Castlelyons come good in extra-time to overcome gutsy Crotta O’Neills
DRAMA: Jeaic McKenna, Crotta O’Neills and Colm McCarthy, Castlelyons in action at St Senan's GAA Grounds, Mountcoal, Listowel. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD.
While two injury-time points swept Castlelyons to victory in the final of the Co-Op Superstores Cork PIHC final against Kilworth, it was a strong finish again in extra-time that saw them see off the spirited challenge of Kerry senior champions Crotta O’Neills at a windswept Mountcoal.
Midfielder Alan Fenton was the player who rescued Castlelyons in extra-time with two massive frees from inside his own 45.
Once Castlelyons went four clear after a Leon Doocey point from play, Crotta’s resilience was finally broken and Castlelyons deservedly went through to the Munster final in early December when they will face Corofin of Clare.
Castlelyons selector Brendan Hoare was quick to qualify the challenge the Cork side faced against their Kingdom counterparts.
“We were involved in a huge battle with Crotta and it was nothing less than we expected. I suppose neutrals or those outside our camp thought we should be coming down here and winning easy.
"But we knew that this was going to be a battle all the way as we had seen plenty of Crotta and we saw how they dismantled Ferrybank and that was a tremendous performance.
"We also knew that getting out of Kerry takes some doing, so hand-on-heart, it was no surprise to us the battle we got out there. To be fair to our lads, it was no surprise that we came out of the right side of it as well.”
Crotta O’Neill’s, inspired by the Mahony brothers Barry and Rory, had the wind in the opening half and began well, even allowing for some poor wides.
They soon raced into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead thanks to scores that included a Jordan Conway sideline cut that must have indicated that Crotta meant business.
Then came a crucial Crotta goal created by Barry O’Mahony who played a pinpoint diagonal ball from out near the left-hand sideline that Jordan Conway latched onto. His finish to the Castlelyons’ net was sublime.
Castlelyons were dangerous on the break and points from David Morrison (2) and another from midfielder Fenton closed the gap to 1-6 to 0-5 but Crotta knew that would not be enough for the second half against the wind.
They added 1-2 with the goal coming straight off the training ground as Shane Nolan shaped to take a regulation 30 metre free.
As Castlelyons slept, Nolan slipped the free to Sean Weir who bore down on goal and a neat hand pass to the unmarked Seanie McElligott saw the 19-year finish to the net.
Crotta would have been happy to retire with a 2-9 to 0-6 lead but in four minutes of added time, Niall O’Leary found Fenton, who cut inside Tomas O’Connor, made room for himself, and shot low behind Adam O’Sullivan for a goal out of nothing.
It was a severe body blow for Crotta just on half-time and in the context of the game, it was a huge turning point. Sean Weir did grab a point just before the whistle but Crotta led 2-10 to 1-6.
Castlelyons keeper Jack Barry landed one point from play, one from a free and one from a puckout as the Cork side began to close the gap.
Seanie McElligott replied for Crotta but another Barry puck-out was finished to the net by Leon Doocey.
It was now a three-point game, 2-12 to 2-9, as Fenton got hot and they added four unanswered points to lead 2-14 to 2-13. That was the first time Castlelyons led since the 2nd minute.
Shane Nolan levelled and in added time, Leon Doocey appeared to have won the day but with the final puck of regulation Barry Mahony burst forward for Crotta and levelled the game with a remarkable point.
Colm Spillane gave Castlelyons the lead early in extra-time but Shane Nolan added two points to restore Crotta O’Neills’ lead.
That was as good as it got as Castlelyons finished the stronger, outscoring Crotta 0-7 to 0-3 in extra-time to deservedly take their place in the final, but Crotta O’Neills lost nothing in defeat before their large home following.
A Fenton 1-11 (0-10f, 1 65), L Doocey 1-2, J Barry 0-3 (0-1 puckout, 0-1f), D Morrison 0-2, N O’Leary, C Spillane, J Kearney, O Hallihan 0-1 each.
J Conway 1-4 (0-1 sideline), S Nolan 0-6 (0-3f), S McElligott 1-2, B Mahony 0-2, S McGrath, C Trant, D O’Donoghue, S Weir 0-1 each.
: J Barry; J O’Leary, C Barry, N O’Leary; L Sexton, C Spillane, D Ahern; J Kearney, A Fenton; K O’Leary, L Doocey, C McCarthy; D Morrison, B O’Donovan, O Hallihan.
B Murphy for K O’Leary (44), S Moroney for J O’Leary (45, injured), P Roche for McCarthy (54), B Spillane for O’Donovan (57), K O’Leary for Kearney (60), O’Donovan for Hallihan (77).
A O’Sullivan; S McGrath, E Shanahan, B Keane; C Trant, R Mahony, J McKenna; T O’Connor, T McKenna; D O’Donoghue, S Weir, R Mahony; S McElligott, S Nolan, J Conway.
D O’Donoghue for Shanahan (half-time), C White for J McKenna (58), D Behan for T McKenna (75).
N Malone (Clare)
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