Late flourish sees Cill na Martra advance to semi-final

In an incredible closing eighteen minutes they outscored Uibh Laoire by 2-7 to 0-2 with Ciarán Ó Duinnín the hero as he bagged two goals

SHADOWING: Cill na Martra's Gearoid O'Goillidhe manages to turn away from Iveleary's Conor O'Leary during the Bon Secours Premier IFC quarter-final in Macroom. Pic: Howard Crowdy

Fri, 22 Sep, 2023 - 21:25

John Coleman

Cork Premier IFC

Cill na Martra 2-11 Uibh Laoire 0-12

Two tribes went to war in Tom Creedon Park, Macroom, on Friday night, but in the end, it was Cill na Martra who booked their spot in the last four of the Bons Secours Cork PIFC. That they did so was thanks to an incredible closing eighteen minutes in which they outscored Uibh Laoire by 2-7 to 0-2 with Ciarán Ó Duinnín the hero as he bagged two goals.

Things looked peachy for Uibh Laoire as they led by 0-10 to 0-4, and Ó Duinnín’s second point of the game didn’t look like it was going to get Cill na Martra out of their funk. His first goal did change things though, and when this was followed by three consecutive points, incredibly, Cill na Martra were in front. Chris Óg Jones then levelled matters for the fourth time but Ó Duinnín’s second major with six to play proved to be a mortal blow for Uibh Laoire. They added on three further points to secure a shot off Castletownbere in the semi-final.

The opening sequences of this encounter were of the highest quality with both sides attacking with intent and defending with intensity. Maidhcí Ó Duinnín put the Gaeltacht men in front after forty seconds, Ian Jones then cancelled that out before Cathal Vaughan traded scores with Ciarán Ó Duinnín to leave them tied at 0-2 each with six minutes played. Gradually though, Uibh Laoire began to take control of the game.

Óg Jones kicked a score off both feet to put them ahead, Brain Cronin then pushed them further ahead before a Fionnbarra Ó hEalaithe point made it 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of the opening quarter, with all of the scores coming from play.

Vaughan then extended their lead before things began to slow down. Dan Ó Duinnín was black carded for Cill na Martra, but Uibh Laoire failed to take advantage of their numerical supremacy as they went on to kick four wides. Ciarán O’Riordan did finally edge them further ahead but then it was time for Ó Duinnín to return before a Micheál Ó Deasúna free left his side trailing by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break.

Things got better for Uibh Laoire after the interval as points from both Joneses and Vaughan pushed them six clear. Then came the Cill na Martra surge, however, and it is they who march on.

Scorers for Cill na Martra: C Ó Duinnín (2-2), M Ó Duinnín agus D Ó Duinnín (0-1 free) (0-2 each), S Ó Fóirréidh, D Ó hUrdail, M Ó Deasúna (free), T Ó Corcora agus F Ó hEalaithe (0-1 each).

Scorers for Uibh Laoire: C Óg Jones (0-5), C Vaughan (0-3, 0-2 frees), I Jones (0-2), B Cronin and C O’Riordan (0-1 each).

Cill na Martra: P Ó Críodáin; C Mac Lochlainn, G Ó Mocháin, F Ó Faoláin; D Ó Conaill, S Ó Fóirréidh, C Ó Fóirréidh; F Ó hEalaithe, G Ó Goillidhe; D Ó hUrdail, C Ó Duinnín, D Ó Duinnín; M Ó Duinnín, M Ó Deasúna, S Ó Duinnín.

Subs: A Ó Cuana for S Ó Duinnín (h/t), T Ó Corcora for Ó hEalaithe (34), S Ó Conaill for D Ó Conaill (38), C Ó Meachair for Ó Deasúna (45), E Ó Conaill for Ó hUrdail (60).

Uibh Laoire: J Creedon; F McSweeney, D O’Riordan, B Murphy; K Manning, S O’Leary, D O’Donovan; T Roberts, C O’Leary; S O’Riordan, C Óg Jones, B Cronin; C O’Riordan, C Vaughan, I Jones.

Subs: S Lehane for S O’Riordan (49), S Pickering for Cronin (57).

Referee: Michael Collins (Clonakilty).