O’Donovan Rossa earn win but miss out on narrowest of margins thanks to injury-time free

Fermoy's late score meant the West Cork outfit fail to progress.

Sun, 10 Sep, 2023 - 15:59

Eoghan Cormican,

O’Donovan Rossa 3-10 Fermoy 1-13

O’Donovan Rossa, despite this three-point win, were eliminated from the Cork SAFC in the cruelest and closest fashion possible.

A late, late Knocknagree point in the other Group A game meant John Fintan Daly’s side beat Kanturk by three, leaving these three teams deadlocked at the head of the table on four points.

And matters were just as close when it came to score difference, Knocknagree taking top spot by virtue of their +5 score difference, with Kanturk and O’Donovan Rossa one behind on +4.

Kanturk and O’Donovan Rossa were thus separated on scores scored, with Kanturk edging this particular metric to secure second place in the group and advance at Skibbereen’s expense.

O’Donovan Rossa had led by four deep in injury-time, but what ultimately eliminated them was a 65th minute David Lardner free to close the gap to three at the finish.

O’Donovan Rossa’s advantage was greatest on 41 minutes, Dylan Hourihane Senior clinically dispatching a penalty to move the West Cork men 3-5 to 0-8 in front. Their two first half goals, which were central to a 2-3 to 0-6 interval lead, had come from midfielder Rory Bryne and Thomas Hegarty.

They’ll be so disappointed at failing to hold onto a lead that would have squeezed them through.

What put a significant dent in that third-quarter six-point advantage was a Brian O’Sullivan penalty rebound goal for Fermoy on 47 minutes. That left the scoreline reading 3-5 to 1-10.

O’Donovan Rossa, through Sean Fitzgerald, Kevin Davis (two frees), Rory Bryne (free), and Niall Daly, landed five of the game’s closing eight points.

This late burst, though, proved one point short of the target they needed to hit.

For Fermoy, this third defeat means they’ll fight relegation against Ilen Rovers.

Scorers for O’Donovan Rossa: R Bryne (1-2, 0-1 free); K Davis (0-4, 0-3 frees); N Daly (0-3); D Hourihane Snr (pen), T Hegarty (1-0 each); S Fitzgerald (0-1).

Scorers for Fermoy: D Lardner (0-5, 0-2 frees); P De Róise (0-4); D Daly (0-3); B O’Sullivan (1-0); D Dawson (0-1, 45).

Fermoy: D Dawson; S Shanahan, A Creed, R Morrison; G Lardner, D O’Carroll, P Murphy; S Aherne, P De Róiste; D Daly, T Clancy, D O’Callaghan; J Molloy, D Lardner, M Brennan.

Subs: B O’Sullivan for Shanahan (inj), J O’Brien for S Aherne (inj, both 22); B Twomey for Brennan, D O’Flynn for O’Callaghan (both 44); A Aherne for O’Flynn (57).

O’Donovan Rossa: R Price; D O’Donovan, D Daly, D Hourihane Jnr; K Hurley, P Crowley, S Fitzgerald; R Bryne, J Shanahan; B Crowley, K Davis, N Daly; D Hourihane Snr, T Hegarty, E Connolly.

Referee: P O’Mahony.

Cork SAFC quarter-finals: Knocknagree v Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, Newcestown v Kanturk Semi-finals: Dohenys v Newcestown/Kanturk; Newmarket v Knocknagree/Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh