Erin's Own make it two county titles on the bounce as Robbie O'Flynn makes presence felt

Glounthaune men were cruising 1-12 to 1-5 with five minutes to go but a long ball in from Shane Cotter got stuck in the sun...

GLOUNTHANE GLEE: Erin's Own joint captains Tom Foley and James McMahon raise the trophy after defeating St. Catherine's in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier JHC final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Cork Premier JHC final: Erin’s Own 1-14 St Catherine’s 2-9.

Erin’s Own made it back-to-back county titles after they had two points to spare over St Catherine’s in the final of the Co-Op Superstores Cork PJHC in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It was a game they dominated from the off before some late drama presented an exciting  climax.

Erin’s Own were cruising, leading by 1-12 to 1-5 with five minutes to go but then a long ball in from Shane Cotter got stuck in the sun, deceiving the otherwise excellent Tom Dillon to give Catherine’s a late shot at redemption. Robbie O’Flynn had been quiet since being introduced after 40 minutes, but he picked the perfect time to make his presence felt as he showed off his attributes to put his side five up. He then traded scores with Seán O’Donoghue before St Catherine’s mustered one last charge.

O’Donoghue tapped over a free, goalkeeper Eoin Davis landed a point from his own ’45 and, incredibly, it was a three-point game.

Davis then found himself standing over a free, 25 metres from goal with the clock deep in the red. The crowd inhaled, Davis whizzed the ball over the bar, and it was time for Erin’s Own to celebrate.

Erin’s Own had the more big game experience, having won last year’s Junior ‘A’ title, and that showed in the early stages as they raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead. Alan Bowen tapped over a free while James McMahon, Andrew O’Sullivan and Tom Foley all pointed from play as Catherine’s nerves manifested themselves in a couple of early wides.

Daniel Mulcahy had Catherine’s first score after 10 minutes but two further scores from Bowen sandwiched a ground shot from Foley that flashed wide giving Erin’s Own a 0-6 to 0-1 lead that was worthy of the wind at their backs.

Sean O’Donoghue responded for Catherine’s, and they were soon within a point. Daniel Mangan won a long a ball in from Darragh Morrisson, before turning for goal and cracking it past Tom Dillon in the Erin’s Own goal. Mulchay and Oisín Fitzgerald followed up this major with a couple of minors, and the sides were level with 10 left until the interval.

The Conna/Ballynoe side then had a couple of chances to take the lead, but didn’t take them, allowing Erin’s Own to finish the half strongly. Bowen’s fourth point put them ahead, before John Kavanagh exhibited a perfect example of corner-forward play.

ON TOP: Erin's Own's Robbie O'Flynn bursting throuigh the St. Catherine's defence

An angled deliver from O’Sullivan was broken around the square by Bowen allowing Kavanagh to ghost in and whip it to the net. Mark Collins followed it up with a nice point and the Caherlag-based side led by 1-9 to 1-4 at the break.

The third quarter was a war of attrition, that Erin’s Own edged. O’Sullivan traded scores with Mulcahy but brilliant combination play from Kavanagh, Collins, Shane Murphy set up McMahon for his third to push their side further clear.

Kavanagh then scorched up the South Stand side of the ground before popping over for a superb individual score. There were 15 minutes remaining, Erin’s Own were comfortable at 1-12 to 1-5, Catherine’s were racking up the wides. They would finish with 11.

Then came the bit of late drama, but there was to be no tragedy as Erin’s Own were worthy winners.

Scorers for Erin’s Own: J Kavanagh (1-1), A Bowen (0-4, 0-1 ’65, 0-1 free), J McMahon (0-3), A O’Sullivan and R O’Flynn (0-2 each), M Collins and T Foley (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Catherine’s: D Mangan and S Cotter (1-0 each), B Mulcahy (0-3), S O’Donoghue (0-3, 0-1 ’65, 0-1 free), E Davis (0-2, 0-1 free), O Fitzgerald (0-1).

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

Subs: R O’Flynn for Foley (40), A Power for McMahon (53), C Dunphy for G O’Mahony (inj, 61), C O’Mahony for Collins (63).

ST CATHERINE’S: E Davis; F O’Connell, E O’Riordan, L O’Conor; E Wallace, K Wallace, C Hegarty (c); O Fitzgerald, S Cotter; D Morrisson, R Galvin, S O’Donoghue; B Mulcahy, D Mangan, K Barry.

Subs: E Condon for Mangan (inj, h/t), G O’Brien for E Wallace (h/t), K O’Donoghue for Morrisson and M Mulcahy for Barry (both 40), J Neville for O’Connell (inj, 50).

Referee: Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).