Matthew Bradley fires Aghabullogue to double after IAHC cracker with Bandon

Aghabullogue 1-21 Bandon 0-23

What is it about Aghabullogue and one-point victories? And the ice-cool Matthew Bradley who provides the winner...

He did likewise a fortnight ago in the Premier Intermediate football final, as he has done many times before.

It all means a second championship trophy for Aghabullogue in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, adding the Co-Op Superstores Cork Intermediate A hurling championship title to the football crown.

In a most successful period for this remarkable Mid Cork club, they are now twice double champions in three years. Relegated from the Premier Intermediate Hurling grade after a replay last year, having won the Intermediate A in 2023, they will take their place in the third tier once more.

This delayed final, pushed back a further half hour after the curtain-raiser went to extra-time, was action-packed. It wheeled one way and then the other before man-of-the-match Bradley notched his 11th point in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage from a free after James Lane drew the foul.

It enabled leader Paul Ring to collect the Paddy Walsh Cup.

Bandon gave it everything, only to come up short, captain Michael Cahalane especially, who equalled Bradley’s tally of 11 points.

Playing against wind, Bandon opened proceedings with a Kevin Hannon point after a mere 20 seconds and immediately after Charlie Long put them two up.

Seán Furey kickstarted the Aghabullogue scoreboard but Bandon outscored them again with another pair of Cahalane frees.

Aghabullogue put a shaky start behind them when James Lane first-timed his ground shot to the net in the 10th minute after Bradley provided the assist, 1-1 to 0-4. Bradley and Long swapped points before Eolann McSweeney put Bandon in front.

Aghabullogue posted an immediate and emphatic reply, shooting the next eight points to Bandon’s one. The white flags came from Bradley, Luke Casey and John Corkery.

Bandon appeared to be in a bit of bother trailing 1-10 to 0-7 approaching half-time. They also had a goal chance taken off the line by Tom Long in the 26th minute. A huge let-off for the Muskerry side.

Bandon, undeterred, roared back into the game, Cahalane whipped over two points and there was one from Darren Crowley. They added another brace in stoppage time, in reply to one Odhran O’Connell point for Aghabullogue, and a two-point deficit now seemed manageable, 1-11 to 0-12.

It only took 20 seconds again for Bandon to score in the second half, this time another superb Cahalane point from the midfield range.

Aghabullogue managed to keep their noses in front, be it by two or three points. That is until another pair of Cahalane points to draw Bandon level in the 38th minute, 1-13 to 0-16.

A brilliant over-the-shoulder point from Bradley kept his side narrowly ahead. Meanwhile, TJ Buckley had to be alert in the Aghabullogue defence and avert a goal chance.

The teams were level twice more before Hannon put Bandon back into the ascendancy in the 47th minute. Aghabullogue’s inaccuracy was beginning to take its toll.

Bandon remained in front until three minutes from time. The Aghabullogue bench made a huge impact as sub Daniel Dineen landed a brace as they regained the initiative.

They held a one-point lead until Bandon sub Seán Carey levelled in the 65th minute. There was still time for one more play for Micheál McGrath’s incredible side.

Aghabullogue will return to Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Sunday as their attention turns to a Munster intermediate football championship semi-final against Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan. The journey continues.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: M Bradley 0-11 (0-7 f), J Lane 1-1, L Casey 0-3, J Corkery, D Dineen 0-2 each, S Furey, O O’Connell 0-1 each.

Bandon: M Cahalane 0-11 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), C Long, K Hannon, E McSweeney 0-2 each, C Lynch, P Murphy, C McCarthy, D Crowley, J Cullinane, S Carey 0-1 each.

AGHABULLOGUE: I Barry Murphy; T Long C Timmons TJ Buckley; C Gillespie, P Ring (c), P O’Sullivan; S Furey, O O’Connell; J Corkery, J Foley S Tarrant; L Casey M Bradley, J Lane.

Subs: M Dennehy for S Furey (40), C Furey for O O’Connell (42), D Dineen for J Foley (44).

BANDON: P Barry; P Callanan, T Twohig C Twomey; C Lynch, P Murphy, D O’Donovan; C McCarthy M Cahalane (c); D Crowley, C Calnan, C Long; K Hannon, E McSweeney, J Cullinane.

Subs: R Long for C McCarthy (13-14 temp), M Sugrue for C Calnan (40), N McCarthy for P Callanan (42), J Mulcahy for D O’Donovan (49), S Carey for D Crowley (54), R Long for C Long (63).

Referee: Willie Wallace (Aghada).

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