Cork County Intermediate Football Championship

Youghal           1-10

Adrigole          0-10

By Derek Kiely

YOUGHAL got their Intermediate Football Championship campaign off to a cracking start in the Castle Grounds of Macroom last Saturday afternoon with a deserved victory against a very fancied Adrigole side.

The conditions were ideal for football with sunshine and a slight breeze on a very good pitch and a decent crowd for a very important match.

Youghal came so close last year losing out to the eventual winners Kinsale in a semi final replay at Pairc Ui Rinn,following a disastrous umpiring decision in the first game, that ultimately cost Youghal a final berth in the end.

With those thoughts well and truly vanquished at this stage, Youghal were determined to put the memory of last years campaign to bed, with a strong performance in Macroom and on that note they did not disappoint the travelling faithful who made the 54 mile journey to Mid-Cork.

There was a rude awakening for the Youghal boys in the opening 30 seconds when Kevin O'Sullivan the Adrigole centre forward kicked over the matches opening score.

The men in Red and White were on target again just one minute later, this time it was the full forward Kevin Goggin who pointed from distance.

Youghal needed to settle in fast into this game and no better man than the experienced Ken Dempsey to settle any early nerves with an outstanding point off the right boot 30 meters out.

Under 21 'A' player and now Intermediate starter Adrian Curtin levelled matters on the sixth minute with a free close in and the sides were level for the first time.

Youghal took the lead 60 seconds later when the excellent Alan Frahill-O'Connor struck over a brilliant score and suddenly Adrigole looked a little stunned, but the men from the West are made of strong stuff and in reply David Harrington had the sides level again with a very well taken score off his weaker left foot.

Back came Youghal playing into the town end and after some great play Peter Queallys men had the lead again with a very well finished point by Conor Spillane. Harrington then hit back for Adrigole to make the sides level again on the 16^th minute with another white flag raised for the Adrigole side.

Then Aadrigole had a purple patch in this match scoring three points without reply, two from Kevin O'Sullivan and a score from Goggin and there were a few very worried faces in the Youghal dugout.

Ken Dempsey stemmed the flow with six minutes to go to the short whistle with his second point from play and for the remaining minutes of the first half Youghal totally dominated the play and owned the ball, but worryingly failed to add and further scores and when Referee David Murnane blew the half time whistle, Youghal had plenty to talk about in the dressing room at the break.

Youghal took an eternity to come back out on to the field of play for the second half, which meant that the talk was a serious one and tactically it certainly gave them a slight edge when eventually Murnane threw in for the second half.

Barry Goggin got Youghal to within a point just one minute in to the second half with a lovely point from an acute angle on the right.

To their credit Adrigole replied through Kevin Goggin, but then came the game changing moment, when a ball to Barry Ring was inch perfect from Alan Frahill O'Connor, ring neatly passed the ball to the on-running Jonathan Ormonde who blasted the ball into the Adrigole net and you could see the despair in the faces of the Adrigole players, this was a defining moment in the game and Youghal would never look back despite some nervy moments at the end.

Ten minutes passed without a score as Youghal closed down attack after attack, with some excellent defending by the full back line who were superb on the day, then Youghal added to their lead with another great Ormonde score, then the corner back added another score, brining his total to five points over a ten minute period and all from play and then Youghal continued to dominate with further score from Alan Frahill O'Connor.

Kieran O'Sullivan got one back for Adrigole, then Harrington added another for the West Cork outfit, but a point from Youghal's second half substitute David O'Mahony on the 62^nd minute restored the one goal lead.

On the 65^th minute of play it could have been so different when Adrigole's Jason Goggin burst through on goal with the Youghal net at his mercy but he had to pass a certain Mr Pat Mackey who left his line to narrow the angle. Goggin hit a rocket of a shot goal bound, but Mackey was equal to it in all departments, making a fantastic match winning save and it was no more than the Youghal men deserved.

This win means that at the very least Youghal retain their status in the Intermediate championship and this was a significant scalp to take.

Scorers for Youghal: Jonathan Ormonde 1-02, Alan Frahill-O'Connor and Ken Dempsey 0-2 each, Barry Goggin, David O'Mahony, Adrian Curtin, Adrian Curtin and Conor Spillane 0-1 each.

Youghal Team: Pat Mackey; Aaron Kenny, Paul O'Driscoll (Cpt), Brendan O'Sullivan; Barry Ring, John Grace, Damien Ring; Conor Spillane, Ken Dempsey; Nigel Roche, Barry Goggin, Adrian Curtin; Alan Frahill-O'Connor, Brendan Ring, Jonathan Ormonde.

Subs: Paul O'Sullivan for Brendan Ring (49) David O'Mahony for Adrian Curtin (60)

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom)

Youghal 1-10 Adrigole 0-10
By Bob Lester (Courtesy of www.irishexamier.ie)

Quality football all the way in this opening Cork IFC clash at the Castle grounds in Macroom on Saturday, Youghal winning a flowing contest, foiling a game Adrigole side who might have nicked it late on only for veteran keeper Pat Mackey’s brave stop which denied full-forward David Harrington a match-winning goal.

But Youghal deserved their victory. Twice Adrigole keeper William O’Sullivan had to make top-class saves from Barry Goggin and Adrian Curtin to prevent goals. And, despite trailing 0-7 to 0-5 at the break, Youghal had the composure to outplay Adrigole, Jonathan Ormonde’s 36th minute goal clinching the tie.

Adrigole got off to a flying start, Kevin Goggin firing over two fine points. But Youghal were menacing and hit back with Kevin Dempsey and Alan Frahill-O’Connor, who had fine match, getting the pick of the points as they led 0-4 to 0-3.

David Harrington’s second Adrigole point had the sides level again and now using the long ball to good effect, with Brendan Jer O’Sullivan in control around midfield, they began to trouble Youghal. Kevin Jer O’Sullivan fired over two smashing points and Goggin another and with O’Sullivan saving brilliantly from Barry Goggin, Adrigole led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

Adrigole brought in Darragh Carey at midfield for the second-half, butdespite leading 0-8 to 0-6 after 32 minutes, they were rocked by a well-worked Youghal goal four minute later when Brendan Ring, Frahill-O’Connor and Barry Ring combined to set up Ormonde for a peach. It was the telling strike and they should have been in for another four minutes later only for another fine O’Sullivan save from Curtin.

Leading 1-6 to 0-8 entering the final quarter, it was still all to play for. But Youghal upped the ante with a point from Ormonde and two from Frahill-O’Connor to put daylight between the sides.

Adrigole weren’t finished yet though. A fine point from Kieran O’Sullivan was followed by another from Kevin Jer O’Sullivan and with time running out just two separated the sides. Kevin Jer then missed from in front of the posts and Mackey’s terrific save denied Harrington. It just wasn’t to be Adrigole’s day, Youghal substitute David O’Mahony having the last say, a point in the 64th minute to seal a hard-earned victory.

Scorers for Youghal: J Ormonde 1-1, A Frahill- O’Connor 0-3 (1f), K Dempsey 0-2, A Curtin (free), C Spillane, B Goggin, D O’Mahony 0-1 each.

Scorers for Adrigole: K Goggin 0-4, KJ O’Sullivan 0-3, D Harrington 0-2, Kieran O’Sullivan 0-1

YOUGHAL: P Mackey; A Kenny, P O’Driscoll, B O’Sullivan; B Ring, J Grace, D Ring; C Spillane, K Dempsey; N Roche, B Goggin A, Curtin; A Frahill-O’Connor, B Ring, J Ormonde.

Subs: R Cunningham for B Ring (47), D O’Mahony for Curtin (57).

ADRIGOLE: W O’Sullivan; P Goggin, T O’Shea, J Goggin; L Harrington, S O’Shea, Kieran O’Sullivan; B Goggin, E O’Sullivan; K J O’Sullivan, B J O’Sullivan, G Green; K Goggin, D Harrington, T O’Sullivan.

Subs: C O’Neill for P Goggin (12m), A O’Sullivan for T O’Sullivan (bs 16m), D Carey for Green (ht), P O’Sullivan for T O’Sullivan (52).

Referee: D Murnane (Macroom).

Youghal  1-12 Erin's Own 0-11

By Derek Kiely

YOUGHAL are the East Cork under 21'A'football champions after a four point victory over Erin's Own Friday evening in Midleton.

This was a hard game to call prior tothe throw in and there wasn't much between the sides in the firsthalf.

Youghal playing into the wind had thefirst score three minutes in when wing back Ronan O'Sullivan put theball over from play.

Three minutes later and the sides werelevel when Niall Scanlon pointed for the Caherlag men also from play.Erin's Own struck the lead for the only time on the eighth minutewhen Calvin O'Callaghan landed a free, but this was cancelled outseconds later when the Youghal captain James O'Mahony put one overfrom 21 meters out.

Adrian Curtin re-established the leadfor the Youghal men with a great score off the right boot, but againErin's Own levelled when Diarmuid Ryng pointed from play on the 14thminute.

Then Youghal had their best spell ofthe first half when O'Mahony gave Youghal the lead two minutes laterand after a great move on the 22nd minute Andrew Curtinscored a goal to give Youghal the four point advantage. Soon itbecame a five point gap when Adrian Curtin landed another score fromplay, but Erin's Own did have the last say of the first half with twopoints from David Smiddy and Mark Collins.

The second half was yet again a tightaffair and a costly opening 15 minutes for Erin's Own who missedchance after chance, but some great Youghal defending and someoutstanding goalkeeping from Scott O'Sullivan kept the Caherlag menout.

Youghal's full forward Dale Donoghuescored three crucial points all from play and Adrian Curtin put overfour points to help seal a famous victory for the Youghal Club who will now contest the County championships against Beara.

Scorers for Youghal: Adrian Curtin 0-6(2f) D Donoghue 0-3, Andrew Curtin 1-0, J O'Mahony 0-2, R O'Sullivan0-1.

Erin's Own: Calvin O'Callaghan, NScanlon, M Collins and D Ryng 0-2 each. D Smiddy and C O'Connor 0-1each.

YOUGHAL: S O'Sullivan; D Power, AKenny, L McCarthy; R O'Sullivan, M Cronin, P O'Sullivan; AFrahill-O'Connor, A Daly; Andrew Curtin, J O'Mahony (Cpt) AdrianCurtin; D O'Mahony, D Donoghue, C Keenaghan.

Subs: A O'Connor for D Power (HT) TColeman for A O'Connor (45) M Flaherty for C Keenaghan (61) V Cahillfor Andrew Curtin (62)

ERIN'S OWN: R O'Neill; K Moynihan, CDooley, N Fouhy (Cpt); C O'Connor, J Sheehan, N Scanlon; CalvinO'Callaghan, A Power, D Smiddy; Cian O'Callaghan, D Ryng, I Mylod.

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers) 

By Derek Kiely

In Aghavine

YOUGHAL will meet Erin's Own in the 2012 'Clonmult Memorial Cup' championship final after a five point win over Glenbower Rovers in the under 21 'A' football semi final in Aghavine last Saturday afternoon.

Youghal dominated play in the opening 30 minutes, but it was Glenbower Rovers who took the lead through a David Cahill pointed free on the sixth minute.

Youghal didn't take long to respond when a kicked ball forward from Alan Frahill O'Connor found Dave O'Mahony who turned and shot low to the left for the goal.

Youghal then hit five further points without reply with Dale Donoghue and Adrian Curitn scoring a brace off points each and Ronan O'Sullivan putting one over from distance.

Again it was the ever reliable boot of Cahill on the 21^st minute of play from the placed ball that raised a white flag for the Killeagh men.

Youghal added two further points before the short whistle to lead by seven points at the break. The second half saw Glenbower Rovers bring themselves back into the match, but Youghal were still looking for scores early on.

Frahill O'Connor put one over on the 35^th minute, then Martin Murphy pointed for Glenbower. Aaron Daly who must surely start in the final put one over for Youghal when on as a blood sub.

Glenbower looked much more threatening in attack in the second half and after some good pressure deep in the Youghal half Glenbower were awarded a penalty and Cahill made no mistake with the kick to make it a six point game.

Then Cahill put over two from play on the 46^th and 52^nd minutes respectively for Glenbower Rovers to get within four points, but the Youghal half back line and full back line tightened up their play, in particular Dylan Power who was excellent and when Andrew Curtin pointed with five minutes remaining, Youghal never looked back. It should be an intriguing final.

Scorers for Youghal: D O'Mahony 1-1, Adrian Curtin, R O'Sullivan, D Donoghue 0-2 each, Andrew Curtin, A Frahill O'Connor and A Daly 0-1 each.

Glenbower Rovers: D Cahill 1-4 (2f) M Murphy 0-1.

YOUGHAL: S O'Sullivan; D Power, A Kenny, Leigh McCarthy; R O'Sullivan, M Cronin, P O'Sullivan; P Quill, A Frahill-O'Connor; Andrew Curtin, J O'Mahony (Cpt) Adrian Curtin; C Keenaghan, D Donoghue, D O'Mahony.

Sub: A Daly for C Keenaghan (43)

GLENBOWER ROVERS: C McMahon; T Crotty, J Rohan, D Murphy; M Fitzgerald, P O'Brien, J Glavin;  I Cahill (Cpt) C O'Brien; D Cahill, A Keniry, M Murphy; P Keniry, D Walsh, D Long.

Referee: Michael Walsh (Bride Rovers)

YOUGHAL made a very positive upgrade to'A' football championship last Saturday afternoon in Killeagh, wherethey beat Carrigtwohill to secure a quarter final berth in the'Michael O'Connell Motor Factors' sponsored East Cork junior 'A'football championship.

This was a tough test for the Youghalside throughout and it wasn't ever really decided until the refereeJohn Buckley blew the final whistle.

Youghal started brightly with a pointedscore from play in the first minute from Jonathan Ormonde, but aseries of bad wide's from the seasider's meant it took a further nineminutes before another score was registered, this time it wasYoughal's excellent Adrian Curtin who raised the white flag and fromthe resulting kick out seconds later the umpire was called upon againas Curtin struck another beautiful point from play. 

Youghal went four clear on the 18thminute when Ritchie Cunningham kicked over a point from 30 meters outand Youghal were cruising, but the response from Carrigtwohill camefrom the boot of Seanie Farrell seconds later when the 'Carriglegend' pointed from distance off the right boot to signal the firstpoint of intent from the Carrig men.

Curtin did add a further point fromplay for Youghal before the break, but Farrell had the last saybefore the short whistle to leave three between the sides at theshort whistle.

Youghal started the second half with agoal from Ritchie Cunningham, tapping it past Kieran Baverstock aftera pin point perfect pass from Alan Fox, but Carrigtwohill never giveup and after two points from play off Farrell and Brendan Horgan,Farrell was in again with a goal on the 43rd minute.

Both sides exchanged scores with pointsfrom Barry Goggin for Youghal and from Horgan for Carrig, but whenCunningham pointed deep into added time the match was decided and Youghal progress into the last eight.

Scorers for:Youghal: R Cunningham 1-4,A Curtin 0-4, B Goggin 0-2, J Ormonde 0-1.

Carrigtwohill: S Farrell 1-3, B Horgan0-2.

YOUGHAL: S O'Sullivan; V Murray, AFoley, S Twomey (Cpt); P O'Driscoll, A Kenny, A Sheehan; B Goggin, AFrahill-O'Connor; A Fox, C Spillane, A Curtin; R Cunningham, JOrmond, D Savage.

Subs: Anthony Frahill O'Connor for ACurtin (HT) C O'Mahony for J Ormonde (44) A Curtin for D Savage (49)

CARRIGTWOHILL: K Baverstock; DO'Donovan, A Garde, S Sheehan; D O'Connor, P O'Sullivan, J Horgan; RBarret, K MacCarthy; T O'Connor, N O'Connor, D Sugrue; C Cremmin, SO'Farrell, B Horgan.

C MacCarthy for C Cremin (21) D Mahonyfor T O'Connor (40) J Leahy for D Sugrue (53)

Referee: John Buckley (Glanmire)

 East Cork Under 21A Football Championship 

Youghal           4-11 Midleton         0-02

By Derek Kiely In Youghal

YOUGHAL were a different class to last years championship East Cork under 21A football winners Midleton last night in a game where the scoreline definitely didn't flatter the winners who could have got several more scores if one was to be super-critical, but nevertheless it sets up a fantastic semi final match between Youghal and Killeagh.

Ironically Midleton scored first on the fourth minute when Niall Madden pointed with a well taken distance point, but after that Youghal ran Midleton ragged with score after score.

The first score for Youghal was a three pointer when the excellent Adrian Curtin kicked a ball in, and the keeper failed to control it and young Colin Keenaghan reacted first to raise the green flag with a very good opportunistic shot.

Curtin then added two pointed free's for Youghal and after the 14^th minute the Youghal boys led by four points. Dale Donoghue pointed from play two minutes later and then a penalty was awarded to Youghal on the 18^th minute and was brilliantly despatched by Curtin to increase Youghal's lead to eight points.

Youghal missed several score-able chances in the following minutes, but then a two minute spell produced a Curtin point and two pointed scores from James O'Mahony all from play to give the sea-siders a ten point lead at the short whistle.

The game was over as a contest at this stage, but Youghal pressed on for more scores, with Aaron O'Connor scoring on the 36^th minute. Midleton's only other score was a point by Paul Houghney shortly after, but then Youghal pressed on with a point from O'Mahony and a goal from Dale Donoghue in the space of a minute.

Curtin then added two further points and a goal to give a Youghal 20 point lead, before second half substitute Killian Daly wrapped up proceedings with a point from play on the 55^th minute.

Scorers for Youghal: A Curtin 2-5 (2f) D Donoghue 2-1, J O'Mahony 0-3, A O'Connor and K Daly 0-1 each.

Midleton: N Madden and P Houghney 0-1 each.

YOUGHAL: S O'Sullivan; D Power, A Kenny, M O'Flaherty; R O'Sullivan, M Ó Cronin, P O'Sullivan; D Twomey, A Frahill-O'Connor; A O'Connor, J O'Mahony (Cpt) A Curtin; C Keenaghan, D Donoghue, V Cahill.

Subs: T Coleman for R O'Sullivan (29) B Donoghue for C Keenaghan and J Cahill for V Cahill (42) K Daly for A O'Connor (53)

MIDLETON: D O'Keeffe (Cpt); K Kennedy, N O'Regan, B O'Sullivan; M Belle, L Coughlan, N Madden; P Umaga, P Mahony; K Krucel, I Kenefick, P Houghney; T Wallace, K Burke, O Belle.

Subs: P Farrell for P Mahony (30) C Swayne for O Belle (40)

Referee: Mick Walsh (St. Catherine's)

Youghal under 21 footballers played Fr O Neills in the Farrells Summerfield cross tournament.Michael Farrell presented this trophy a number of years ago and we appreciate being able to run a tournament each year with our neighboring clubs.
  Game was played on Friday night 24th Feb in Magnier hill under lights.We started very well with some fast scores from Adrian Curtain,David O Mahony and best score of the game Michael Cronin from centre back.Yes there was some great score but we had a number of bad wides and sloppy slow play that we need to improve on before championship.Half time score was Eochaill 0/10 Fr O Neills 0/3.
  Second half saw use change the team around to allow some young players get a chance,Thomas Coleman,Colin Kennaghan,Dale O Donoghue and Mark Flaherty were interjected.This year we are lucky that the minor team are playing well and strengthening the panel.Score in the second half came from James ,Adrian,Thomas and Dale.
Final score Eochail 0/14 Fr O Neill 0/3

First half team
Scott O Sullivan,Killian Daly,Aaron Kenny,Lee Mc Carthy,Dylan Power,Michael Cronin,Paul O Sullivan,David Twomey,Alan Frahill O Connor,Aaron O Connor,James O Mahony,Adrian Curtain (Capt),Victor Cahill,Andrew Curtain,David O Mahony.

Second half team
Scott O Sullivan,Dylan Power,Aaron Kenny,Lee Mc Carthy,Andrew Curtain,Michael Curtain,Paul O sullivan,Paul Quill,David Twomey,Thomas Coleman,Dale O donoghue,Colin Keenaghan,Victor Cahill,Alan Frahill O Connor,Mark Flaherty.

Scores
Adrian Curtain 0/6 (2 frees),James O Mahony 0/3,Michael Cronin 0/1,Thomas Coleman 0/1,Dale O Donoghue 0/1,Mark Flaherty 0/1,David O Mahony

Sunday 19th Feb Youghal under 21 footballers played Clashmore in a challenge game at the Top Field.We were down a few players because of injury and other commitments but will still managed to field a reasonable strong team.
The first half started very well with David O Mahony scoring after only 3 minutes,we managed to get 3 more points from Adrian Curtain x 2 and James O Mahony x 1.Unfortunately well totally lost shape and conceded 3/5 by half time, half time score Youghal 0/4 Clashmore 3/5 .
Some time you must give credit when credit is due,the players in the second half really played well scoring 2/6 to Clashmores 0/2.Some of the younger players to the panel were excellent notable Ronan O Sullivan,Lee Mc Carthy,Jack Cahill and Mark Flaherty.Mark maneged to score 1/1 in the second half.
Championship draw was made and we are playing last years champions Midleton around the end of March.
Team in first half
1 Eoin Coyne,2 Jack Cahill ,3 Andrew Curtain,Lee Mc Carthy,5 David Scanlon,6 Paul O Sullivan,7 Mark Flaherty,8 Dylan Power,9 David Twomey,10 Victor Cahill,11 James O Mahony,12 Adrian Crtain,13 Ronan O Sullivan14 David O Mahony,15 Aaron O Connor

Second half team
1 Eoin Coyne,2 Jack Cahill,3 Andrew Curtain,4 Lee Mc Carthy,5 Dylan Power,6 Ronan O Sullivan,7 Paul O Sullivan,8 Adrian Curtain,9 Paul Quill,10 Aaron O Connor,11 David O Mahony,12 James O Mahony,13 Victor Cahill,14 David Twomey,15 Mark Flaherty

Screres
Adrian Curtain 0/7,David O Mahony 1/1,Mark Flaherty 1/1,James O Mahony 0/1

Our Minor Footballers got their League campaign of to a winning start when they took on Castlelyons in Youghal on Tuesday last 7^TH February. Missing a few players due to college and exams, the lads started brightly. Both sides were evenly matched in the first half. Up front David O’Mahony and Dale Donoghue were playing well. Jason Murphy and Chris Savage tried hard to keep the Castlelyons attack at bay. A spell of Indiscipline led to a number of silly frees which the visitors converted. With five minutes to go to the break Tomas Coleman scored a well taken goal after great work by David Twomey and Cillian Ansbro. The first half finished, Youghal 1-2 Castlelyons 0-7.

The second half saw Ronan O’Sullivan move to midfield and Lee McCarthy introduced at center back. Right from the throw in Youghal set about winning this game with a much improved attitude. Colin Keenaghan at center forward started to get on more ball and our midfield pairing dominated the center of the field which led to a better supply to the full forward line and after 7 minutes Andrew Joyce finished a great move to the back of the Castlelyons net. From there the lads controlled the game and ran out winners on a score line of Youghal 4-7 Castlelyons 1-8. Round 2 of the league see the lads travel to Blarney to take on the home side on 18^th February.

On our first league game of 2012 this under 14 team had to travel the  short trip to cloyne with a depleted team due to illness, but all credit to the girls on show you would not have known that we were short seven members of the panel. The Youghal girls took control of this game from the off. Our midfield were at the center off a lot of our a attacking play by setting up our forwards with plenty of good ball, which our forwards took full advantage by takeing some fine scores. The backs put in a super performance by not giving Cloyne any room to mount any attacks on the day. From our goalkeeper to our full forward every girl gave 100% to this team, and as mentors we can not ask for any more, so well done to all.