Ó Duinnín stars for impressive Cill na Martra

Cork IFC: Cill na Martra 1-18 Mitchelstown 2-12

Cill na Martra justified their IFC favourites tag last night, beating off an impressive challenge from Mitchelstown in round four at Cullen’s GAA grounds.

In near perfect conditions for football, the mid-Cork side dominated for long periods yet still only won by three points as Mitchelstown rallied in the second half.

The victors had a brilliant display and seven points from their right corner-forward Cork minor Daniel Ó Duinnín, who ran riot in front of the posts, linking well with former Cork senior star Noel O’Leary and Shane Ó Duinnín in the other corner.

Midfielder Micheál Ó Deasuna also gave a terrific display, bagging five points — four from placed balls.

For Mitchelstown, who had Billy Morgan on the line, Shane Beston was the star man.

Beston was magnificent with the ball in hand and with a personal tally of 1-7, was the game’s leading scorer.

Midfielder Dave Dineen was another to stand out with corner forward Kieran Dennihan also racking up a credible personal tally of 1-1.

Cill na Martra started well and raced into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes thanks to a brace of points from Mairtín Ó’Conchúir and Daniel Ó’Duinnín. Ó’Duinnín slotted over another two before the interval, Beston responding with his own pair of points. 0-10 to 0-5 at the break.

Cill na Martra got the best possible start to the second half when Shane Ó Duinnín goaled on 32 minutes however just as Mitchelstown looked doomed, two goals in three minutes from Beston and Dennihan put the game back in the melting point.

Mitchelstown threw everything they had at the Gaeltacht men but they were never able to cut the gap to less than three and ultimately ran out of time.

Cill na Martra will benefit from this tough test and will need to adjust to being considered favourites as this year’s championship continues.

Scorers for Cill na Martra:

D Ó Duinnín 0-7; M Ó Deasúna 0-5 (three frees, one 65); S Ó Duinnín 1-0; M Ó Conchúir 0-2; N Ó Laoire, D Óg Ó Laoire, S Ó Loingsigh, D Ó Conaill 0-1 each.

Mitchelstown:

S Beston 1-7 (two frees); K Dennihan 1-1; D Dineen 0-2; M Walsh, L Keane 0-1 each.

CILL NA MARTRA:

A Ó Conaill; M Ó Goillidhe, C Ó Laoire, D Ó Conaill; t ó’Corcora, G Ó Mocháin, A Ó Cuana; G Ó Goillidhe, M Ó Deasúna; D Óg Ó Laoire, N Ó Laoire, M Ó Conchúir; D Ó Duinnín, D Mac Lochlainn, S Ó Duinnín.

Subs:

S Ó’Loingsigh for D Ó’Duinnín (40)(inj), R Ó’h-Uidhir for D Óg Ó’Laoire (50), C Ó h-Uidhir for N Ó’Laoire (50).

MITCHELSTOWN:

L Hannah; S Coughlan, F Herlihy, M Maher; G Carroll, S Fox, P Molloy; L O’Flynn, D Dineen; J O’Sullivan, C Courtney, S Beston; J Cott, M Walsh, K Dennihan.

Subs:

S O’Sullivan for J O’Sullivan (14)(inj), O Burke for S Coughlan (40)(BC), L Keane for M Walsh (50)(inj).

Referee:

J Bermingham (Bride Rovers)