Five players dismissed as Cill na Martra defeat Castletownbere in fiery Premier Intermediate semi

13-man Cill na Martra did enough to see off 12-man Castletownbere in a tempestuous clash in Bantry on Sunday.

FIERY SEMI: A general view of a red card. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Bon Secours Cork Premier IFC county semi-final

Cill na Martra 2-12 Castletownbere 1-7

13-man Cill na Martra defeated 12-man Castletownbere at the conclusion of a tempestuous Bon Secours Cork Premier IFC county semi-final in Bantry on Sunday evening.

An entertaining clash was delicately poised in Cill na Martra’s favour, 1-9 to 1-4, when controversy erupted early in the second period.

Castletownbere’s Gary Murphy was hauled down for a penalty inside the square only for referee James Regan to overrule his original decision following a consolation with his umpires.

Instead, a hop-ball was awarded before both Gary and Billy Murphy were sent to the line for second yellow card offences in quick succession.

That left the Beara club with 13 players for the remaining quarter of an hour and too big a mountain to climb.

Fintan Fenner would also see red just before the end, but the damage was already done for a Castletownbere side unable to claw back a five-point deficit.

As for the winners, they finished with 13 players following Tadhg Ó Corcora’s red and Maidhcí Ó Duinnín’s black cards. Cill na Martra will face Sunday’s host club, Bantry Blues, in the IFC decider following a last four clash in which they were level at the break.

It was 0-3 apiece early on following Gary Murphy (two) and James Harrington Castletownbere scores matched by Dan Ó Duinnín, Maidhcí Ó Duinnín and Damien Ó hUrdail.

Fintan Fenner’s free was answered by the aforementioned Mid-Cork trio before Billy Murphy netted from close range to edge the Beara men 1-4 to 0-6 ahead. A Dan Ó Duinnín free ensured parity at the short whistle.

John Evan’s side blitzed their opponents for 1-2 on the resumption thanks to a Maidhcí Ó Duinnín goal plus Dan Ó Duinnín and Damien Ó hUrdai points.

Then came the controversy with a flurry of sending offs during a fractious closing quarter.

This was the time period Cill na Martra kept their composure despite being reduced to 13 players. Colm Mac Lochlainn, Shane Ó Duinnín and Ciarán Ó Duinnín conjured up important scores to keep their opponent at arm’s length.

It was fitting that the game’s standout player, Dan Ó Duinnín, had the final say. Ó Duinnín rounded goalkeeper Dean Hegarty and fired into an empty net to complete the scoring.

That outcome has setup an intriguing county final against last year’s Cork Premier IFC runners-up Bantry Blues.

Scorers for Cill na Martra: D Ó Duinnín 1-4 (0-2 frees), M Ó Duinnín 1-2, D Ó hUrdail 0-3, C Mac Lochlainn, S Ó Duinnín, C Ó Duinnín 0-1 each.

Castletownbere: J Harrington 0-3 (0-1 free), B Murphy 1-0, G Murphy 0-2, D Hegarty (0-1 free), F Fenner (0-1 free) 0-1 each.

CILL NA MARTRA: P Ó Críodáin; C Mac Lochlainn, D Ó Connaill, F Ó Faoláin; T Ó Corcora, S Ó Fóirréidh, C Ó Fóirréidh; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Hoillidhe (captain); D Ó Duinnín, D Ó hUrdail, C Ó Duinnín; M Ó Duinnín, F Ó h-Éalaithe, C Ó Meachair.

Subs: M Ó Deasúna for C Ó Meachair (ht), S Ó Duinnín for F Ó h-Éalaithe (50), G Ó Mocháin for D Ó hUrdail (57), A Ó hUidhir for C Ó Fóirréidh (59).

CASTLETOWNBERE: D Hegarty; L Harrington (captain), J Rosales, D Hanley; S McCarthy, T Collins, F Fenner; A O’Sullivan, O Byrne; O Murphy, J Harrington, K O’Sullivan; G Murphy, B Murphy, L Kelly.

Subs: J O’Neill for O Byrne (41), D Dunne for L Kelly (41), J Hanley for O Murphy (45), T Murphy for K O’Sullivan (58).

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).