McAuliffe's two goals see Duhallow claim Cork Divisions title

Duhallow always looked a step ahead of the students from UCC who, understandably, played in spurts

FOCUSED: Jack Curtin, Duhallow in action against UCC in the Bon Secours Hospital Division/Colleges final at Pairc Ui Rinn. Pic: Larry Cummins

Cork Premier SFC Division/Colleges final.

Duhallow 2-14 UCC 0-14.

Mikey McAuliffe’s coolness in front of goal proved to be the difference between Duhallow and UCC in the final of the Bons Secours Division/Colleges Section of the Cork PSFC played in Páirc Uí Chaoimh Sunday night.

In a game of numerous opportunities, McAuliffe was the only man able to make them count and his manager, Ger O’Sullivan, was in no way surprised.

“Mikey has that in his locker all the time with Rockchapel or Duhallow. He’s actually been quiet in a few games lately, but it was only a matter of time before he came up trumps again. There were quite a number of goal chances, and our goalkeeper, Fachtna O’Connor from Cullen, did exceptionally well.”

McAuliffe’s first major came 10 minutes after the break when he was put through by Séamus Hickey. It put his side 1-11 to 0-7 clear and the result felt inevitable from there to the end.

UCC did kick three of the next four points, with Ian Jenning’s effort being brilliantly tipped over the bar by O’Connor, but when again McAuliffe was put through, this time by Gerry O’Sullivan, he put the result beyond all doubt.

UCC deserve credit for the way in which they kept battling as they kicked the next four points, Cathal Ó Beaglaoích with the pick of them, before the excellent Luke Murphy put over his fourth point of the evening to bring the game to a close.

Donncha O’Connor and Shane Curtin took possession of the Tadhg Crowley Cup on behalf of their team-mates as they now must wait for the sixth best team from the club section of the championship.

It was O’Connor’s first ever piece of silverware with the division and he was imperious in the opening half. Duhallow’s dominant midfield partnership of Hickey and Conor O’Callaghan gave him a platform and Cullen’s Luke Murphy offered him smart running and accurate kicking as their side always looked a step ahead of the students who, understandably, played in spurts.

Duhallow led by 0-5 to 0-2 after 13 minutes and things could have been worse for the students were it not for a superb block from Evan Dodd on Hickey in the fifth minute.

UCC enjoyed one of those spurts around the middle of the half as they kicked three in-a-row with Killian Falvey on target with one and the talented Rian Quigley providing the other two. It was now Duhallow’s turn to be thankful for their defensive nous as Boherbue’s Daniel Buckley twice blocked goal bound efforts from Dodd and Aidan Crowley.

Duhallow responded impressively, as O’Connor added three frees to his earlier two points from play and Murphy landed his second to push them four clear coming up to the break. Quigley then traded scores with Gerry O’Sullivan before a lovely score from Templenoe’s Crowley made it Duhallow 0-10, UCC 0-7 at the interval.

Then came the McAuliffe masterclass that will keep him and his colleagues battling on two fronts for another few weeks.

Scorers for Duhallow: M McAuliffe (2-0), D O’Connor (0-6, 0-4 frees), L Murphy (0-4), G O’Sullivan (0-2), C O’Callaghan and S Hickey (0-1 each).

Scorers for UCC: S O’Connor (0-4, 0-3 frees), R Quigley and K Falvey (0-3 each), I Jennings, A Crowley, J Mullane and C Ó Beaglaoích (0-1 each).

Duhallow: F O’Connor (Cullen); S Curtin (JC) (Rockchapel), K Cremin (Boherbue), D Buckley (Boherbue); B O’Keeffe (Dromtarriffe), J Murphy ( Dromtarriffe), D Cashman (Millstreet); C O’Callaghan (Dromtaffiffe), S Hickey (Rockchapel); E Murphy (Dromtarriffe), D O’Connor (JC) (Ballydesmond), L Murphy (Cullen), G O’Sullivan (Boherbue), J Curtin (Rockchapel), M McAuliffe (Rockchapel).

Subs: D Lenihan (Castlemagner) for J Murphy (h/t), L Moynihan (Boherbue) for Curtin (blood 38 to 41), Moynihan for E Murphy (44), A Buckley (Dromtarriffe) for Curtin (54), B Carroll (Rockchapel) for McAuliffe (58).

UCC (Cork clubs unless stated): A Murphy (Renard, Kerry); J Rosales (Castletownbere), B Curtin (Kilshannig), O Fitzgerald (Gneeveguilla, Kerry); D Bourke (Na Gaeil, Kerry), S Desmond (Clondrohid), J Mullane (Kulmurry); T Ó hAinfein (Na Gaeil, Kerry), E Dodd (Canovee); D Holland (Argideen Rangers), L Wall (c) (Kilmurry), R Quigley (Moyle Rovers, Tipperary); A Crowley (Templenoe, Kerry), K Falvey (Annascaul, Kerry), S O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials, Tipperary), C O’Sullivan (Kilshannig) for Ó hAinifein (53) 

Subs: I Jennings (KIlmacabea) for Dodd (17), C Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht, Kerry) for Desmond (h/t), D Desmond (Ballymartle) for Curtin (47), T Cunningham (Kilshannig) for Crowley (59). 

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).