Late rally sees off Carrigaline
The sides were level with seven minutes remaining, but two goals in quick succession from full-forward Cormac Curran and left half-forward Liam Ryan killed off Carrigaline and powered the Waterford students home.
It was a cruel end for Carrigaline, who battled hard but finally cracked when Coláistí Na Déise unleashed their devastating late surge.
Aided by a strong wind in the first-half and with both centre back Stephen White and left corner forward Simon O’Brien in full flow Carrigaline put it up to their hotly fancied opponents. O’Brien pointed them into an early lead and they were unlucky in the 10th minute when full-forward Michael O’Sullivan burst through, only to lose control at a vital stage. But with O’Brien unerring in his free taking Carrigaline led 0-3 to 0-1 after the opening quarter and maintained their two point advantage to the break.
It was obvious though that Carrigaline desperately needed a goal with the elements in their favour if they were to mount a telling challenge. They were unable to break down a resilient Waterford defence.
Another point from O’Brien, his fifth and third from frees, two minutes after the resumption increased Carrigaline’s lead to three points. Now sensing real danger, Coláistí Na Déise threw everything into attack. They were repulsed for a time by outstanding Carrigaline goalkeeper Shane Barry who brought off a succession of fine saves, one if particular to deny Liam Ryan.
Gradually, however, with full-forward Cormac Curran making his presence felt with his general play and excellent free-taking, Coláistí Na Déise came back to level things in the 43rd minute with three unanswered points.
But with corner-forward Paul Campbell effectively being used as a third midfielder, Carrigaline grimly held on despite the disappointment of having a goal disallowed in the 51st minute when wing forward David Drake was adjudged to have been inside the small square.
A fabulous Stephen White pointed free from his own 65-metre line into the wind temporarily lifted Carrigaline’s spirits and regained the lead, but, as events transpired, it was to be their last cause for joy.
After, first Curran equalised and midfielder Mark Landers edged Coláistí Na Déise back in front with a long-range point, Curran pounced to goal in the 55th minute.
A second goal three minutes later from Liam Ryan brought the curtain down on the Waterford side’s nine-points triumph.
Scorers for Coláistí Na Déise: C. Curran 1-5 (0-4 from frees); L. Ryan 1-0; S. Kearney, S. O’Keeffe, M. Landers, M. Shalloe and S. Fives 0-1 each.
Carrigaline CS:S. O’Brien 0-5 (0-3 from frees); R. Foley and S. White (free) 0-1 each.
COLÁISTÍ NA DÉISE. S. Enright; S. Leahy, D. Barry, S. O’Rourke; D. Phelan, J. Maher, K. Geary; M. Landers, M. Shalloe; S. O’Keeffe, S. Fives, L. Ryan; S. Kearney, C. Curran, C. O’Gorman.
Subs:K. Duggan for O’Gorman; J. O’Mahony for Curran; T. Crotty for Ryan.
CARRIGALINE CS: S. Barry; G. Ronayne, C. Hurley, M. Barry; P. Ronayne, S. White, T. O’Connor; J. Cowhig, R. Foley; D. O’Regan, N. Coakley, D. Drake; P. Campbell, M. O’Sullivan, S. O’Brien.
Subs: P. Donnellan for Drake.
Referee: M. Meade (Ballylanders).
