Randals' great run in the county junior hurling championship came to an end, going under to O'Donovan Rossa in the semi-final at Clonakilty on Sunday evening last.

It was a game that could have gone  either way on another day. Skibbereen held advantage for most of the hour but Randals were unlucky with scoring which did not yield results.

Skibb were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead at the end of the first quarter. They scored two early points, one from a free, Shane Patterson for Randals on eight minutes. Skibb stretched their lead with three in succession. Sam Kingston got Randals' second point on the fourteen minute mark.

Another Skibbereen point came after seventeen minutes but Randals were in control for most of the second quarter. 

Eoin O'Donovan got a point from a "sixty five" and another from a free. Seadhna Crowley, on twenty five minutes, scored from an impossible angle and Eoin O'Donovan did likewise two moinutes later, to make it 0-6 all.

A late point gave Skibb a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at half time.

Two points from frees early in the second half increased the Skibb lead again. The first goal of the game was made and finished off spectacularly by Conor O'Donovan as he raced through the Skibb defence to mke it 1-6 to 0-9.

Skibb regained the lead again. They scored two points and these were follwed by two goals, one from a penalty, within four minutes of each other. It was 2-11 to 1-6 with about ten minutes to go.

Randals'  heroic efforts to bridge gap, in the closing stages, did not get through and the only other score was a goal belted home by Conor O'Donovan, again, late in stoppage time.

Full time:  O'Donovan Rossa  2-11  Randal Og  2-6.

And so fortune was not with us on the day, but it was a memorable campaign.  Thanks to all the lads involved, including mentors and selectors, in both the hurling and football county championship campaigns. There has been little let up in recent weeks and we had some great performances and results.

Team: Patrick Lynch, Kieran O'Brien, Brian  Dullea, Barry Lynch, Damien McCarthy, Gerard Lynch, Eoin O'Sullivan, Shane Patterson, Seamus Crowley, Johnny Collins, Sam Kingston, Eoin O'Donovan, Donncha Collins, Seadhna Crowley, Patrick Crowley.

Subs:  Conor O'Donovan, Stephen Crowley,  Cian O'Neill.

All best wishes now to the O'Donovan Rossa team, in the county final, with hopes that they will bring a hurling trophy back to West Cork! .