O’DONOVAN ROSSA PUT on a sparkling display as they recorded a 2-15 to 1-10 victory to see off Bishopstown in Dunmanway on Saturday evening to book a Cork SFC semi-final spot.
Having lost to the Town in the first round, the Skibbereen outfit had recorded wins over Clyda Rovers and Beara and showed the benefits of match-sharpness, with seven different players getting on the scoresheet.
Thomas Hegarty got them off to a great start with a goal inside four minutes and he kicked three points as they built a 1-7 to 0-5 interval lead.
However, Paul Honohan’s goal inside 30 seconds of the restart got Bishopstown goal again and points from Fiachra Ó Deasunaigh and Conor Dorman had the city side level.
The excellent Donal Óg Hodnett restored Rossa’s lead and though Honohan tied matters again, it was the last time that such a scenario prevailed. Rob Long put Skibb 2-8 to 1-8 in front and David Shannon, Kevin Davis and Richie Hodnett all added points.
They now await the winners of the quarter-final clash between their neighbours Castlehaven and county champions Ballincollig.
Castlehaven claimed a 1-14 to 1-10 win over St Finbarr’s in their Round 4 clash on Saturday night in Clonakilty.
Despite missing suspended Cork senior Brian Hurley, the 2012 and 2013 champions claimed a four-point win.
Hurley’s younger brother Michael grabbed the crucial second-half goal after Castlehaven had been in front 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.
Roy Leahy netted in the second-half for St Finbarr’s but they couldn’t peg back their opponents.
Nemo Rangers booked their place in a last-eight clash with St Nicholas as they withstood a second-half fightback from Douglas to prevail by 1-15 to 0-11 in their fourth-round replay in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.
In the first half, Nemo were rampant, building an 0-8 to 0-1 lead with Barry O’Driscoll impressing against a Douglas side missing the injured Eoin Cadogan. This was the opposite of the drawn match, in which Douglas had raced ahead.
Ciaran Dalton’s goal helped to make it 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time, but Douglas produced a spirited response, with Alan Cadogan and Sean Powter leading the charge as they drew to within a goal, 1-9 to 0-9, by the three-quarter mark.
A goal chance couldn’t be fashioned though and Nemo didn’t panic, with Conor Horgan and Paul Kerrigan getting late points to ensure victory for Steven O’Brien’s side.
Hurling
Erin’s Own became the first team to book their place in the SHC semi-finals after a 0-16 to 0-8 win over Carrigtwohill in Páirc Uí RInn on Sunday.
With the teams having been level five times in the first half, the 2006 and ’07 county champions had pulled 0-8 to 0-5 in front when Carrigtwohill’s Niall McCarthy was sent off earl in the second half and they pulled away from there.
Eoghan Murphy scored five points for Erin’s Own with his brother Kieran and Alan Bowen each getting four. Shane Murphy and Cian O’Connor impressed in the Glounthaune side’s defence as the Carrig attack was nullified, with Tomás Hogan and Robert White their top scorers with two points each. Erin’s Own will have an East Cork derby in the semi-final, against either champions Sarsfields or Imokilly.
