Muskerry misses prove costly as Carrig’ seal last eight slot
There was far more fluency in their hurling, and their forwards, led by Mick Fitzgerald and Robert White, caused endless problems for an over-worked Muskerry defence.
In contrast, the divisional side struggled in most sectors and were grateful to goalkeeper Paul Ryan who saved well from White before Carrig’s excellent stickwork saw them rifle over four points without reply to take control inside the opening quarter.
Muskerry looked to remedy their deficiencies in attack by switching Rory O’Doherty from full to centre-forward and he quickly made his presence felt with a point, followed by another from Pat Finnegan to leave two scores between the sides after 25 minutes.
However, Carrig’s outfield play was outstanding with Noel Furlong on top at centre-back, Tomas Hogan unerring from frees and White showing flashes of brilliance.
Their superiority was reflected on the scoreboard and they had four points in-a-row, two by White to lead 0-11 to 0-6 at the interval. It may have been more but White had a goal disallowed though he appeared to have chased Michael O’Riordan’s long delivery into the small square.
Muskerry went in search of a goal to rescue the tie and had two glorious chances 10 minutes into the second-half.
The first came when John Dineen won a penalty but Diarmuid O’Riordan’s effort was blocked. A minute later the Carrig ‘keeper knocked the sliothar out to the in rushing John Crowley but he completely mistimed his pull and the chance was lost.
However, Crowley made amends for his earlier miss when he finished Pat Finnegan’s pass to the net to set up a grandstand finish.
Carrigtwohill were forced to defend bravely but Furlong and Andrew Garde were equal to the best the divisional side had to offer and they deservedly sealed their place in the quarter-finals.
Scorers for Carrigtwohill: M. Fitzgerald 0-5 (0-4 frees); T. Hogan (0-2 frees, 0-2 65s), R. White, 0-4 each; D. O’Mahony 0-2; N. McCarthy 0-1.
Scorers for Muskerry: P. Finnegan 0-5 (0-4 frees); J. Crowley 1-0; J. Dineen 0-3; R. O’Doherty, A. O’Mahony 0-1 each.
CARRIGTWOHILL: W. McCarthy; P. O’Sullivan, A. Garde, M. O’Riordan; S. Flannery, N. Furlong, S. Forbes; D. O’Mahony, C. O’Connell; L. O’Sullivan, N. McCarthy, B. Lordan; R. White, M. Fitzgerald, T. Hogan.
Subs: S. Kidney for Hogan (55); A. Gosnell for B. Lordan (62).
MUSKERRY: P. Ryan (Éire Óg); J. Carey (Dripsey), A. O’Mahony (Éire Óg), P. O’Leary (Blarney); N. Buckley (Aghabullogue), S. O’Donoghue (Ballincollig), J. Jordan (Blarney); C. Harris (Ballincollig), J. Dineen (Éire Óg); M. Cremin (Blarney), R. Doherty (Ballincollig), D. O’Riordan (Dripsey); P. Finnegan (Aghabullogue), M. O’Sullivan (Dripsey), C. Murphy (Blarney).
Subs: E. Hegarty (Ballincollig) for O’Mahony (10); S. Healy (Donoughmore) for Murphy (ht); J. Crowley (Éire Óg) for T Cremin (ht).
Referee: J. Dorgan (Nemo Rangers).
