Macroom make step-up in style

Macroom 0-7 Grenagh 0-6

Newly promoted to the higher grade, their prospects look bright as they achieved this narrow one-point victory without the injured Fintan Goold.

Luckless Grenagh have to prepare for a second round against the losers of Nemo Rangers and St Vincent’s. Unlucky indeed, as this game was a complete lottery.

Grenagh had plenty of possession, particularly in the second-half, but signing for 14 wides over the 60 minutes (seven to Macroom) proved their undoing.

David Goold, who emerged as Macroom’s main threat, settled in well at full-forward and also became hero at the death when his superbly converted placed ball turned the game back in their favour. He tapped over two frees on ten minutes to get the Macroom scoreboard ticking and added one from play to give his team a three-point advantage.

Grenagh were not coping with the wind and when Goold knocked over another free at the end of the quarter, it didn’t bode well. Finally, on 15 minutes corner forward Conor Fitzgerald found the target but they were still struggling to find their rhythm.

However, a few important switches made a huge difference. Tom Kenny’s move to midfield, quickly followed by a point, underlined his input and they finished the half with a gem from Diarmuid Dorgan.

Consequently, Grenagh turned over a mere point behind, 0-3 to 0-4 but a rampaging run from David Goold (now at midfield, Sean Kiely to wing back) helped Macroom to a two-point lead straight from the resumption.

They led by double scores when the older of the Goold brothers, John, landed another.

Yet, Grenagh recovered. Seamus Coleman used his strength to great effect at full-forward and when he was fouled twice both frees were converted.

But, try as they might, wide after wide was Grenagh’s lot. In the end their frustration was eased when Diarmuid Dorgan kicked an excellent point with a minute to go.

Extra-time loomed but David Goold came to the rescue, judging his free to perfection and securing the slimmest of wins.

Scorers for Macroom: D Goold 0-6 (4f), J Goold 0-1.

Scorers for Grenagh: Diarmuid Dorgan 0-3 (1f), T Kenny, C Fitzgerald, S Coleman (f) 0-1 each.

MACROOM: J O’Connell; P Lynch, E O’Mahony, M O’Donnell; K Murphy, R Buckley, G Angland; S Kiely, P Corrigan; J Goold, B Lynch, T Dinneen; O Murphy, D Goold, D Quinlan.

Subs: R O’Dwyer for O’Donnell (inj. 32), J Ryan for O Murphy (inj. 40).

GRENAGH: M Barry; M Lehane, R Dorgan, A Duggan; P McCarthy, Donie Dorgan, C Kenny; Diarmuid Dorgan, J Russell; G Russell, T Kenny, U Duggan; K Cummins, S Coleman, C Fitzgerald.

Subs: A McCarthy for R Dorgan (57), M Kenny for K Cummins (61).

Referee: Martin Collins (Clonakilty).