Gritty Beara overcome Douglas

Beara 1-9 Douglas 1-7

The winners adapted well, however, and displaying great character and determination, they held a six points lead after 32 minutes and, although pegged back to equality entering the final ten, they regrouped to finish the stronger.

As was to be expected, the fancied Douglas team made the better start to the contest but their only reward after five minutes play was a Paddy White point.

Slowly, Beara gained a grip and two well taken Kevin Jer O’Sullivan points from frees, plus a beauty from outstanding midfielder Andrew O’Sullivan, had the Beara boys 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes and they were never headed.

Mark Harrington settled Douglas nerves with a long range point from a free and, playing better at this stage, the city team looked set to get a goal but full-back Donagh O’Sullivan denied them twice and their only other score of the half was a second White point.

In contrast, Beara made better use of their opportunities and points from Kevin Jer O’Sullivan, Andrew O’Sullivan, the impressive Donnacha Lowney and Cormac O’Sullivan saw them lead 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.

On the resumption, Douglas had a quick point from Steven Bermingham but they were immediately rocked when corner-forward Ross Minihane made the most of poor defending to hit a Beara goal and it was now going to be an uphill battle for the city champions.

They trailed by six points but Mark Harrington raised two white flags to put the pressure back on Beara and when Kenneth Barry was upended in the square, after a tremendous run along the end line, referee John Geaney had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

Bermingham made no mistake from the spot and when Harrington secured a marvellous equaliser with ten minutes remaining, the initiative had swung Douglas’s way.

Crucial then was the goal line clearance by Beara’s player of the match Andrew O’Sullivan who foiled a great Harrington/Bermingham move which seemed certain to result in a goal.

Beara went on to make the most of this let off and inspired defending by Barry Goggin, Donagh O’Sullivan, David Harrington, Jason Goggin, Shane Joe O’Sullivan, Paul O’Sullivan, P J Gonnolly and goalkeeper Richard Power, they gave Douglas few chances in the final minutes.

The winners’ forwards too played their part by holding possession, thus frustrating Douglas attempts to win the ball, and when Donnacha Lowney hit a brilliant lead point in the 53rd minute victory was in sight.

Summoning all reserves of energy, Beara dominated the final exchanges and Kevin Jer O’Sullivan’s injury time point put the seal on a marvellous victory. They had gained a county title the hard way with outstanding performances in the semi-final against fancied Ballincollig before lowering the Douglas colours yesterday.

Scorers: Beara K J O’Sullivan 0-4, R Minihane 1-0, D Lowney 0-2, A O’Sullivan 0-2, C O’Sullivan 0-1.

Douglas S Bermingham 1-1, M Harrington 0-4, P White 0-2.

BEARA: R Power, Castletownbere (Captain), B Goggin, Adrigole, D B O’Sullivan, Castletownbere, D Harrington, Garnish; J Goggin, Adrigole, S J O’Sullivan, Adrigole, P J Gonnolly, Castletownbere; P O’Sullivan, Adrigole and A O’Sullivan, Castletownbere; C O’Sullivan, Castletownbere, D Lowney, Garnish, M Murphy, Castletownbere; K J O’Sullivan, Adrigole, S Lowney, Urhan, R Minihane, Castletownbere. Subs G Hurley, Castletownbere for S Lowney; G Greene, Adrigole for Hurley.

DOUGLAS: D Dorney, F Tobin, T Cotter, B O’Connor; M O’Callaghan (Captain), R Keating, J Lane; O Cadogan, R Griffin; P White, M Harrington, J Moylan; B Fitzgerald, S Bermingham, K Barry. Subs O Cotter for White (injured), A Barry for O’Callaghan (injured).

Referee: J Geaney (Kilshannig).