A 60-man flying column of the IRA's 1st Cork Brigade under Seán O'Hegarty, ambushed a 70-man convoy of the Auxiliary Division under Major Seafield Grant, sparking a four-hour battle.

They were forewarned about the IRA position however, and approached with caution, when a republican leaving his post turned to run back, and was seen from the leading lorry.

The IRA closed in and as they were preparing to bomb the cottages, large numbers of RIC reinforcements approached and began encircling the area.

[4] It later transpired that the Auxiliary forces were just part of a large round-up operation planned for that day which included 600 British Army troops from Cork, Ballincollig, Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bantry, Dunmanway, Millstreet, Macroom, and Killarney.

After the ambush, British forces ceased raiding and patrolling the area west of Macroom, effectively handing it over to IRA control.

The Digest of Service for the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment recorded that on 18 March 1921, a party proceeded to Coolavokig to destroy houses believed to have been used by the IRA.