Keane’s golden goal fires Brogans to a hard-earned victory

St Brogans, Bandon 3-7 Scoil Phobail, Sliabh Luachra 0-11

At stake was a semi-final spot against Coachford Community College and, as was the case when the teams met on three occasions to decide a tie last year, the game was a closely contested and exciting affair with the issue in doubt until Keane fisted home a Chris Daly ‘45’ in the 58th minute.

At that point, the Rathmore boys were in with every chance of securing a late winner, having recovered well after conceding two first half goals - the scores from Eoin Manning and Keane, helping Bandon to a 2-4 to 0-5 lead at the interval.

Brogans were not at all flattered by the scoreline as they had dominated much of the play and when Micheál Crowley converted a free within minutes of the re-start, the Rathmore boys chances looked as bleak as the December day.

They were even doing well to remain those six points adrift and owed much to goalkeeper Jeremy Lynch who produced two point blank saves from Eoin Manning and Keane.

Points from Tadhg Long (2), Brendan Sheehan, Michael Anthony Kelleher and Gerard Moynihan reduced the lead to a single point and the pressure was now on Brogans.

Another score at that stage could have proved costly for the West Cork boys but they weathered the storm and the introduction of substitute Stephen Keohane helped them regain the initiative. Full back Tim Crowley delivered a great ball to Keane and he duly pointed and John Duggan quickly added another following one of the best moves of the match involving Keohane, Stephen Cronin, Brian Canty and Eoin Manning.

Kelleher got one back for Scoil Phobail to leave just two points in it with as many minutes remaining but when Keane got his fist to a well delivered ‘45’, Brogans had sealed a hard earned victory.

Scorers: St Brogans. C Keane 2-1, E Manning 1-0, M Crowley 0-3, J Kelleher 0-2, J Duggan 0-1.

Scoil Phobail T Long 0-4, M A Kelleher 0-3, G Moynihan 0-3, B Sheehan 0-1.

ST BROGANS, BANDON. S O’Halloran, E O’Flynn, T Crowley, C O’Leary; A Nyhan, E Creedon, B Canty; D Collins and S Cronin; J Kelleher, C Daly, J Duggan; M Crowley, E Manning, C Keane. Sub S Keohane for O’Flynn.

SCOIL PHOBAIL: J Lynch, J Dineen, J O’Sullivan, T Murphy; D O’Sullivan, I Kelleher, B Buckley; A O’Connell and B Sheehan; B O’Keeffe, D McCarthy, A O’Leary; T Long, G Moynihan, A A Kelleher. Sub C O’Sullivan for Buckley.

Referee Ger Moran, Banteer.