Division 4 FL: Aghabullogue seal promotion with big victory over St Vincent's

Aghabullogue: 3-16 (3-1-14)

St Vincent’s: 0-13 (0-3-7)

Aghabullogue have been promoted from Division 4 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Football League after a comfortable win over St Vincent’s at Coachford on Thursday evening.

The Muskerry side knew a victory in this final fixture would secure elevation and they made no mistake with a dominant performance. They led from pillar to post and at no stage did they look in trouble.

It was a workmanlike display from Ray Keane’s charges.

St Vincent’s were already relegated prior to this encounter as they have now lost all nine league games, but they can take positives from what was a battling second-half performance by them. They left themselves with too much to do as they trailed by 12 points at the short whistle.

The home side took a firm grip on proceedings early on as they simply overpowered their opposition.

Aghabullogue hit 1-3 without reply inside the opening 10 minutes as they set out their stall. Matthew Bradley with two points, one which was a free, and a Colm Gillespie effort with the points while Luke Casey billowed the back of the net after being set up by Gillespie.

Aghabullogue's Colm Gillespie and Ryan Fielding of St Vincent's battle for the ball. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Former Cork footballer Blake Murphy was a standout player for St Vincent’s as he pointed a free after 13 minutes. His side’s first score.

A Casey effort and an Aaron O’Sullivan two-point free gave Aghabullogue a comfortable advantage. Kian Leonard did land an excellent two-pointer from a placed ball for St Vincent’s but three points on the trot from the home side pushed them 1-9 to 0-3 clear after 23 minutes.

Blake Murphy then showed his class with an outstanding point from a difficult angle after a pass by the impressive Kane Murphy.

Aghabullogue finished the half with 1-1. Cialan O’Sullivan with the point while his brother Aaron got the goal, 2-10 to 0-4 at half-time. The Mid-Cork team could also afford eight wides in that opening 30 minutes.

Aghabullogue started the second half in the ascendancy with a Bradley point, but to St Vincent’s credit, they were much improved after the interval.

Blake Murphy kicked over a splendid two-pointer before Aaron O’Sullivan pointed for his side. The sides swapped points before another two-pointer from the city side made the scoreline respectable, Leonard with his second two-pointer, 2-13 to 0-9 after 38 minutes.

Blake Murphy on the move for St Vincent's. Picture: Jim Coughlan

St Vincent’s kicked three of the next five points with Kane Murphy’s white flag the highlight, 2-15 to 0-12 with 10 minutes remaining.

There would be no doubt with regards to the outcome, the winners hit 1-1 in two minutes late on with Bradley tapping over a close-range free while Casey scored his second goal.

Leonard did slot over a consolation free for St Vincent’s, as Aghabullogue won by 12 points.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: L Casey 2-2, A O’Sullivan 1-5 (1 2pt f, 0-1 45), M Bradley 0-6 (0-3 f), C Gillespie, P O’Sullivan, C O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

St Vincent’s: B Murphy 0-6 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), K Leonard 0-5 (1 2pt, 1 2pt f, 0-1 f), J Murray, K Murphy 0-1 each.

AGHABULLOGUE: J Buckley; Oisín O’Connell, M Dennehy, T Long; A Murphy, S Tarrant, B O’Sullivan; D Merrick, C Gillespie; P O’Sullivan, J Corkery, A O’Sullivan; L Casey, M Bradley, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: S O’Connell for P O’Sullivan (53), Odhran O’Connell for C O’Sullivan (57), B Dineen for A O’Sullivan, M O’Donnell for L Casey (both 59), D Dineen for M Bradley (61).

ST VINCENT’S: D Clarke; K Sorensen, C Lynch, N Stokes; S Duggan, C O'Neill, C Desmond; K Murphy, R Fielding; B Hornibrook, B Murphy, J O'Mahony; D Quinn, K Leonard, A Sorensen.

Subs: D Butler for C Desmond (20), K O’Connor for C Lynch, J O’Donovan for N Stokes, J Murray for J O'Mahony, A O’Callaghan for A Sorensen (all h-t), C Lynch for K Murphy (52, inj).

Referee: Pat O'Leary (Kilmurry).

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