Determined St Colman’s secure spot in decider
Just like the Dean Ryan Cup final replay a week earlier, this was a performance full of extraordinary fight and determination. They beat Gort CS, in Kilmallock, on Saturday.
Winning coach, Garvan Queeney, is relishing the task. “We would have had huge battles in the past and it is nice to renew that rivalry again. Back 10 or 12 years, that is a fixture that would have occurred. It is nice to see it again. We are looking forward to it already.”
Saturday’s semi-final was a nip-and-tuck affair, before St Colman’s pulled away towards the end. The only goal, which was scored in first-half stoppage time by Dylan O’Connor, proved the platform for victory.
The teams were level four times in the opening half, before St Colman’s went 0-6 to 0-4 ahead in the 30th minute. Gort CS were dependent on the accuracy of Enda Egan for scores, while Conleith Ryan, Brian Roche, David Morrison, and O’Connor made telling contributions for the Cork side.
O’Connor’s goal was a tremendous boost for St Colman’s, in the 32nd minute, after the Castletownroche player raced through. At the other end, Ben Hogan made a terrific save from Connell Keane, as the Munster champions held a 1-7 to 0-6 advantage at the break.
Gort CS hit back with points from Egan (2), Sean Gardiner, and Paddy Commins, to draw level seven minutes into the second-half. They were tied once more, before Ryan and Roche edged St Colman’s two up.
An Egan free reduced the gap to one, 1-10 to 0-12, with seven minutes to go, as St Colman’s were guilty of erratic shooting. Then, Ryan finished a great move, involving Morrison and James Kearney, for a point, and James Molloy landed another to put them a goal clear. Gort CS were then awarded a free, which Egan hit low and hard, but a resolute defence — headed up by capable goalkeeper, Hogan — stood tall.
Eoin Carey capped a marvellous display by converting a late free, for a four-point win.
C Ryan (0-5, 0-3 frees), D O’Connor (1-1), D Morrison (0-3), B Roche (0-2), E Carey (free) and J Molloy (0-1 each).
E Egan (0-8, 0-6 frees), S Gardiner, P Commins, O Flannery and C Keane (0-1 each).
B Hogan (Bride Rovers); L Aherne (Fermoy), J Scannell (Fermoy), J Mannix (Bride Rovers); J Kenny (Castlelyons), E Roche (Bride Rovers), D O’Leary (Watergrasshill); E Carey (Kilworth), B Roche (Bride Rovers); P O’Leary (Watergrasshill); C Ryan (Bride Rovers), P O’Flynn (Bride Rovers); J Kearney (Castlelyons), D O’Connor (Castletownroche), D Morrison (Castlelyons).
J Molloy (Fermoy) for P O’Leary (43).
O Higgins (Ardrahan); T Dean (Crusheen), D Fahy (Ardrahan), K Finnerty (Gort); E Duggan (St Thomas), J O’Donoghue (Gort), P Murphy (Ardrahan); O Flannery (St Thomas), E Egan (Michael Cusacks); A Minogue (Gort), C Keane (Michael Cusacks), C Hegarty (Gort); L Prendergast (Ballinderreen), S Gardiner (Ardrahan), P Commins (Gort).
A Curtin (Michael Cusack’s) for K Finnerty (half-time), C Marren (Gort) for E Duggan (52 inj).
Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).
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