Our Junior B Hurlers had no answer to a much sharper Castlelyons outfit in Rathcormac on Sunday night last, as they powered their way to the quarter final of the East Cork championship. Carraig fielded a much changed team from the first round win over Dungourney, with 6 changes enforced. Castlelyons got a great start and their dangerous full forward line caused our defence trouble every time they got possession.
Such was their dominance that by the time Carraig had their first point from a Barrie Casey free, Castlelyons had 2-04 on the board and but for the excellence of Brian Sheehan in goal, it could have been more. Carraig tried hard to find a way back into the game, Brendan Murphy saw a good goal chance go just the wrong side of the post, while Stephen Casey and Cathal Cronin battled hard in defence under huge pressure. A third goal just before the break for Castlelyons left the score 3-07 to 0-02 at the break, Carraig facing a huge task in the second half.
To the teams credit they regrouped at half time and produced a better second half display, but some poor shooting let us down at times. Barrie Casey dispatched a 21 yard free to the net, while the defence limited Castlelyons to 6 points after the break in a much more solid display, with Sean O’Sullivan and Michael Ahern showing well, two young players with a good future ahead in the red and green. Further goal chances went abegging late on for Carraig as castlelyons advanced to the next round on a full time score of 3-13 to 1-03.
The lads will be disappointed with their performance, but a League final against Aghada awaits in a few weeks time which offers a chance of some redemption for the team.
Team:
B.Sheehan
C.Cronin, S.Casey, C.Cooney;
J.O’Donnell, W.Spillane, T.Kennedy;
N.Pike, B.Casey
C.Hayes, B.Murphy, J.Healy;
S.O’Sullivan, A.Sheehan, C.Hill
Subs:
M.Ahern for C.Cronin
Ryan Galvin for C.Hill
M.Crowley for C.Hayes
Ricky Galvin for B.Murphy
D.Cronin for T.Kennedy