2012 WEST CORK MASTERS LEAGUE ROUND-UP
ROUND 7 - Wed July 11th 2012
LEAGUE SPONSORED BY: O'BRIEN'S BAR, ROSSCARBERY
CUP SPONSORED BY: BERNARD HAYES TRAVEL, CORK
SHIELD SPONSORED BY: A CUT ABOVE SALON
Round 7 of the West Cork Masters League sponsored by O'Brien's Bar Rosscarbery saw Clonakilty Town reduce the gap at the top of the table while Castletown and Cloughduv both lost ground on the leaders writes Ger McCarthy.
Tuesday July 10th
CLONAKILTY TOWN MOVE WITHIN 3 OF LEADERS
Clonakilty Town 4 Ardfield 1
Clonakilty Town overcame the dogged challenge of Ardfield in the re-arranged venue of Carrigroe on Tuesday night as Clon's usual home ground in Darrara was otherwise engaged. Ardifeld proved more than a match for their high-flying opponents until Pa Connors punished some slack defending in the 20th minute to break the deadlock for Town. Diarmuid Hayes made it 2-0 just minutes before the interval when the Clonakilty midfielder reacted quickest in a crowded penalty area to double his side's advantage.
The next goal would prove crucial to the eventual outcome of an entertaining fixture and Clonakilty Town grabbed it 5 minutes after the restart when Diarmuid Hayes galloped through the Ardfield defence to slot home a confident finish. The Carrigroe men struck back shortly afterwards when top goalscorer Diarmuid Hayes volleyed home from a corner to reduce the deficit. Clonakilty Town made sure of an important victory when Keith Collins scored in the dying embers to complete a deserved 4-1 victory on a night John Nyhan, Brian O'Donovan and Diarmuid Hayes shone for the winners. Damian Dooley, Shane Dunlea and Diarmuid Keohane were the pick of Ardfield's top performers.
Wednesday July 11th
CASTLETOWN AND CLOUGHDUV SHARE THE SPOILS
Castletown Celtic 1 Cloughduv Celtic 1
It ended honours even in Castletownkenneigh with Castletown and Cloughduv playing out a hard-fought 1-1 draw. The result proved to be a blow to both side's title aspirations however and allowed Clonakilty Town move clear of the third and fourth placed sides heading into the final weeks of the campaign. The home side enjoyed the brighter start and Joe Gallagher's fifth goal of the season handed Castletown a 1-0 interval lead.
Reigning champions Cloughduv pummelled the Castletown goal for much of the second period and were rewarded for their perseverance with a late equaliser from Dan Buckley. That leveller secured a point for Cloughduv and maintained their undefeated run in this summer's league but like Castletown it is really 2 points dropped in the chase to catch Drinagh and Clonakilty Town. There are still plenty of twists and turns to be expected in the next few weeks however. Best for Cloughduv included Dan Buckley, Mervin Beasley and John O'Shea while Kevin Clarke, Barry Buckley, Padraig Condon and John McGillicuddy caught the eye for Castletown.
STALEMATE IN CARRIGROE
Rosscarbery 1 Skibbereen 1
Rosscarbery and Skibbereen shared the spoils in Carrigroe on Wednesday evening following an end to end encounter. Ross came into the game as one of the in-form teams in the league but found Skibbereen in determined mood resulting in a scoreless opening half. The game opened up once Ross hit the front shortly after the resumption of play when a perfectly weighted Ger Collins pass released Maurice Moore in behind the Skibbereen back four. Moore still had plenty to do but found the net with an astute effort to push his side 1- in front.
Ross looked set for victory until Skibb's persistence paid off minutes from the end and Fachtna Connolly netted to earn the Baltimore Road club a point. Neither side had cause for complaint with the final result and both can look forward to upcoming West Cork Master Cup semi-finals with renewed confidence after their latest league outing. Pascal O'Brien, Mike Keohane and Noel O'Donoghue were on top form for Ross with John Allen, Eoghan Daly and Ger Murray the pick of Skibb's best players.
BUNRATTY OVERPOWER COURTMACSHERRY
Bunratty United 3 Courtmacsherry 0
Bunratty's third home league win of the season ensured the Schull based club maintained their position in the top five of the West Cork Masters League. Courtmacsherry could do little about a powerful United second half display but were good value for the 0-0 scoreline at half time despite living off meagre possession. Joel Davis broke the deadlock for United early in the second period and when Peter Duggan doubled Bunratty's lead the 3 points were all but secured.
A late Denis Murphy added the gloss to an impressive 3-0 Bunratty win who will be a side to watch in the upcoming West Cork Shield competition based on Wednesday night's display in overcoming Courtmacsherry. Nick Cole, Denis Murphy, Ger O'Donovan and Peter Duggan stood out for Bunratty with Sean Deasy, Padraigh Deasy and Norman Fleming outstanding for Courtmacsherry.
HURLEY NETS WINNER FOR TOWN
Clonakilty AFC 0 Dunmanway Town 1
The West Cork Masters League top goal scorer and current Golden Boot leader Kevin Hurley netted his 7th strike of the summer to seal a 1-0 away win over Clonakilty AFC for Dunmanway Town. There was little to choose between the sides in a scoreless opening 30 minutes in which both goalkeepers - Clon's Renaldas Poctvicius and Dunmanway's Rob Oldham - excelled to keep the game at 0-0.
It took something special to eventually seperate the sides and Kevin Hurley's marvellous 25 yard screamer into the top corner of net proved Dunmanway's winner midway through the second half to elevate the Mohona club into seventh place in the standings. Noel Collins, Kieran O'Leary and Kevin Hurley were superb for Dunmanway while Paul McCarthy, Derek DeLacey and Lorne Edmeade impressed for a battling Clonakilty AFC.
CLICK here to view the latest League Table standings in the league table section.
CLICK here to view the latest GOLDEN BOOT standings in the golden boot section.
CLICK here to view next week's fixtures in the fixtures section.
CLICK here to view red and yellow cards handed out during the season in the discipline section.
LEAGUE SPONSORED BY: O'BRIEN'S BAR, ROSSCARBERY
CUP SPONSORED BY: BERNARD HAYES TRAVEL, CORK
SHIELD SPONSORED BY: A CUT ABOVE SALON
