Relief for Macroom but another bleak day for northside as Na Piarsaigh relegated

Piarsaigh battled mightily but Macroom's Sean Kiely leads Muskerry men free of the dreaded drop

FALLING: Na Piarsaigh's Danny Maguire stumbles as he is challenged by Macroom's Alan Quinn in their Cork Premier IFC relegation play off at Ovens.

Cork Premier IFC relegation play-off: Macroom 1-9 Na Piarsaigh 1-6.

A miserable day in every sense if one was preoccupied with the misfortunes of the famed Na Piarsaigh club on Cork’s northside, relegated to the fourth tier of championship football in the county.

The Macroom players didn’t even notice the driving rain as they eked out of the all-important relegation play-off in Cork’s Premier IFC. They certainly looked the more assured side from the off, but the Fairhill men from the city strained every sinew in their bid to avoid a second relegation in four years. Where just over a decade ago, they plied their wares in the senior football championship, they have now dropped two tier since the reconfigured competition, from Senior A to Premier IFC. In 2024, they will play in the Intermediate AFC.

Two early points a piece for Cork veteran Fintan Gould and Eolan O’Leary gave Macroom the ideal start but their lack of discipline down the other end gave Alan Hogan three easy Na Piarsaigh frees to halt the momentum.

Piarsaigh keeper Alan O’Sullivan was literally a saving grace for his side in the first half. He made four magnificent saves to keep the city men in a contest that, with the dreadful conditions, turned into a literal survival of the fittest. The best of those came when Macroom’s Sean Kiely cut in from the left and unleashed a powerful shot but O’Sullivan was primed and stopped it with his legs.

Na Piaraigh took that boost up the other end for the game’s opening goal via Kevin O’Meara after corner-forward Ross O’Sullivan beat two men on the end line and put it on a plate for O’Meara to slip it under the keeper’s legs. This would be the first time and last time Na Piarsaigh would lead in the game and, tellingly. that lead didn’t last long.

Less than a minute later Macroom undid Na Piarsaigh’s hard work with a goal of their own when John Murphy’s blocked effort came out to Eolan O’Leary who put it away with aplomb. Another Alan Hogan free before the break brought it to a one point game, 1-5 to 1-4.

With so much on the line, the tension levels rose, and the skill execution suffered. Na Piarsaigh began well, Shane Forde hitting the crossbar on 37 minutes after a great solo run. However, Sean Kiely was the difference for Macroom in a scrappy, low-scoring final quarter. His three points, allied to a fine point from David Horgan gave them the initiative, which they were not ready to surrender.

Scorers for Macroom: E O’Leary (1-2), F Gould (0-3, 1 45), S Kiely (0-3), D Horgan (0-1).

Na Piarsaigh: A Hogan (0-5, 5f), K O’Meara (1-0), K Buckley (0-1, 1 45).

MACROOM: B O’Connell; J Murphy, R Buckley, D Creedon; J O’Riordan, T Dineen, M Corrigan; F Gould, D Horgan; B O’Gorman, S Kiely, C Dineen; E O’Leary, A Quinn, C Condon.

Subs: M Hunt for B O’Gorman (41), D Twomey for C Condon (43), E O’Gorman for J O’Riordan (51).

NA PIARSAIGH: A O’Sullivan; C Long, E Gunning, A Burke; SP Cooke, P Rourke, D McGuire; K Moynihan, G Joyce; K Buckley, S Forde, C Hogan; K O’Meara, A Hogan, R O’Sullivan.

Sub: G Healy for P Rourke (42).

Referee: Jack Forbes (Dohenys).