Skilful Duhallow sound a warning

THERE were times at Inchigeelagh yesterday when Duhallow looked good, very good.

Playing their second Evening Echo Cork County SFC contest in seven days, they stormed all over last year’s beaten finalists Muskerry with a skilful first-half showing. Not even the early losses of the influential O’Sullivan brothers, Niall and Seamus, could interrupt their flow as they powered into a five point interval lead.

And when searching questions were asked of them in the second-half — when Muskerry shook off their lethargy to come within two points entering the final 15 minutes — the answers were all positive as three excellent points from Donncha O’Connor — one a sideline kick — two more from full-forward Niall Cronin and another from John Buckley killed off Muskerry.

Coach Ned English was pleased. “We expected Muskerry to come back at us, after all they are a good team. But we were ready for it. The way the players stood up and were counted made me a very happy coach. They were absolutely superb.”

And most of the time they were. They opened with menace and, moving the ball quickly and skilfully, opened up a slow Muskerry defence with long, accurate deliveries. But finding the target proved an obstacle. In the opening minutes Buckley was denied by Colm O’Leary — the Muskerry corner-back just getting a touch to his goal effort — and O’Connor hit the upright with the ‘45 attempt.

Indeed Muskerry took the lead against the run of play when Richard Hoare pointed. But it proved to be their solitary point from play in the first-half, with three Dan O’Connell pointed frees completing their total as Duhallow, playing with skill and composure, controlled the contest with Seamus O’Sullivan and Pádraig O’Leary on top at midfield.

Smashing points from O’Connor and substitute Dave O’Flynn put them clear and then followed the miss of the match from Seamus O’Sullivan, when he failed to convert a goal chance after being put through by O’Leary. Only some wayward shooting kept Muskerry in touch as Duhallow led 0-3 to 0-1 after the opening quarter.

And it got even better in the 19th minute. A great move involving O’Leary and O’Connor set up Buckley and the corner-forward wasn’t found wanting this time with a fine goal. The loss of the two O’Sullivan brothers, particularly midfielder Seamus, was a huge blow to Duhallow. On the Muskerry side the introduction of Michael Murphy proved a huge plus but there was still no stopping Duhallow as points from substitute Gearóid Murphy and O’Connor powered them into a 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

Muskerry had John Russell and James White at midfield for the second-half, up against O’Leary and Eamonn O’Mahony for Duhallow, and began to win more ball. Concannon and O’Connell pointed but O’Mahony and Murphy made sure Duhallow retained their five point advantage.

But with Noel O’Leary and Barry Kiely now thundering into the game, Muskerry at last began to show their mettle as points from Murphy, James White and O’Connell from play put it up to Duhallow who now led by just two points, 1-8 to 0-9, entering the final quarter.

Muskerry gave it their all. Gary Morris’s long free was tipped against the crossbar and saved by Duhallow keeper Kevin Murphy. But that’s as good as it got for Duhallow showed a steely resolve when the need was greatest. This time it was Muskerry keeper David Moynihan who had to make a brilliant save to deny Cronin a goal in the 50th minute and although excellent substitute Murphy brought the deficit down to two points Duhallow took over with a vengeance.

Those three outstanding points from O’Connor knocked the stuffing out of Muskerry. And when Cronin (2) and Buckley followed with points a sweet victory was completed by a very good Duhallow outfit.

Scorers: Duhallow: D. O’Connor 0-7 (0-3 frees, 0-1 sideline), J. Buckley 1-1, N. Cronin 0-3, G. Murphy 0-2 (0-1 free), D. O’Flynn, E. O’Mahony 0-1 each. Muskerry: D. O’Connell 0-5 (0-4 frees), M. Murphy 0-2, R. Hoare, L. Concannon, J. White 0-1 each.

DUHALLOW: K. Murphy (Boherbue); B. Breen (Kiskeam), C. Murphy (Dromtarriffe), D. O’Riordan (Kanturk); J. Hurley (Ballydesmond), D. O’Brien (Newmarket), P. Gaynor (Castlemagner); S. O’Sullivan (Dromtarriffe), P. O’Leary (Kiskeam); N. O’Sullivan (Dromtarriffe), E. O’Mahony (Kiskeam), D. Gaynor (Castlemagner); J. Buckley (Knocknagree), N. Cronin (Kiskeam), D. O’Connor (Ballydesmond). Subs: D. O’Flynn (Newmarket) for N. O’Sullivan, G. Murphy (Dromtarriffe) for S. O’Sullivan.

MUSKERRY: D. Moynihan (Aghabullogue); C. O’Leary (Cill Na Martra), E. O’Mahony (Macroom), D. O’Hare (Ballinora); B. Kiely (Aghabullogue), N. O’Leary (Cill Na Martra), T. Murphy (Canovee); J. Hurley (Blarney), L. Concannon (Ballingeary); J. White (Kilmurry), G. O’Halloran (Ballinora), R. Hoare (Cill Na Martra); G. Morris (Macroom), J. Russell (Grenagh), D. O’Connell (Inniscarra). Subs: M. Murphy (Ballinora) for Hurley, S. Foley (Kilmichael) for Hoare, M. O’Connell (Cill Na Martra) for Morris.

Referee: J. Dorgan (Nemo Rangers).