Castlehaven (Cork) 1-15
Dromcollogher-Broadford (Limerick) 0-7
Castlehaven ran out comfortable winners by an eleven-point margin against Limerick side Dromcollogher-Broadford in their Munster SFC club quarter-final in Clonakilty yesterday afternoon.
Seven days after triumphing in the Cork county final, Castlehaven embarked on their provincial campaign and demonstrated the necessary focus to move forward to the semi-final stage.
With the match being played at the home of their West Cork neighbours, Castlehaven were able to settle quickly but had to withstand a strong challenge by the Limerick champions either side of the interval.
Dromcollogher-Broadford, Munster champions in 2008, utilised their experience to be still in the hunt and were only four points adrift during the third quarter at 0-10 to 0-6.
However the game was essentially settled when Shane Nolan, who raised the vital green flag during last week’s county final success, proved the goal-scoring hero for Castlehaven again. After coming on as a substitute, Nolan finished to the net after great work by Castlehaven midfielder Sean Dineen created the opportunity.
To compound Dromcollogher-Broadford’s woes, they were reduced to fourteen men shortly after when Mike Boyce was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident. Nolan’s strike pushed Castlehaven into a 1-10 to 0-6 lead and they then outscored their opponents by five points to one during the finale.
Castlehaven, backed by the wind, had got off to a storming start as they lead by 0-6 to 0-0 after 11 minutes. Midfielder Dermot Hurley set the tone with a point in the opening seconds and the likes of Brian Hurley, Mark Collins and Alan Cahalane also added to their account.
Dromcollogher-Broadford, who suffered a setback before the throw-in with Limerick senior Seanie Buckley having been ruled out through injury, were left reeling. But they settled admirably with Micheal Reidy and Derry McCarthy amongst their point-scorers as they cut the gap to 0-7 to 0-2 by the 19th minute.
At the interval they only trailed by 0-7 to 0-4 and the game was still in the balance in the second-half with points from Micheal Brosnan and Jason Stokes keeping Dromcollogher-Broadford in touch.
Castlehaven’s Sean Dineen tackled by Garrett Noonan and Eoin Barry of Dromcollogher Broadford. Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
But Castlehaven always had enough to stay in front and Nolan’s goal copper fastened their superiority. Key attackers Brian Hurley and Mark Collins took over in the closing stages as they kept the scoreboard ticking over while Damien Cahalane was in terrific form as the anchor of the side throughout.
Castlehaven now advance to the semi-final stage of the Munster championship where they will face either Stradbally or The Nire, who will replay in the Waterford county final next Saturday night after they drew in yesterday’s battle.
That semi-final tie will take place at a Cork venue with Castlehaven aiming to reach their first Munster senior club football final since 1997, a decider they triumphed in with a victory over Tipperary outfit Fethard.
