Castlehaven impress against rivals St Finbarr's

EchoLive.ie, 12 May

Robbie Minihane hit the net for the West Cork side in a lively McCarthy

Insurance Group Division 1 game

St Finbarr's Enda Dennehy being chased by Castlehaven's Conor Cahalane.

Picture: Denis Boyle

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Ger McCarthy

Castlehaven 1-13 St Finbarr’s0-11

MARK COLLINS’ eight points and a Robbie Minihane goal helped

Castlehaven defeat St Finbarr’s in the McCarthy Insurance Group

Division 1 county football league at Moneyvohallane yesterday.

A quality encounter between two teams missing a host of regulars was

decided by Castlehaven’s clinical finishing. The Barrs contributed much

to a free-flowing game but failure to find the net coupled with an

over-reliance on John Wigginton Barrett, Eoghan McCreevey and Cillian

Myers Murray for scores meant they could have little argument with the

outcome.

2023 Premier SFC champions Castlehaven were coming off a convincing

victory over Cill na Martra. One point behind in the Division 1

standings, 2021 Premier SFC winners St Finbarr’s were hoping to bounce

back from a recent league defeat to Newcestown.

Played, at times, at championship tempo, an entertaining first half

began with a flurry of scores.

John Wigginton Barrett and Eoghan McGreevey points sandwiched an early

Michael Hurley effort before the Barrs’ Bill O’Connell was denied a

goal by goalkeeper Darragh Cahalane.

Two Cillian Myers Murray efforts (one free) were answered by another

Hurley score to make it 0-4 to 0-2.

Castlehaven's Jack O'Neill tackling Finbarr's Eoin McGreevey. Picture:

Denis Boyle Castlehaven's Jack O'Neill tackling Finbarr's Eoin

McGreevey. Picture: Denis Boyle

Then, Castlehaven capitalised on a rare Barr’s defensive error and

Robbie Minihane expertly dispatched the ball into the net. Conor

O’Driscoll added a point to push the West Cork side 1-3 to 0-4 clear.

The hosts wasted a glorious opportunity to extend their advantage when

Mark Collins struck an upright from a penalty after Michael Hurley was

hauled down. Collins responded with a point prior to two more wasted

goal chances.

First, the Haven’s Micheal Maguire palmed wide from inside the square

and then John Wigginton Barrett’s goal attempt fizzed inches over the

crossbar.

A strong finish to the opening half saw Seanie Cahalane’s team assert

their authority as Mark Collins (two) and Thomas O’Mahony scores made

it 1-7 to 0-5.

Collins (free) and Cillian Myers Murray efforts concluded a cracking

first half that ended with Enda Dennehy watching a goal-bound strike

one of his own players and deflect off a post.

Trailing 1-8 to 0-6, John Wigginton Barrett reduced the deficit

immediately after the restart.

Mark Collins replied from a free but a scrappy third quarter failed to

match what came before as both sides repeatedly turned over possession.

Another Collins free stretched the Carbery side’s lead to six as their

opponents struggled for scores until Eoghan McGreevey brilliantly split

the posts after 40 minutes. Collins converted another free but

McGreevey answered with a curling strike heading into the closing

stages.

An excellent Conor Nolan point, his side’s first from open play in the

second half, made it 1-12 to 0-9 in the Haven’s favour with 10 minutes

to go. Wigginton Barrett and McGreevey added to the city club’s total

in between a late Mark Collins free that sealed the Haven’s deserved

victory.

Scorers for Castlehaven: M Collins 0-8 (0-6 f), R Minihane 1-0, M

Hurley 0-2, C O’Driscoll, T O’Mahony and C Nolan 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: E McGreevey, J Wigginton Barrett 0-4 each, C Myers Murray

0-3 (0-1 f).

CASTLEHAVEN: D Cahalane; J O’Regan, R Walsh, T O’Mahony; J Walsh, M

Collins (c), J O’Driscoll; J O’Neill, C Cahalane; C Nolan, R Minihane,

S Browne; M Maguire, M Hurley, C O’Driscoll.

Subs: R Whelton for R Walsh (51), K O’Donovan for M Maguire (53), D

Whelton for J Walsh (55).

ST FINBARR'S: D Newman; S Ryan, F Crowley, C Steele; B Hennessy, A

O’Connor, E Dennehy; J Burns, A Lyne; B O’Connell, E McGreevey (c), C

Barrett; J Murphy, C Myers Murray, J Wigginton Barrett.

Subs: C Lyons for A Lynne (5, inj), C McCarthy for C Steele (ht), C

Doolan for C Myers Murray (ht), J Fitzsimons for J Murphy (44), S

Fenton for C Barrett (44, inj).

Referee: Jack Forbes (Dohenys).