Southern Star 26th June - 2014-06-26

Football - JAFL
Bandon 2-11
Kilmacabea 0-13

A fine blend of youth (Jonathon Mulcahy) and experience (John OConnell) combined very well to feed Barry Collins for Bandon's opening point in their 02-11 to 0-13 Junior A Football League victory over a gallant Kilmacabea side at a sun-drenched Charlie Hurley Park last Sunday. 

The visitors responded with two fine long-range points but Mark Sugrue put us back in the lead on 3 points to 2 on 10 minutes after a free and a trademark fast run and point from play. 

Barry Collins and Peter Murphy popped over our next scores but much hard earned possession was wasted with poor shooting in the last third of the field. 

Level again on 5 points a piece, Barry Collins got the all-important goal on 23 minutes after a series of short inter hand passes was palmed into the net. 

Darren Crowley palmed over a fine point next and the score was 1-6 to 0-7 at half time. 

On the re-start, Marc Sugrue pointed a free after Alan Johnson had been pulled down and both Alan and Marc were involved in the lead up to the all important second goal that Darren Crowley finished to the net with some aplomb. 

In fairness, Kilmacabea never threw in the towel but two fantastic points by the full of running youngster Jonathon Mulcahy were a feature at the closing stages of this game. 

Team: P Prendergast, E ODonovan, K Lucey, P Murphy 0-1, C Dullea, D Lucey, J ONeill, J ODonovan, C Sugrue, J Mulcahy 0-2, M Sugrue (0-4) 2fs & 1x45m, A Johnson, D Crowley 1-1, B Collins 1-3, J OConnell. Subs: C Minihane, D Aherne, T McCarthy, S Murphy. 

The Junior B footballers continued their recent good form before losing to Tadgh MacCarthaighs 2-9 to 1-14 in a home league game last Friday evening. 



Hurling - Intermediate
Bandon 0-15
Inniscarra 1-11

There was one change in personnel and 7 positional changes from the printed match program. 

Both teams started some-what tentatively and we had a wide ball after 2 minutes. 

Ronan Crowley (Crilly) scored the first point of the game a minute later after Joe Harrington had done the heavy lifting out the field. 

On the 4th minute, Cha Dullea (Cha) was penalized for a chop; Joe Burke was prominent early on and by the 6th minute Inniscarra had recorded two bad wides when in scoring positions. 

Crilly pointed two long distance frees on the 7th and 10th minutes respectively after the busy Eoghan ODonovan had been fouled on both occasions. 

Cha, Jason Hickey, James ODonovan and Matthew McNamara were prominent in the many physical exchanges midway through this opening half but James Walsh was Yellow Carded on the 15th minute and worse was to follow on 17 minutes when Cha was shown a straight Red Card for what I could not say for definite. 

Anyhow, he was devastated and the team doubled their efforts there-after. 

James ODonovan covered back to concede a 65m free with them baring down on goal and the score was 03-02 in our favour after 24 minutes whilst the wides tally was 2 to 5 in our favour. 

The game changed in outlook on 25mins when they scored a controversial goal after what looked like a definitive high foul on our goal-keeper James MacSweeney. 

However, Crilly scored two in-valuable pointed frees before the break when the score was close at 1-3 to 0-5. 

Alan Johnson made way for Mark Sugrue at the break and yet Alan had worked tirelessly for the Bandon cause in that opening half. 

Initially some what rusty, Mark would go on to have a big influence on the match outcome. 

Philip Crowley started to hurl well early in the second half, James ODonovan set up a great counter-attack on the 4th minute, on the 7 minute Crilly was clothes-lined but pointed the resultant free after his recovery was complete and his aggressor had been yellow carded and replaced. 

On the tenth minute we were left off the hook when Inniscarra had a bad wide after cutting right through the middle. 

James Walsh did a huge amount of selfless defending all through the second half, Donough Lucey started to dominate his position, Matthew McNamara was good, Jason Hickey worked his socks off but James ODonovan and Ronan Crowley were head and shoulders above all others. 

On the 19th minute both Crowley brothers were cruelly fouled off the ball and no coloured cards were brandished by the match official. 

This in my humble opinion was a major turning point in this rip-roaring game as the 14 men of Bandon said they were not going to be beaten after this double in-justice. 

Ronan was just off target with a long distance free, Mark Sugrue was un-lucky when his shot went wide off the goal-post but a lovely point by the tire-less Peter Murphy on 23m minutes had us trailing on 1-7 to 0-9. 

Jason Hickey had us level a minute later (just rewards for his great efforts) and Darren Crowley had us in front on the 27th minute after a lovely pass from Donough. 

They equalized a minute later and the game went to extra time on a score of 0-11 to 01-08. 

We regained an extra man in extra time and thus were glad to see Alan Johnson return to the game. 

Inniscarra scored two points inside 5 minutes but Philip Crowley operating from the middle of the pitch reduced the deficit to the minimum after good work by Eoghan ODonovan, Ronan drew us level with a point when brother Darren was the provider and Darren scored a fantastic point to edge us in front 0-14 to 01-10 on the stroke of half time. 

Mattie McNamara was prominent in this half as was Joe Burke until withdrawn with an injury and only to be replaced Cian OMahony. 

The second period was hectic with a thrill nearly every second and no shortage of confrontations and/or schmozzeles. 

However, Cian OMahony would prove to be the hero of the day when he pointed from a good distance out and a shot that took a while to go over the bar. 

There was more drama near our dug-out and the red card count was evened up when their fullback saw red for contributing to a melee. 

This suited us fine as the clock ticked away to the final whistle and we recorded a famous victory. 

P.S, Bandon were very fit and strong in all exchangers throughout the game and praise must be given to the weights programme and the gruelling physical sessions below in the bottom pitch throughout the long winter months. 

Stephen Murphy PRO 17-06-14 



Hurling - U12
Bandon 4-10
Inniscarra 4-02

Last Sat afternoon our Bandon U12s had a good win over Inniscarra U12s in a hurling challenge game on Bandon main pitch. 

In very warm conditions, the Bandon team were 4 points down at halftime with score line at 1-7 to 4-2. 

Inniscarra dominated the first half with impressive hurling. 

In second half, Bandon took control of the game taking the lead with 2 quick goals from Daithi Collis and Ralph O'Mahony. 

Bandon pushed forward their attacking with Fionn Harrington, Cathal Lynch and Charlie Long to win the match by 8 points while Bandon excellent defence with Conor Twomey, Tim Twohig and Cian Buke held Inniscarra scoreless in second half. 

Final score Bandon 4-10 Inniscarra 4-2 



Hurling - U12
Bandon 7-15
Clonakilty 2-02

Bandon U12 team played Round 3 Rebel Og West Cork Hurling league at Home to Clonakilty last Mon evening 9 June. 

Against the wind in the first half, Bandon dominated this hurling game from start to finish with Niall Desmond opening the scoring with a point within the first minute. 

Daithi Collis scored the next 4 points unanswered before Charlie Long scored his first point of the match. 

Clonakilty scrambled their defence to stop Bandon forwards attacking but Daith Collis cut through to score the first goal. 

At Half time the score was Bandon 1-8 Clonakilty 0-0. 

In the second half, with the wind on their backs, the Bandon team pushed the scoreboard further with another 4 unanswered points from Daithi Collis. 

Bandon strong defence Tim Twohig and Conor Twomey held firm with no way through for the boys from the Clon. 

Fast counter attacking by half backs Cathal Lynch, Cian Burke and Oisin O'Mahony put more pressure on the Clonakilty defence. 

Clonakility responded during a purple patch for Bandon when Clon midfield Liam Crowley scored 2-1 in quick succession. 

Bandon kept calm and regrouped. Pushing forward Bandon mid field Fionn Harrington scored 2 points with further 5 goals from Daithi Collis and a goal from Ralph O'Mahony stretching the lead with no way back for Clonakilty. 

Final score Bandon 7-15 Clonakility 2-2. 

Team and scores: O Doyle, T Twohig, C Twomey, O O'Mahony, C Lynch, C Burke, N Desmond (0-1), F Harrington (0-2), H Golden, C Long (0-2), D Crean, D Collis (6-10), R O'Mahony (1-0), I O'Neill, J Cullinane, B Grabe. 



Fixtures
Intermediate Hurlers make the long journey to Meelin next Sunday evening at 07.00 p.m. for a Division 1 Hurling League game 

Junior A hurlers have their Round 2 Championship match against Dohenys at Ballinacarraiga on the 4th of July at tbc