Abbey Rovers capture the County Junior C Football Championship

With both sides operating with pride and passion, it took the Castletownroche men some time to settle but once, they got into a stride, Rovers adopted a much more purposeful and assertive approach to raise the pace and intensity either side of the interval.
For Freemount, a case again of so near and yet so far for there was no questioning their commitment to the cause, ultimately, they were forced to yield to more attractive verve in Rovers game, helped in no small part by some key substitutions.
With the backing of the breeze, Freemount appeared to possess the greater teamwork and an ascendency in many of the man on man positions in the opening exchanges. In defence, Jason Ballentyne, Ben and Dean Collins stood out, Liam Enright supported by Alan Ballentyne had a huge game in the centre.
Going forward, Enright kicked a pair, Aidan O'Flynn and Ger Hayes also on target to confirm the Duhallow side's upper hand. That presented Abbey Rovers with a test of their composure yet they settled and the deployment of big Donal Relihan out from full forward made a significant difference to the landscape of the contest.
Through Relihan's promptings, Rovers made inroads, Relihan and Pat Madden combining for a dangerous raid and it took Freemount full back Mike Curtin to ease concern while Dave Linehan passed up on a great chance of a major.
Still Freemount created chances, Mark Ballentyne and O'Flynn involved in a defence splitting move only for Enright to be denied by the woodwork. But as the half progressed, Rovers were creating inroads, the pacy Dylan O'Connor stepped up to take responsibility with points from play and frees.
Freemount replied with a pair from team captain Ian Guiney to hold a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage at the break. On the restart, Abbey Rovers rose their precision levels and quickly gained control through quick and inventive football.
That stemmed from Relihan commanding the aerial battle in the centre, backed up by the effective pursuits of Adrian O'Donovan, Seamus Skinner and Muiris Browne. And upfront, O'Connor continued to be menacing, ably abetted by the introduction of substitute Niall Hazelwood.
Time and again, Abbey drove at the Freemount defence winning frees, for O'Connor to convert with Browne also on target. Those scores typified the new sense of adventure that Abbey brought to the game with Hazelwood pointing superbly.
The outcome looked to be heading to the Avondhu side, but typical of Freemount, their response was doggedly defiant. Without a score for 20 minutes in the second half, Enright stemmed the flow with back to back points to leave the minimum between the sides.
Now a gripping climax surfaced in plenty of end to end fare, Freemount 'keeper Seán Dunstan denied O'Connor only for the latter point in the next assault. Freemount weren't found wanting and a brilliant move saw substitute Ger Withers blast over the crossbar.
A five-star performance from O'Connor was blemished on picking up a second yellow card, however O'Connor had an able deputy, Mick Lenihan introduced near the end of regulation time landed a pair of points from play and a free.
That allowed the initiative veer towards Rovers and Castletownroche supporters had many reasons to salute team captain Muiris Browne after accepting the prized silverware from County Board Chairperson Tracy Kennedy.
ABBEY ROVERS: J Batterberry; W Madden, David Relihan, H O'Farrell; A O'Donovan, S Skinner, T Barrett; S Mullane, M Browne 0-1; D O'Connor 0-8 (4f), M O'Callaghan 0-1, P Madden; L Farrell, Donal Relihan, D Linehan. Subs: N Hazelwood 0-1 for D Linehan (ht), J P Ryan for T Barrett (52), M Linehan 0-2 (1f) for L Farrell (58).
FREEMOUNT: S Dunstan; B Collins, M Curtin, D O'Flynn; D Collins, J Ballentyne, D Curtin 0-1; L Enright 0-4, A Ballentyne; K Broderick, A O'Flynn 0-1, M Ballentyne; C Curtin, I Guiney 0-3 (2f), G Hayes 0-1. Subs: G Withers 0-1 for C Curti (ht), S O'Mullane for J Ballentyne (39), Ballentyne for K Broderick (50).
Referee: A Murphy (Killeagh)