Coughlan’s goal crucial for Kinsale
While Kinsale enjoyed lengthy stretches of dominance, it was not until Coughlan scored the only goal of the game approaching half time that they managed to convert their advantage onto the scoreboard.
The score was engineered by hardworking midfielder Noel O’Sullivan, who had a hand in most of their scores. It was his pass that found wing forward Kenny O’Regan, who held possession just long enough for Coughlan to make his run from the right, grab the ball on the run and hammer it to the net.
The score gave Kinsale a five-point lead and, after Anthony McCarthy with a brilliant score under pressure, and Donal Murphy had exchanged points in the closing minutes of the half, they carried that advantage into the break.
Indeed they were still five points clear approaching the final quarter when Ballymartle staged a comeback.
Wing forward John Kelly drove over a point and substitute Jamie Dwyer, who had his first point inside 15 seconds after being introduced at half time, added another to leave just Coughlan’s goal separating the sides.
But some sound defending by a reliable rearguard and dreadful shooting by the Ballymartle forwards — they hit a total of 14 wides — kept Kinsale in front.
Centre-back Lyndon Kiely put Kinsale four points clear from a 65 which was their only score from a free — they only conceded three scoreable frees themselves — but Brian Dwyer pointed a free from just inside his half of the field to keep the game on a knife-edge.
Kinsale had all the answers. Goalkeeper Ger O’Regan oozed confidence under a succession of high balls and brought off an excellent save under pressure with five minutes remaining.
Brian Murphy at full-back was excellent, with plenty of support from a disciplined defence in which Kiely also excelled, although he was put under pressure when Anthony McCarthy moved outfield.
Noel O’Sullivan, however, was the play-maker at midfield. He won an abundance of possession and his pin-point passes kept the Ballymartle defence under pressure.
Seamus Corry on the Ballymartle half-back line responded with some excellent runs out of defence but his forwards had difficulty finding the target. They hit seven wides in each half and that was always going to prove costly in a game as tight as this.
Scorers for Kinsale: B Coughlan 1-2, D Murphy 0-2, L Kiely (’65), N O’Sullivan, K O’Regan and C O’Brien 0-1 each.
B Dwyer 0-3 (0-2 frees), A McCarthy and J Dwyer (0-1 free) 0-2 each, J Kelly 0-1.
G O’Regan; R O’Sullivan, B Murphy, M O’Sullivan; D Coughlan, L Kiely, G O’Leary; C Quigley, N O’Sullivan; K O’Regan, G Clerkin, C Lane; D Murphy, C O’Brien, B Coughlan.
R O’Brien for B Coughlan (57 mins), M Coughlan for C Lane (62).
D McCarthy; D Coleman, D Lordan, J Coleman; M Tupper, B McCarthy, S Corry; C Sheehan, M Tobin; J Kelly, J O’Mahony, B Dwyer; K Lordan, A McCarthy, E Kelly.
J Dwyer for M Tobin (HT), E Allen for E Kelly (55).
Sean Collins (Carrigaline).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
