C Dennehy; C Myers-Murray, S Sherlock, W Buckley.
Subs: F Crowley for E Dennehy (6, inj), L Hannigan for C Dennehy (40), E McGreevy for C Myers-Murray (49).
CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan; James O’Riordan, T O’Rourke, C Daly; S Linehan, Jerry O’Riordan, K Scannell; B Hodnett, J O’Brien; J Kevane, J O’Rourke, P O’Rourke; T Cullinane, C Twomey, P Hodnett.
Subs: M Hodnett for P Hodnett (44), P Hurley for K Scannell (50), J Fitzpatrick for J O’Brien (52), J Hodnett for J Kevane (56), B Shanahan for T O’Rourke (58).
Referee: Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).