Dohneys defeat Ilen and go into last four

LAST FOUR: Dohenys are  into the last four as Ilen Rovers play Fermoy to maintain their place in this most competitive of grades. 

Bons Secours Cork SAFC

Dohenys 3-13 Ilen Rovers 1-15

There were contrasting emotions when Cormac Dineen blew the final whistle at the end of this highly entertaining Group C clash in the Bons Secours Cork SAFC played in Drimoleague on Sunday afternoon. For Dohenys it was a sense of glee as they had secured their place in the last four of the competition after emerging from the group section as the only team with a 100% record. For Ilen Rovers, the shadow of relegation looms even larger as they will have to play Fermoy for the right to maintain their place in this most competitive of grades.

It seemed set for a barnstorming finish when Dan MacEoin put Ilen 1-12 to 1-11 in front with thirteen minutes to play. However, his side were then dealt a mortal blow when Kevin O’Driscoll received a straight red card for an off the ball incident. From the resulting free, Rhys Coakley ended up straight through on goal and when his effort eventually made it over the line, Ilen had a mountain to climb.

MacEoin responded with a free to immediately reduce the deficit to the minimum but then the outstanding Fionn Herlihy put the effervescent Keith White through on goal and he bagged his second of the game to make the result inevitable. Ilen managed the next two scores through MacEoin and the excellent Sean O’Donovan, but Herlihy and Mark Buckley then had the final say for Dohenys.

Ilen were fighting for survival, and Dohenys were chasing a spot in the semi-finals and in a superb opening half both causes seemed of equal importance. Herlihy and Colm O’Shea put the Dunmanway side into an early lead before Ilen caught fire, kicking 1-2 in three minutes. An O’Donovan goal was the catalyst for all of this after he finished sharply following a clever pass from Alan Holland. MacEoin then left his mark on proceedings, kicking a beautiful point from distance and tapping over a free. Herlihy and Buckley kept the Doheny’s scoreboard ticking over as they trailed by 1-2 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter.

MacEoin pushed his side two clear again and then Ilen were thankful for the heroics of goalkeeper, Damian O’Sullivan, who produced a superb double save from Coakley and then Buckley. The aftermath of that saw Colm O’Shea tap over a free before Herlihy placed Shane Barry through to level the game for the first time, 1-3 to 0-6.

Ilen then enjoyed another purple patch as points from O’Donovan, Micheál Sheehy and Holland pushed them three ahead. Dohenys’ response was emphatic, as Coakley put White through, and he danced around O’Sullivan before goaling to level the game again. Coakley and Holland then exchanged scores before O’Shea and White increased their tallies to leave Dohenys leading by 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.

Ilen edged a tense third quarter by 0-5 to 0-3 and when MacEoin put them ahead, survival seemed a distinct possibility. It still is, of course, but they will have to go to the well again while for Dohenys, the opportunities are endless.

Scorers for Dohenys: K White (2-1), R Coakley (1-1), C O’Shea (0-4, 0-3 frees), F Herlihy and M Buckley (0-3 each), S Barry (0-1).

Scorers for Ilen Rovers: D MacEoin (0-8, 0-6 frees), S O’Donovan (1-3), M Sheehy and A Holland (0-2 each) 

DOHENYS: S Daly; D Rice, S Daly, J Farrell; C Daly, J Kelly, B O’Donovan; D Collins, R Coakley; A O’Donovan, C O’Shea, S Barry; K White (c), F Herlihy, M Buckley.

Subs: A Mannix for Collins (34), C Barry for O’Shea (inj, 38), B Murphy for Barry (50).

ILENROVERS: D O’Sullivan, S Minihane, D Whooley, D Hegarty; Peter O’Driscoll, C O’Driscoll, S O’Shea; Peadar O’Driscoll, D Collins (c), A Holland, C Harrington, M Sheehy; D O’Driscoll, D MacEoin, S O’Donovan.

Subs: K O’Driscoll for Harrington (42), M Adams for D O’Driscoll (45), E Hourihane for D Collins (58).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).

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