Avondhu outclass Carbery in Cork Premier SHC Divisional/Colleges opener
Avondhu had too much class for Carbery as they romped to victory in the Co-Op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC Divisional/Colleges clash at Ballinlough on Tuesday evening.
This opening round encounter was dominated by the North Cork outfit from start to finish.
They had a very balanced team with a nice spread of scorers and a resolute defence. They have the potential to do well in this section, but stiffer tests lie ahead.
Avondhu will now meet Duhallow in Round 2 while Carbery take on Muskerry.
The winners set out their stall early on, showing incredible accuracy as they pushed into a 0-7 to 0-4 lead after the first quarter.
Stephen Condon, Colin O'Brien and Luke Keating all influential in raising white flags. The latter extended Avondhu's advantage, but in fairness to Carbery, they were having a lot of the ball, but wayward shooting was leaving them down.
Avondhu put together five unanswered points to lead 0-13 to 0-4 with nine minutes to the break. Caolan O'Donovan, Peter Collins and Conor O'Sullivan efforts did leave Carbery just six points adrift, 0-13 to 0-7.
Avondhu finished the half the better though, hitting three of the last five points, 0-16 to 0-9 at half-time.
The game was as good as over just a minute into the new half when Johnnie Murphy raised a green flag for the North Cork team. The game tipped along as the winners led 1-20 to 0-15 after the third quarter with the excellent O'Brien scoring some gorgeous points for Avondhu.
They tacked on two more points before Carbery's best player, Caolan O'Donovan, sent over two great scores, 1-22 to 0-17 with 10 minutes to go.
Avondhu dominated the closing stages in a free-flowing contest with very little bite or tackling.
The North Cork men were 1-26 to 0-19 clear after 57 minutes before Murphy and Condon bagged goals in quick succession.
Avondhu landed two of the last three points to run out easy winners.
Scorers for Avondhu: S Condon (1-6, 1f), C O'Brien (0-7, 2f), J Murphy (2-0), L Keating (0-5), J Magner, P Walsh (0-3 each), L Cronin (0-2), D O'Reilly, S O'Callaghan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Carbery: C O'Donovan (0-11, 7f), P Collins, J Lucey, M Cahalane, C O'Sullivan (0-2 each), D Collins (0-1).
AVONDHU: D O'Connell (Dromina); P Walsh (Kilshannig), B Carey (Araglen), S Killeen (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels); D O'Reilly (Ballyhooly), J Keating (Kildorrery), S O'Callaghan (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels); L Carey (Kilworth), L Cronin (Killavullen); J Murphy (Dromina), P Hannon (Harbour Rovers), L Keating (Kildorrery); J Magner (Killavullen), C O'Brien (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels), S Condon (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels).
Subs: E Sykes (Ballyhooly) for L Carey (49), F Hickey (Araglen) for L Keating (52), C Twomey (Araglen) for J Magner (54), V Daly (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels) for D O'Reilly (55).
CARBERY: M O'Driscoll (Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas); D Curtin (St Mary's), S O'Riordan (Barryroe), J O'Callaghan (Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas); M Lawton (Argideen Rangers), T Twohig (Bandon), R Lucey (Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas); C O'Sullivan (Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas), P Collins (Randal Óg); C O'Donovan (Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas), M Cahalane (Bandon), D Collins (Randal Óg); P O'Sullivan (Randal Óg), G O'Donovan (Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas), J Lucey (Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas).
Subs: S Crowley (Randal Óg) for P O'Sullivan (h-t), N O'Driscoll (St Oliver Plunkett's) for M Lawton (35), C O'Neill (Randal Óg) for D Collins, M O'Driscoll (St Mary's) for D Curtin (both 50), C Dullea (St Oliver Plunkett's) for R Lucey (56).
Referee: Robert Whelan (Gleann na Laoi).
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