County Junior A Football Final 2015
Bandon 3-11
Iveleary 2-09

BANDON secured the Cork County Junior Football Championship for the third time and also a move up to the intermediate grade next season, as Mark Sugrue put in the stand-out performance in an open, attacking encounter.

No doubt new Cork coach Peadar Healy took note as the corner-forward and former dual underage star for his county scored 3-4. The powerful attacker excelled throughout, and it seems likely he'll be given a chance to audition for the seniors in the new year.

Iveleary captain Brian Cronin scored the game's first point but this would prove to be the only time that his side held the lead in an entertaining clash.

Bandon provided their full forward trio of Sugrue, Barry Collins and Darren Crowley with plenty of quality ball and all of Bandon's scores came through this trio.

Initially, the Iveleary full-back line, led by Daniel O'Riordan, worked hard to win the duels but gradually the pressure told.

Bandon opened up a three-point lead with four successive points but Iveleary could have netted during this period.

The Bandon backs put their bodies on the line and deflected a Brian Cronin shot onto the post.

Cathal Vaughan Inspired Iveleary back into the game with some fine fielding at midfield and they reduced the deficit to 0-4 to 0-3.

Midway through the half, Sugrue looked to slot over a point from the right, but the ball dipped underneath the crossbar and ended in the net.

Bandon followed up with three quick successive points to stretch their lead to 1-7 to 0-3.

At that stage it appeared there would only be one winner, yet Iveleary showed great resilience to fight back. It was typical of a side who have excelled all season, lifting the mid-Cork title for the first time since 1985.

Having finally lifted the siege, Liam Kearney made a great run and his hand-pass was fisted to the net by Sean Lehane. Vaughan added two points, including one shot from 40 metres.

Cronin also pointed while Lehane put over a great point when off-balance. Bandon only scored once during this period to stay a point in front. It would have been better for Iveleary but for a superb save from Bandon keeper Pat Prendergast that prevented Sean O'Leary from netting.

Iveleary looked to be in the ascendency as half-time approached but once Bandon could get the bail up to their front trio they would always cause problems.

Sugrue gathered a quick side-line ball from Crowley in the corner. He raced straight in on goal and despite the best efforts of Jamie Cronin, the ball went over the line.

Bandon should have had another, when Sugrue set-up Collins, but his fisted effort was wide of the post to leave Bandon leading 2-8 to 1-7 at the end of an enthralling first half.

However, the game was almost killed off within three minutes of the restart, Sugrue pointed his side's first free within a minute before securing his hat-trick.

He showed a great poacher's instinct to race onto a back-pass intended for Cronin in the Iveleary goal and calmly slotted the ball past the onrushing keeper.

Iveleary could only add 1-2 to their tally in the second half with Vaughan netting late in the game but Bandon easily held out for a deserved victory.

Scorers for Bandon: M Sugrue 3-4(0-2 f). B Collins 0-4. D Crowley 0-3.
Iveleary: C Vaughan 1-3 (0-2 f). S Lehane 1-2, B Cronin 0-2(0-1 f). C Og Jones O-2

BANDON: P Prendergast (C); B Crowley, K Lucey, E O'Donovan; J Harrington, P Murphy, J O'Donovan; J Walsh, D Lucey; P Crowley, A Johnson, D Aherne; D Crowley, B Collins, M Sugrue.
Subs: P O'Brien for K Lucey (29), J Hickey for J Harrington (30), C O'Mahony for Aherne (51), M McNamara for Sugrue (59), R Crowley for P Crowley (60), M Prendergast for B Collins (60).

IVELEARY: J Cronln; D Cotter, D O'Riordan, B Murphy; G O'Riordan, C McCarthy, K Manning; C Vaughan, S O'Leary; F McSweeney, B O'Leary, S Lehane; L Kearney, C Og Jones, B Cronin(c).
Subs: S Galvin for C McCarthy (44), F McSweeney Jnr for Finbarr McSweeney(46), G McSweeney for Manning (52), J O'Leary for B O'Leary (59).
Referee: B Coniry (Crosshaven).