Fitzgerald to the rescue for Carrig

Carrigtwohill 0-15 St Finbarr’s 0-15

Fitzgerald, Carrigtwohill’s top scorer with seven points, five from frees, pounced for his golden equaliser just when it appeared that St Finbarr’s would steal a heel-against-the-head victory.

With Carrig apparently intent on shooting themselves in the foot by hitting a most inauspicious total of 19 wides to their opponents eight, the Barrs came within a whisker of garnering the laurels, principally due to the ace marksmanship of midfield player, Victor Cooney. Turning on an exhibition of free-taking at its very best, Cooney scored nine points as the Barrs after a very hesitant start almost pulled it out of the fire at the end. Carrigtwohill hit the ground running, and two points from Michael Fitzgerald, who converted a free and full-forward Seán O’Farrell powered them into the lead before the Barrs had a chance to draw their first breath.

But with Cooney, unerring in his accuracy from free-fall situations, however, St Finbarr’s clawed their way back and were level after 12 minutes of play.

It was still even-stevens after the first quarter, but then Carrigtwohill hit another purple patch and three brilliant points on the trot from Derek Healy, Niall McCarthy and Seán O’Farrell threatened to run riot.

But the Barrs, in keeping with the marvellous tradition, managed to stay in touch in what was a real roller-coaster of a first half. Everytime Carrigtwohill threatened ominously to draw away St Finbarr’s responded with some marvellous scores and it was all even at the break at 0-9 apiece.

They were level for the fourth time three minutes after the restart before Carrigtwohill were denied what appeared to be a certain goal when a blistering close-range attempt from right corner forward, John Roche was breathtakingly turned around the post by a 65 by outstanding Barrs goalkeeper, Sean Barry.

With the slight wind to their backs, Carrigtwohill began to dominate the outfield exchanges once again but four wides in rapid succession failed to translate their superiority on the scoreboard.

And it was Cooney, with a point from a 65, who edged the Barrs in front for the first time entering the last quarter. Now it was Carrigtwohill’s turn to show their mettle, when they fell two points in arrears following a spectacular strike from Eoin Pol O’Callaghan in the 51st minute.

But with full-forward, Seán O’Farrell, scorer of five points from play, showing great leadership qualities and Fitzgerald coming up trumps with his free taking, Carrigtwohill came back to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.

Scorers for Carrigtwohill; M. Fitzgerald 0-7 (0-5frees), Sean O’Farrell 0-5, J. Roche, D. Healy, N. McCarthy 0-1 each.

St. Finbarr’s; V. Cooney 0-9 (0-8frees; 0-1 65), E. P. O’Callaghan 0-3, J. McCarthy 0-2, A. Fluery 0-1.

CARRIGTWOHILL: J. J. Barry, N. Kidney, M. Barry, M. Nolan, S. Barry, S. Barrett, N. Gubbins, F. Flannery, P. McCarthy, D. Healy, Seamus O’Farrell, N. McCarthy, J. Roche, Sean O’Farrell, M. Fitzgerald.

ST. FINBARR’S: S. Barry, P. O’Brien, L. Burns, G. O’Hallorhan, S. Fuller, B. O’Shea, R. McCarthy, P. O’Callaghan, V. Cooney, O. Griffin, D. Murray, C. O’Brien, J. McCarthy, K. McTiernan, A. Fluery, subs. P. Hegarty for C. O’Brien, P. Buckley for A. Fluery.

Referee: D. Farrell (Ballygiblin).