Dingle switches pay dividends
The game also saw a marvellous display by wing-back Eoin MacGearailt. He was unbeatable in the air as the Kerry side survived a late rally by the holders, which yielded a goal and a point in injury-time.
The Cork school, with six of last year’s winning combination in their side and superbly led by midfielder Ross O’Dwyer, threatened to crush their opponents in the opening 20 minutes .
O’Dwyer was ably assisted by Anthony Seymour, and, with Denis Maher and Paul Honohan sparkling in attack, it looked very much a case of how big CSN’s winning margin would be.
Their superiority was reflected on the scoreboard after Maher fisted home a goal in the 13th minute following an excellent through ball by Alan O’Neill.
Dingle were in real danger of being completely overrun but a couple of shrewd switches worked wonders for them. All the changes were made in defence, where wing-forward Colm Ó Muirchearthaigh went to corner-back, Niall O’Sullivan moved into full-back and Eoin Ó Murchú manned the right-half forward position.
Coupled with the changes, Donal Ó Riain began to win a lot of ball at midfield after Ross O’Dwyer surprisingly faded. With Tomas MacGearailt unerring from frees, Dingle were level after 30 minutes before Daithi Ó Sé edged them in front on the call of half-time.
The Kerry side continued their improvement on the changeover but they kicked four wides in a row before the hugely impressive Ó Riain stretched their lead with a 40th minute point.
The champions were struggling but, after going 26 minutes without a score, they finally managed a point by Denis Maher. It mattered little, however, as rejuvenated Dingle, superbly led by Eoin MacGearailt and Donal Ó Riain, took complete control.
Playing marvellous football, they came forward in waves, and a succession of points had them six to the good, 0-14 to 1-5, coming up to full time.
Their pride clearly stung, CSN put in a storming finish. Kieran Corbett sent the Dingle keeper the wrong way from a penalty, awarded after Eoin Forde was taken down, and Denis Maher added a point from the kickout. But they were only token scores as Dingle finished deserving winners.
: Dingle: T. MacGearailt 0-4 (0-2 frees); D. Ó Riain 0-3 (0-1 free); D. de Baróid, R. Aghas 0-2 each; D. Ó Se, C. Ó Muirhearthaigh, S. Ó Coffaigh 0-1 each. CSN: D. Maher 1-3 (0-3 frees); K. Corbett 1-1 (1-0 pen.); R. Honohan, A. O’Neill 0-1.
: T. Mac an tSaoir; N. Ó Flaharta, E. Ó Murchu, N. Ó Suilleabhain; R. Aghas, D. Ó Sé, E. MacGearailt; D. Ó Riain, S. Ó Scanláin; C. Ó Muirchearthaigh, T. MacGearailt, M. Ó Se; D.Ó hUigín, D. de Baroid, P. MacUaidh.
: D. ÓSuilleabhain for MacUaidh; S. Ó Coffaigh for Ó hUigín.
: M. Collins; J. Neville, R. Mawe, C. Luttrell; R. Buie, M. Power, E. Byrne; R. O’Dwyer, A. Seymour; A. O’Neill, K. Corbett, M. O’Donovan; C. O’Sullivan, D. Maher, P. Honohan.
: E. Forde for O’Neill; C. Jones for O’Sullivan.
: M. Ryan (Limerick).
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