Robbie O’Flynn returns to help Erin’s Own into Cork county final

Erin’s Own and Cork hurling star Robbie O’Flynn was back in action after being out since last May when he was injured playing for his county against Tipperary.

Sat, 30 Sep, 2023 - 19:15

Darragh Leen, Pairc Ui Rinn

Erin’s Own 2-13 Barryroe 2-8

It will be an all-East Cork Premier JHC decider after Erin’s Own’s second-string delivered a commanding performance to book their final spot against St Catherine’s despite a dramatic finale in Pairc Ui Rinn.

Erin’s Own and Cork hurling star Robbie O’Flynn was back in action after being out since last May when he was injured playing for his county against Tipperary. He came on in the second-half and helped his side in a huge victory against a tough Barryroe team.

Erin’s Own went into the game as second favourites but certainly didn’t play like underdogs as the winners led for the whole game in an exemplary performance deserving of a place in any decider.

Erin’s Own started brightly with a handful of scores in the opening quarter of an hour to settle the nerves. The first big chance of the game came when Mark Collins’ goal bound effort was blocked magnificently by Barryroe defender Sean O’Riordan.

Just before the break a long distance shot from Mark Collins came up short but landed in the hands of Alan Bowen whose first time effort forced Barryroe keeper Michael Whelton into a great stop.

Full-forwad Alan Bowen was the talisman for Erin’s Own, in the first-half especially where he posted four vital points to but distance between the sides at half-time. Erin’s Own went in 0-8 to 0-4 up at the break with Barryroe needing to battle back.

Barryroe were struggling to gain ground on a flourishing Erins Own in the second-half and things went from bad to worse after 40 minutes when a breaking ball near the area gave Erin’s Own’s Alan O’Sullivan a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper. Instead of going for glory himself, the corner-forward squared it to James McMahon who placed the sliotar into an empty net to give Erin’s Own a six point lead.

Unfortunately for Barryroe it didn’t get much better from there as Erin’s Own picked them off with score after score.

Erin’s Own star man Andrew O’Sullivan was causing havoc for Barryroe as he posted two massive points for his side aswell as a controversial goal that was deemed to have crossed the line despite protests from the Barryroe players and travelling fans.

It took this controversial moment to get Barryroe going as they managed two late goals to put some pressure on the eventual winners.

The first a low-drilled shot from Ryan O’Donovan that took a deflection on the way through and the second scored by Donal Buckley after Tom Dillon pushed the ball into the path of Buckley who scored to give his team a glimmer of hope.

But it was too little too late.

Scorers for Erin’s Own: A O’Sullivan (1-3), J McMahon (1-1), A Bowen (0-4, 2f), T Foley (0-3), S Murphy (0-2).

Scorers for Barryroe: O O’Donovan (0-4, 1f), R O’Donovan (1-1), D Buckley (1-0), M Whelton (0-2), D O’Donovan (0-1).

ERIN’S OWN: T Dillon; A Moynihan, P Fitzgerald, B Nolan; B Murphy, I O’Mahony, C McDonnell; S Murphy, G O’Mahony; M Collins, T Foley, J McMahon; A O’Sullivan, A Bowen, J Kavanagh.

Subs: R O’Flynn for M Collins (38), A Power for J McMahon (48), C Dumphy for G O’Mahony (54), S Horgan for A Bowen (58).

BARRYROE: M Whelton; S O’Riordan, C Sheehy, T Buckley; S Madden, J Moloney, J O’Brien; D Murphy, A McSweeney; C Dineen, D O’Driscoll, R Kilbane; R O’Donovan, R Kiely, O O’Donovan.

Subs: D Buckley for D O’Driscoll (23), D McCarthy for C Dineen (34), S Holland for B Kilbane (40), C O’Regan for J O’Brien (50).

Referee: Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers).