As Spring turns to Summer, the number of matches has ramped up in recent weeks for our teams. St Colman’s Juvenile’s hosted the Under 15 Féile na nGeal competitions in Cloyne in what turned out to be a brilliant weekend’s hurling with Carrigtwohill winning the Féile 1 competition on the May Bank Holiday.
To the Russell Rovers Adult team, Paddy Walsh Memorial Park was the venue on April 28th for a RedFM Division 5 League Match. With Casltemartyr operating at the Premier Intermediate Championship Grade, we knew this would be a difficult test against a team we hadn’t played since August 2021 in what was the 2020 Covid postponed Lower Intermediate Hurling Final.
Early exchanges confirmed that it would be a tight encounter to the end, as early Luke Duggan Murray and Ruari Cummins points were cancelled out by Castlemartyr sharpshooter Barry Lawton. Particularity pleasing from a Rovers perspective was the spread of first half scorers, with Fintan Murray (2), Kieran Walsh and a long range effort from Pierce Cummins adding to our first half tally. Castlemartyr responded well and to be fair had an equal share of possession and spread of scorers in what was an entertaining first half. The teams heading for the half time break on a fair score line of 9 a piece.
On the resumption Rovers found it difficult to contain the aforementioned Barry Lawton who had one outrageous point from the sideline. One way to stop it was from source and as the Rovers work rate increased in the forward line again Luke and Ruari did damage on the scoreboard. In fact Ruari finished with 4 points and his general play left many in agreement that he was player of the match.
With more direct and accurate ball going into the dangerous duo of Ciaran Sheehan and Mark O’Dwyer Rovers finally got the daylight they deserved as Luke blasted a goal after a well worked move that involved Mark and Ruari on the right wing. Additional points from substitutes Kevin Moynihan and Brian Hartnett as well as one from centre back Eoghan O’Sullivan left Rovers with enough breathing space. Freshness saw the game out as Kevin Ivers, Kiaran Ahern, and Shane O’Neill kept energy levels high. Any chance of a late rally from Castlemartyr was dispelled by the Rovers defence and the final icing was delivered by two excellent James Kennefick points and a well taken goal from Mark O’Dwyer.
Final Score: Castlemartyr 0-17 Russell Rovers 2-19
Team: Ross Walsh, Kevin Tattan, Paul Lane, James Ahern, Pierce Cummins, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Daniel Moynihan, Kieran Walsh, James Kennefick, Fintan Murray, Luke Duggan Murray, Ruari Cummins, Dan Ruddy, Ciaran Sheehan, Mark O’Dwyer. Subs Used: Kevin Moynihan, Brian Hartnett, Kevin Ivers, Kiaran Ahern, Shane O’Neill.
Following on from this fine performance against Castlemartyr, we were back in action in the RedFM League only 4 days later as Ballygiblin made the journey to Shanagarry on a sunny Tuesday evening. In what was anticipated to be a tough encounter against the reigning All Ireland Junior Champions, in truth it turned out to be a rather one sided affair as Ballygiblin were almost unrecognisable in personnel from the previous September when they overcame us in the Premier Junior Semi Final.
Despite that, Rovers made sure to exert early dominance and after 10 minutes the score line read 2-5 to 0-0, with Ruari Cummins and Fintan Murray finding the net. Points from Pierce Cummins (2), Mark O’Dwyer, Jack McGrath and James Kennefick. To top off an impressive opening quarter Jack McGrath passed accurately across the square for Ciaran Sheehan to finish nicely in what is his first goal for the Rovers. Hopefully many more to come there!
A combination of Ballygiblin retreating to a more defensive shape as well as Rovers taking the foot off the gas resulted in our only point in the second quarter coming from the hurley of Ross Walsh from a long range free. The half time whistle from referee Pa Beausang left a score of 3-6 to 0-04.
Perhaps a little frustrated with the second quarter, Rovers struck for goal 4 on the 31st minute after great interplay from Mark O’Dwyer and Jack McGrath allowed Dan Ruddy to pounce on a rebound off the Ballygiblin goalie. It was in this period Rovers pilled on the white flags with Luke Duggan Murray, Daniel Moynihan and three in a row from Ruari Cummins. Brian Hartnett and Kevin Moynihan again entered the fray in the second half as both return from injury, with Kevin instantly splitting the posts.
Anchored by Eoghan O’Sullivan the Rovers defense have to be applauded for a good showing, which also saw Aidan Beausang make his first league appearance as an early second half substitute. With League rules now allowing 9 subs, Kevin Roche, Jack Beausang, Kiaran and Cormac Ahern as well as speedster Shane O’Neill all saw gametime. Late points from Dan, Shane, Kiaran and two Bud frees left a significant margin at the final whistle.
Final Score: Russell Rovers 4-21 Ballygiblin 0-08
This win leaves Rovers in second position in the league, with Cloughduv, Midleton, Dungourney and Watergrasshill to play.
Team: Ross Walsh, Kevin Tattan, Paul Lane, James Ahern, Pierce Cummins, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Kevin Ivers, Daniel Moynihan, James Kennefick, Fintan Murray, Luke Duggan Murray, Ruari Cummins, Jack McGrath, Ciaran Sheehan, Mark O’Dwyer. Subs Used: Dan Ruddy, Aidan Beausang, Kevin Moynihan, Brian Hartnett, Kiaran Ahern, Shane O’Neill, Cormac Aherne. Jack Beausang, Kevin Roche.
Our footballers qualified for the semi final of the East Cork Division 3 Football League on April 21st with a win over Midleton’s second string in Clonmult Memorial Park. Dan Ruddy impressed from the wing forward position in the early stages and he deservedly had Rovers two up after 10 minutes. While Midleton threatened, poor shooting left Rovers off the hook and it was only a matter of time before Ross Walsh came into the game and when he did, the Midleton keeper was left with no chance as the net rattled.
The second half was more of the same with Rovers dominating possession. Frustratingly very wayward shooting did not help the cause but Eoin McGrath and Shane O’Donovan did score two impressive point in particular. Despite the lack of accuracy in attack, Rovers can be very pleased from a defense perspective, with hardly anything getting by James Kennefick and Eoghan Devanney in the 6 and 3 jerseys respectively.
Final Score: Midleton 0-03 Russell Rovers 1-08
Best wishes to Sean Devanney on his recovery as he picked up a fractured thumb during the game.
Team: Stephen Cronin, Alan Lenihan, Eoghan Devanney, Kevin Walsh, Tom Morrison, James Kennifick, Sean Devanney, Fintan Murray, Kiaran Aherne, Dan Ruddy, Jack McGrath, Eoin McGrath, Cormac Aherne, Ross Walsh, Shane O’Donovan. Subs: Kevin Ivers, Aidan Beausang, Kevin Roche.
