McCarthy Insurance Group Football League wrap: Conor Corbett helps Clyda Rovers seal promotion to Division 2

Division 1 reports: 

• Douglas push on in second half to beat neighbours Nemo in Division 1 Football League
• Division 1 FL: Clinical St Finbarr's outgun short-staffed St Michael's
• Division 1 FL: Castlehaven comfortably see off Éire Óg to guarantee safety
• FL Division 1: Clonakilty show enough to get win over Carrigaline
• Division 1 FL: Cill na Marta take down 14-man Newcestown with Seán Ó Foirréidh on form

Clyda Rovers have been promoted from Division 3 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Football League on what was the penultimate weekend of fixtures.

The Mourneabbey side defeated a spirited Aghada team, who were already relegated, on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-12.

Cian Walsh’s goal after six minutes, the first score of the game, proved to be a key score for the Avondhu outfit in Rostellan. Clyda Rovers now move on to 13 points at the summit. 

They were able to call upon Cork senior footballer Conor Corbett in this one, as he continues his recovery from suffering an ACL injury last summer. He came on for the last 10 minutes and hit 0-2 (0-1 f). It was his first game for Clyda since the injury. 

Iveleary are in a strong position for elevation. They are one place and one point behind the leaders after defeating Kiskeam away from home, 3-13 to 1-12. Ian Jones was the chief scorer, scoring 1-2, while Jack Sweeney and Barry O’Leary bagged the other goals.

One eye-catching result in this division was Mallow’s 6-12 to 0-10 success over visitors Kilshannig. Eoin Kelleher and Kevin O’Connell each scored two goals while Shane Merritt and Jamie O’Keeffe also found the back of the net.

At the other end of the table, it looks like it will be either Rockchapel or Kiskeam who will Aghada in Division 4 next year. Both teams are level on five points apiece, but have only played seven games. They will meet each other tomorrow week.

Both sides will go into that on the back of contrasting results, Rockchapel beat home outfit Bishopstown at the weekend, 4-11 to 1-12, with Jack Curtin, Séamus Hickey and Nicholas Linehan influential figures in that win.

Kiskeam suffered a seven-point loss on home soil against Iveleary.

Moving down to Division 4, Aghabullogue could have sealed promotion on Sunday, but were edged out in Coachford by gritty Bandon, 2-12 to 1-14. Bandon came from nine points down with 10 minutes to go to stun their hosts.

The Muskerry team still have the destiny in their own hands, a win on the final day at home to already relegated St Vincent’s and they will be up.

Who will them? Bandon and Buttevant are tied in second on 11 points apiece, but Bandon have the head-to-head on Buttevant, knowing a victory at home to Glanmire will see them promoted.

Rob O’Driscoll’s charges will take huge confidence from taking down Aghabullogue. Experienced campaigners, Michael Cahalane and Mark Sugrue, were to the fore. Cahalane kicked 1-5 (1 2pt, 1 2pt f) while Sugrue landed 0-4 (1 2pt). Cathal Lynch was the other goal scorer.

Glanmire and Macroom are also in with a fighting chance of promotion with both on 10 points going into the last league fixtures.

In Division 5, Kilmurry have achieved elevation with a game to spare after overcoming Millstreet at the weekend in Kilmurry, 1-18 to 0-10. Last year’s Premier JFC winners have won all eight games this year.

Despite a challenging number of campaigns, St Nick’s head into the final day tied at the top of Division 6 with Canovee and Cobh on 12 points.

The Blackpool-based outfit won away at Cobh at the weekend, 0-18 to 1-12, but the win looked unlikely early on when the home team led 1-7 to 0-2, but the eventual winners got some great two-pointers from Jamie Corkery and Jack O’Sullivan.

Dean Brosnan, Kieran Kelleher and Ken McCarthy-Coade were also integral players in the victory. 

In Division 7, Argideen Rangers and Kilmacabea sealed promotion with a game to spare.

In Division 1, there were wins for Douglas, St Finbarr’s, Cill na Martra, Clonakilty and Castlehaven with reports on all of those games attached to the start of this article.

In the second-tier, Knocknagree and Carbery Rangers were already promoted prior to the weekend just gone. At the other end, Kanturk have been relegated with Aghada.

MCCARTHY INSURANCE GROUP FOOTBALL LEAGUE RESULTS (via Cork GAA website)

Division 1: Douglas 0-16 Nemo Rangers 1-7; St Michael’s 1-7 St Finbarr’s 0-17; Newcestown 0-17 Cill na Martra 2-15; Clonakilty 2-17 Carrigaline 2-12; Castlehaven 1-20 Éire Óg 2-9.

Division 2: Ballincollig 1-11 Valley Rovers 0-14; Dohenys 3-18 O’Donovan Rossa 1-20; Fermoy 0-13 Knocknagree 1-21; Castletownbere 2-10 Kanturk 1-13.

Division 3: Bishopstown 1-12 Rockchapel 4-11; Aghada 0-12 Clyda Rovers 1-14; Kiskeam 1-12 Iveleary 3-13; Mallow 6-12 Kilshannig 0-10.

Division 4: Adrigole 1-16 Glanmire 1-17; Aghabullogue 1-14 Bandon 2-12; Macroom 1-14 Buttevant 0-17; St Vincent’s 0-10 Bantry Blues 2-17.

Division 5: Glenville 1-5 Mitchelstown 0-13; Glanworth 0-19 Kinsale 2-13; Ilen Rovers 0-14 Gabriel Rangers 0-15; Kilmurry 1-18 Millstreet 0-10.

Division 6: Na Piarsaigh 2-13 Mayfield 0-16; Aghinagh 4-22 St Michael’s 1-9; Cobh 1-12 St Nick’s 0-18; Dromtarriffe 1-17 Canovee 2-12; Kildorrery 0-14 Cullen 2-12.

Division 7: Nemo Rangers 0-9 Argideen Rangers 1-10; Kilmacabea 2-17 Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels 3-7; Inniscarra 1-9 Urhan 1-9; Castlemagner 0-10 Ballygarvan 0-10; St James’ 4-22 Ballyhooly 0-5.