Battling Barr’s bounce back

FROM a calamitous first half position, St Finbarr’s staged a storming recovery to beat Cloyne in last night’s Evening Echo Cork SHC second round clash at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

In the opening round St Finbarr’s came from behind to overhaul Midleton for a narrow success, but they took the art of comeback to a more elevated plateau here. In the first-half St Finbarr’s challenge looked to be smouldering. By the 24th minute they were staring into the barrel of 0-10 to 0-2 deficit and shipping water in sectors all over the pitch. But a constructive scoring burst before the break that generated 1-2 helped them hang onto Cloyne’s coattails at the midway juncture.

Then, in the second-half, St Finbarr’s emerged an emboldened force, gradually pegging Cloyne back to parity and then when they hit the front in the closing quarter, they were able to rely on their reserves of energy and athleticism to stay ahead by the final whistle.

The vibrancy of youth had inspired St Finbarr’s to victory over Midleton in their first round and they continued in that vein when taking a scalpel to their team beforehand. Joe Fitzpatrick was given a starting shirt in attack, while 16-year-old Damien Cahalane, son of Niall, began at right corner-back. Yet the pertinent truth was there was only one side hurling in the first-half.

Cloyne wore a mean and imposing outlook from the start with their efforts embellished by the fact they possessed the outstanding player of the first-half in centre-forward Diarmuid O’Sullivan. He exerted a towering influence on proceedings, winning his key match-up with Ronan Curran and striking six balls over the bar in the first 30 minutes. Some of his scores from play were wonderful, the pick of the bunch in the 21st minute when he neatly sidestepped challenges before flighting over off his left from distance.

By the 11th minute Cloyne led 0-5 to 0-1 and by the 24th minute their lead had swelled to 0-10 to 0-2, with James Nyhan, Conor Cusack, Kevin O’Lomasney and Paudie O’Sullivan pitching in as well.

St Finbarr’s challenge was badly flagging and like most revivals, it took a goal to really rouse them. Ger McCarthy tapped a point in the 25th minute, before his under hit effort for a similar score a minute later dropped short and John Crowley rose to divert it to the net. It was a serious boost to St Finbarr’s and a Cathal McCarthy free sent them in at the interval only three points down, 0-10 to 1-4.

They emerged in the second half intent on maintaining the closing trends of the opening-half. They had some sterling defensive displays, particularly in their fledgling full-back line where Eoin Keane was immense and Cahalane and John Neville yielded little. Cathal McCarthy began to front up their scoring charge and made several bright incisions in open play as well. They skewed three early shots wide of goal, before atoning when Joe Fitzpatrick and a McCarthy brace brought them level. A beautiful point by Glen O’Connor in the 39th minute saw them hit the front, yet a Diarmuid O’Sullivan free relieved the pressure on Cloyne and tied it again.

Entering the finale the match was there for whoever sought it and St Finbarr’s made the decisive burst. McCarthy slotted three points via a ‘65, play and a free which gave his side a valuable cushion 1-11 to 0-11 by the 53rd minute. A magnificent score from distance by Mike Naughton briefly raised Cloyne’s hopes in the 57th minute, yet Fitzpatrick struck the final score of the match to clinch St Finbarr’s quarter- final place against Erins Own or Imokilly.

Scorers for St Finbarrs: C McCarthy 0-6 (0-3f, 0-1 ‘65), J Crowley 1-0, G McCarthy, J Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, R Curran (0-1f), G O’Connor 0-1 each.

Cloyne: Diarmuid O’Sullivan 0-7 (0-3f), J Nyhan, K O’Lomasney, P O’Sullivan, C Cusack, M Naughton 0-1 each.

ST FINBARR’S: F O’Mahony; D Cahalane, E Keane, J Neville; R McCarthy, R Curran, P Wiley; G McCarthy, C McCarthy; M Ryan, J Crowley, G O’Connor; R O’Mahony, A Fitzpatrick, J Fitzpatrick.

CLOYNE: D Óg Cusack; B Fleming, E O’Sullivan, B McCarthy; M Naughton, K Cronin, M Cahill; J Nyhan, Donal O’Sullivan; C O’Lomasney, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, L Cahill; P O’Sullivan, C Cusack, K O’Lomasney.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for C O’Lomasney (36), V Cusack for K O’Lomasney (40), M Lynch for M Cahill (42).

Referee: J Sexton (Ballyhea).