O’Connor holds nerve to rescue Duhallow
It looked as if the defending champions were on their way to yet another final when the outstanding James Masters kicked three points to edge his side 0-10 to 0-7 in front with time running out. Duhallow were not to be denied, however, and after Niall O’Sullivan took off on a 60-metre solo run, he put Gerard Murphy through. The substitute was felled and O’Connor billowed the Nemo net from the resultant penalty.
The replay takes place next Sunday at Páirc Uí Chaoimh with the final put back to Sunday, October 29 at the same venue.
This was one of the best games in the championship in years — played before an attendance of around 2,500.
There were some outstanding performers on both sides. Donncha O’Connor again showed his class with some magnificent points, both from play and frees, and he finished the game with 1-5.
James Masters was Nemo’s scoring hero, accounting for eight of his side’s 10 points, and he got excellent support from Paul Brophy, David Niblock and Martin Cronin, while the O’Sullivan brothers Seamus and Niall, Denis O’Brien and Colm Murphy were outstanding for the divisional side.
Duhallow started at a blistering pace and had three points on the board in as many minutes, two by O’Connor and the defending champions knew they had a right battle on their hands.
Nemo pulled corner forward Jerry Kerins back as a sweeper behind their half-back line and while it worked well for them, it left his marker at the other end free to tidy up any loose ball in the Duhallow defence.
Despite Duhallow’s early dominance, Nemo never panicked, and after Gary Murphy opened their account with a point in the 12th minute, James Masters showed his class with two points to tie the game for the first time by the end of the first quarter.
Unable to maintain their earlier dominance, Duhallow struggled when the Nemo forwards ran at them and conceded silly frees which Masters punished every time. The champions led for the first time when he pointed his fourth free in the 25th minute.
However, despite all the mistakes there was no let up in the pace or intensity of the exchanges, and the divisional side finished the half strongly with O’Connor kicking two points, the lead score a magnificent effort, to leave his side 0-7 to 0-6 in front at the interval.
However, O’Connor’s accuracy deserted him in the second half and he kicked two bad wides and also saw a shot come back off the upright.
Both sides’ short passing suited the defenders and it took Nemo 13 minutes to draw level for the fourth time when David Niblock pointed. Nemo looked as if they had finally broken Duhallow’s challenge when Masters landed three points in a row, one following a short kick-out which failed to find its target, and a repeat of the 1975 final against Dohenys beckoned.
After such a magnificent display in the opening half when they scored seven times, it looked as if Duhallow would end the half without a score as the clock ticked down.
However, a timely interception by Niall O’Sullivan saw him burst upfield and offloaded the ball to Gerard Murphy who was felled inside the square. O’Connor showed marvellous composure to slot home the penalty.
Duhallow: D. O’Connor 1-5 (1-2 frees); N. O’Sullivan, J. Healy 0-1 each. Nemo: J. Masters 0-8 (0-5 frees); G. Murphy, D. Niblock 0-1 each.
K. Murphy (Boherbue); P. Gayer (Castlemagner), C. Murphy (Dromtarriffe), D. O’Riordan (Kanturk); J. Healy (Ballydesmond), D. O’Brien (Newmarket), D. Gayer (Castlemagner); S. O’Sullivan (Dromtarriffe), P. O’Leary (Kiskeam); D. O’Flynn (Newmarket), N. O’Sullivan (Dromtarriffe), D. Kelly (Ballydesmond); D. O’Connor (do.), N. Cronin (Kiskeam), J. Buckley (Knocknagree).
G. Murphy (Dromtarriffe) for Kelly.
: D. Heaphy; C. O’Shea, N. Geary, P. Brophy; B. Twomey, D. Kavanagh, G. Murphy; D. Niblock, M. McCarthy; J. Masters, A. Cronin, M. Cronin; D. Mehigan, S. O’Brien, J. Kerins.
P. Kerrigan for McCarthy; R. Kenny for O’Brien.
M. Collins (Clonakilty).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
