Duhallow show true grit under pressure

WHEN the going got tough at windy Coachford yesterday, Duhallow answered any questions of their desire and commitment to go a long way in the Evening Echo Cork Co SFC.

Playing into the teeth of a strong wind in the second-half, and hit by two quick Douglas points which left just one between the sides, dashing Duhallow stood up and were counted.

Playing majestic football and inspired by classy centre-back Denys O’Brien, they were both ruthless and committed as they left Douglas for dead to set up a quarter-final meeting with either St Nicholas or Carrigdhoun.

Coach Ned English was full of praise for his charges. “The players were magnificent in the second-half, so clinical. The lads showed what commitment is all about and answered any questions about handling pressure. They stood up and were counted, two more wins now would put us in a county final and if we prepare well who knows”.

Not a great opening half for Duhallow, however, despite an ideal start — two quick pointed frees from Donnacha O’Connor putting them clear inside the opening five minutes. But Douglas, despite playing into a very strong breeze, were well up for the contest and Mark Harrington got them on the scoresheet in the eighth minute.

Both sides then wasted good scoring opportunities, but it was O’Connor who struck again, this time with a ’45, despite some good work by Cormac Dineen at midfield for Douglas. A second point from Barry Fitzgerald was no more than Douglas deserved and after a poor quality first quarter Duhallow led 0-3 to 0-2.

With Fergal O’Sullivan ably assisting Dineen and Eoin Cadogan around midfield, Douglas were steady and composed. But they were punished for sloppy play in the 18th minute when the excellent O’Connor took a long ball from O’Leary. Though fouled, he took a quick free to the unmarked Niall O’Sullivan who smashed the ball to the net. It was a huge blow for Douglas, although pointed frees from Harrington and O’Sullivan kept them well in touch. Trailing 1-4 to 0-4 at the break, with a big wind at their backs for the second-half, they must have been happy for Duhallow were playing in fits and starts and not at all composed.

It got even better for Douglas after the restart when Harrington and O’Sullivan fired over quick points to leave the minimum between the sides. However, it seemed to lift Duhallow more as from here on they answered any questions of their ability.

With O’Brien outstanding at centre-back and O’Leary and Eamonn O’Mahony shining at midfield, the divisional men stormed all over the city side. Niall Cronin pointed — it should have been a goal — O’Connor and John Buckley followed, and then the killer blow in the 41st minute — O’Mahony’s great through ball cutting open the Douglas defence and O’Connor firing home a cracking goal.

Leading 2-7 to 0-7 entering the final quarter, there was no way back for Douglas. All they could muster was another pointed free from O’Sullivan as two excellent points from substitute Gearóid Murphy and another from Seamus O’Sullivan put the finishing touches to very tasty second-half show from Duhallow.

Scorers: Duhallow: D. O’Connor 1-4 (0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘45), N. O’Sullivan 1-0, J. Buckley, G. Murphy 0-2 each, N. Cronin, S. O’Sullivan 0-1 each. Douglas: F. O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2 frees), M. Harrington 0-3 (0-1 free), B. Fitzgerald 0-1.

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

Subs: D. O’Flynn (Newmarket) for N. O’Sullivan, G. Murphy (Dromtarriffe) for Buckley, K. O’Connor (Newmarket) for O’Leary, T. Collins (Castlemagner) for S. O’Sullivan.

DOUGLAS: B. Boyle; D. McSweeney, C. Hogan, M. O’Callaghan; N. Heffernan, T. Sheehan, C. McCarthy; C. Dineen, E. Cadogan; B. Fitzgerald, F. O’Sullivan, B. Hanrahan; M. Harrington, R. McCarthy, J. Moylan.

Subs: S. Bermingham for Hanrahan, A. Barry for Dineen, E. Cotter for R. McCarthy.

Referee: G. Sweeney (Glenville).