Blarney’s blazing finish sees off Cloughduv
Blarney led by a point in the closing minutes but blitzed their opponents with 1-3 in a devastating finish to emerge seven point winners.
Blarney enjoyed an excellent start and quickly opened a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. However, they were reduced to 14 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Richard O’Shea for a rash challenge on Darragh Ring in the 12th minute. Cloughduv finished the half strongly, scoring three points without reply, which left it 0-5 apiece at the break.
Blarney hit four points in the opening five minutes of the second half but Cloughduv clawed their way back into the game, with Ring converting a number of frees. However, Blarney held their nerve and finished the game powerfully with a goal from their impressive substitute David Cremin.
Scorers for Blarney: D Cremin 1-1, D O’Brien 0-4(0-2f), C Murphy 0-3, S Mulcahy 0-2, B O’Connell 0-2 (0-1 ‘65), C Sykes 0-2, P Hallissey 0-1.
Scorers for Cloughduv: D Ring 0-7 (0-5f), S O’Connor, T Dineen, J Lucey (’65), G Hinchion 0-1 each.
BLARNEY: R O’Shea; S Fitzgibbon, D Walsh, P O’Connor; K Bradford, D Walsh, B Phelan; P Hallissey, B O’Connell; D Hyde, C Sykes, O O’Connor; S Mulcahy, D O’Brien, C Murphy.
Subs: K Costello for D Hyde (14), D Cremin for D O’Brien (ht), D O’Brien for S Mulcahy (45).
CLOUGHDUV: K Barry- Murphy; W Crowley, D Cronin, M Dunne; W Ahern, T Dineen, D O’Sullivan; C Ryan, S O’Connor; L Ryan, G Lucey, A O’Sullivan; C Kenneally, D Ring, K Deasy.
Subs: G Hinchion for L Ryan (37), M Verling for C Kenneally (50), P Grainger for K Deasy (55).
Referee: J Horgan (Gleann Na Laoi).
