Corca Dhuibhne’s flying finish foils brave Clonakilty
Hot in pursuit of a Cork Uí Mhurí (Munster Colleges SFC) four in-a-row, the Dingle peninsula football stronghold booked a final date with Rochestown College at a cold Knocknagree on Saturday, but this semi-final victory was far less emphatic than the scoreline suggests.
This was a win they really had to toil hard for as they were pushed most of the way by a tenacious Clonakilty side that only wilted in the final 10 minutes.
Indeed, leading by just a point (0-7 to 0-6) entering the final quarter, the game was in the melting pot until five unanswered points from Seamus Ó Muirchearthaigh, subs Liam O Brosnacháin and PJ MacLáimh, as well as Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh and excellent midfielder Sean Ó Gairbhi put them out of sight after a free-flowing 60 minutes of football.
Certainly Dingle mentor Tommy Griffin knew they were in a tough one against a dogged Clon side who were teak tough at the back but could only manage one point from play. Said the ex-Kerry star: “It was shoulders to the wheel out there today, definitely our toughest test and one we needed it badly after an easy run of victories. We expected a tough one and we got it.”
There was an explosive start, Clonakilty keeper William Tyner bringing off a fabulous save from Dingle corner-forward Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh. But Clon rallied and points from Sean McEvoy and a Darren Santry free showed they meant business. Dingle did reply with an Ó Gairbhí point but Clon displayed better energy, with Mark White and Sean Ryan on top at midfield and Ross Mannix a constant thorn in the Dingle defence.
Clonakilty led 0-2 to 0-1 after the opening quarter but really should have been further in front, for they never let Corca Dhuibhne settle into any flow. David Lowney stretched their lead in the 16th minute with a free but, for all their possession, they found scores hard to come by and were using up far more energy than Corca Dhuibhne, who were being well served by centre-back Briain Ó Beaglaíoch and wing-back Tomás Ó Súilleabháin.
Some strong play yielded the next two points from the hard working Máirtín Ó Gormáin and Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh to tie things up and although another Santry free put Clon clear again, late points from Seamus Ó Muircheartaigh and the improving Ó Gairbhi gave Corca Dhuibhne a 0-5 to 0-4 half-time lead.
Clon mentor Micheál O’Sullivan said that interval deficit hurt: “We had a lot of the ball and should have punished them more. We were hoping to make it to our first final but, look, we fell short, but I am very proud of the lads, they gave it their all. Nine or 10 of the starting team are underage again next year and there’s talent on the bench too.”
Corca Dhuibne hit their stride on the restart and cracking points from Ó Géibheannaigh and Ó Muircheartaigh, after a defence splitting run by Ó Beaglaíoch, pushed them clear. But back came Clon with two more Santry converted frees and just one point separated the sides entering the final quarter, 0-7 to 0-6. Corca Dhuibhne’s class and scoring power began to bear fruit as they moved the ball with menace. They never really troubled the Clon fullbackline but with Cian Ó Murchú raiding from defence, Ó Beaglaíoch and Ó Súilleabháin superb in the half backline and Ó Gairbhi and Pádraig Mac a’tSithigh making their presence felt at midfield, the All-Ireland champions finished with a flourish with those five points to book that final date.
Scorers for Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne: S Ó Gairbhi, S Ó Muircheartaigh (0-2 frees) and C Ó Géibheannaigh (0-1 free) 0-3 each, L Ó Brosnacháin, M Ó Gormáin and P J Mac Láimh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clonakilty CC: D Santry 0-4 (frees), D Lowney 0-1 (free), S McEvoy 0-1.
POBALSCOIL CHORCHA DHUIBHNE: S Ó Lúing (Daingean Uí Chúis); C Ó Súilleabháin (do), T Leo Ó Súilleabháin (do), C Ó Murchú (An Ghaeltacht); A Ó Conchúir (Daingean Uí Chúis), B Ó Beaglaíoch (An Ghaeltacht), T Ó Súilleabháin (Daingean Uí Chúis); P Mac an tSighigh (do), S Ó Gairbhi (An Ghaeltacht); G hÍcí Ó Brosnacháin (Daingean Uí Chúis), B S Mac an Bhradáin (Rinn Mhaoile), M Ó Gormáin (An Ghaeltacht); R Ó Mainnín (Lios Póil), S Ó Muircheartaigh (An Ghaeltacht), C Ó Géibheannaigh (Daingean Uí Chúis).
Subs: L Ó Brosnacháin (Daingean Uí Chúis) for R Ó Mainnín (half-time), P P Sauerland (An Ghaeltacht) for C Ó Suilleabháin (40 inj), P J Mac Láimh (An Ghaeltacht) for G hÍcí Ó Brosnacháin (47).
CLONAKILTY CC: W Tyner (Kilmeen); D O’Brien (Ballinascarthy), B Keohane (Kilmeen), L O’Donovan (Clonakilty); D Kiely (Barryroe), E Deasy (Clonakilty), S Scannell (Kilmeen); M White (Clonakilty), S Ryan (Ballinascarthy); R Mannix (Clonakilty), D Lowney (do), S McEvoy (do); D Scannell (St Mary’s), T Scannell (Kilmeen), D Santry (do).
Subs: T O’Connell (Clon) for D O’Brien (34).
Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick).
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