O’Regan goal earns dramatic win for Barr’s

St Finbarr’s 1-9 Kilbrittain 0-10

The sides were level on no fewer than four occasions and just as it appeared that extra-time would be needed O’Regan secured victory for the Blues and knocked the wind out of Kilbrittain’s sails.

The Blues, with the aid of a strong wind, began in a very sprightly manner. Robert O’Mahony pointed them into the lead after two minutes and in a period of sustained pressure were unlucky not to have snatched a goal or two.

St Finbarr’s failure to capitalise on the chances that came their way allowed Kilbrittain to equalise in the fifth minute when full forward Dan O’Connell pointed a free.

Although scorning a number of point scoring opportunities the Barrs with two good strikes from Kevin Kelleher and Ger O’Regan led by 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.

But then came an exciting Kilbrittain back lash with wily veteran O’Connell leading the charge. Three points on the trot from O’Connell, one a magnificent effort from play, powered Kilbrittain into the lead for the first time in the 20th minute.

They were back on level terms two minutes later however when Pascal McSweeney pointed a glorious equaliser.

St Finbarr’s who hit eight wides to their opponents’ five in the first half missed another golden opportunity two minutes from the end of the first half when after James McCarthy was taken down goalkeeper Sean Barry’s conversion attempt was brilliantly saved by his opposite number Ollie Harrington. However a point from a free by Kevin Kelleher nudged St Finbarr’s into a 0-5 to 0-4 interval lead.

Kelleher, with another point from a free, edged St Finbarr’s further in front three minutes after the resumption. But in keeping with the rollercoaster nature of this game O’Connell threw the contest back into the melting pot with another superb point from play.

Kilbrittain, now with their tails up, drew level when substitute Frank Hickey pointed within seconds of his arrival on the pitch.

With the fat sizzling in the pan, however, St Finbarr’s upped the tempo of their endeavours, and three points in rapid succession from Ger O’Regan, and Kelleher, who was unerring in his free-taking, launched the city club into a 0-9 to 0-6 lead entering the final quarter.

But never say die Kilbrittain gamely fought back to draw level again with O’Connell, who scored seven of their ten points, being their main tour de force.

With the game seemingly destined to go into extra-time O’Regan pounced for the match-clinching score after being set up by wing forward Denis O’Regan.

Scorers, St Finbarrs : G O’Regan 1-2, K Kelleher 0-5 (0-4 frees), R O’Mahony, P McSweeney 0-1 each.

Kilbrittain: D O’Connell 0-7 (0-5 frees), F Hickey, E Sheehy, D McSweeney 0-1 each.

ST FINBARR’S: S Barry, C O’Sullivan, D Murray, L Burns, P Buckley, C Maher, A Fluery, R McCarthy, P McSweeney, V Cooney, J McCarthy, D O’Regan, R O’Mahony, G O’Regan, K Kelleher. Sub: K McTiernan for Cooney.

KILBRITTAIN: O Harrington, D O’Mahony, P Sexton, D Desmond, P Ryan, V O’Brien, E Sheehy, D Ferriter, J O’Brien, D McSweeney, D Hickey, O Sexton, M Holland, D O’Connell, A Harrington. Subs: F Hickey for Holland, DP Hickey for Harrington.

Referee: D Kirwan (Eire Og).