O’Connell goal seals it as Aghada survive searching Naomh Abán test

THEY may have been slick and fast in the first-half, but Aghada had to withstand a searching second-half test from Naomh Abán at Páirc Uí Rinn before booking their place in the Evening Echo Cork Co SFC quarter-finals — a last minute James O’Connell goal securing a hard earned passage.

Naomh Abán will bemoan a second quarter collapse. With Pierce O’Neill and Aidan Kelleher giving Aghada a grip at midfield, it was a lapse the Ballyvourney men never fully recovered from. They came close, but Aghada deserved their victory, despite playing second fiddle in the second-half .

Selector Declan Devoy was happy. “I though we played some good football in the first-half and deserved to be in front. But I knew they would come at us in the second-half and we had to be really strong to come through. We can take a rest from football for a while now and concentrate on our hurling relegation battle. We beat a good Ballyvourney side and we have to be happy with that.”

There was a splendid opening to this fourth round contest, good pace and movement right through a free-flowing first-half which Aghada dominated. They led 0-3 to 0-1 after six minutes, three sweetly struck frees from Steve O’Keeffe replying to Daire Ó Súilleabháin’s lead point for Naomh Abán.

Micheal Ó Cróinín soon reduced the gap and, with Antaine Ó Loinsigh and Pierce O’Neill having a mighty midfield battle, the action was non stop as a point from the Aghada midfielder earned his side a 0-4 to 0-2 first quarter lead.

With O’Connell proving an able target man for Aghada, a terrific move involving the full-forward and Brian Morrissey culminated in O’Keeffe stretching Aghada’s lead. Although Ó Cróinín kicked his second point for Naomh Abán, the Imokilly men turned on the style in the closing eight minutes of the half, with Kieran and John O’Connor proving exciting attacking flankers.

Opening up the Naomh Abán rearguard at will, a couple of long range frees from Eoin O’Neill and a point apiece from play by Aidan Kelleher and John O’Connor earned Aghada a nice 0-9 to 0-3 interval lead, though they did have to play against the stiff breeze in the second-half.

Naomh Abán had substitute Jaic Ó Loinsigh partnering Seanacháin MacCarthaigh at midfield for the second period, with Antaine O’Loinsigh moving to wing-forward. Ó Cróinín thundered into the action with two fine points and the gap was reduced to 0-9 to 0-5 entering the final quarter. Aghada were lucky in the 42nd minute when Ó Cróinín set up MacCarthaigh, only for his rasping shot to canon back off the upright.

It was all Naomh Abán now. Two more Ó Cróinín points and one from substitute Eoin Ó Scanaill left just one between the sides by the 49th minute. Naomh Abán, firing on all cylinders, continued to pound the Aghada defence. With Ó Loinsigh now outstanding in a roving role, Ó Cróinín missed two gilt-edged chances to level the scores and, ultimately, they were to pay a heavy price

Kelleher lifted the siege with a cracking 55th minute point and, to seal their place in the quarter-finals, substitute Colm Power set up O’Connell for a goal he often threatened in the first-half.

Scorers: Aghada: S. O’Keeffe 0-4 (0-3 frees), J. O’Connell 1-0, A. Kelleher, E. O’Neill (frees) 0-2 each, P. O’Neill, J. O’Connor 0-1 each. Naomh Abán: M. Ó Cróinín 0-6 (0-2 frees), D. Ó ‘Súilleabháin, E. Ó Scanaill 0-1 each.

AGHADA: E. Kennedy; A. Morrissey, J. Connolly. J. Wall; K. O’Connor, R. Dwane, J. O’Connor; P. O’Neill, A. Kelleher; B. Morrissey, S. O’Keeffe, T. O’Neill; T. O’Keeffe, J. O’Connell, E. O’Neill.

Subs: C. Power for A. O’Neill, C. O’Sullivan for T. O’Neill, B. Crowley for Morrissey.

NAOMH ABÁN: Donal Ó Cróinín; S. Ó hIarlaithe, D. Óg Ó Liathain, D. Ó Loinsigh; T Ó Scanaill, A. Ó Tuama, G. Mór Ó Loinsigh; S. MacCarthaigh, A. Ó Loinsigh; S Ó Laoire, M.Ó Cróinín, Donncha Ó Cróinín; D. Ó Súilleabháin, C Ó Luasa, A. Ó Cróinín. Subs: P. Ó Duinnín for Donncha Ó Cróinín. J Ó Loinsigh for Ó Laoire, E. Ó Scanaill for Ó Súilleabháin, S Ó Cuill for A Ó Cróinín.

Referee: J. Kearney (Na Piarsaigh).