Declan O’Dwyer happy with win but plenty to work on

WORK ONS: Dohenys manager Declan O'Dwyer is delighted with the win but knows there is work to do for next game. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Dohenys 1-13 Fermoy 1-8

One third of the team that contested last year's Cork SAFC final against Newcestown weren’t involved on Saturday as Dohenys kickstarted their season with a five-point win over Fermoy in Ballygarvan.

Some high-profile names were missing for various reasons in this Group B second round.

Yet, they built a powerful foundation for victory in a near perfect first half, and even though they only added three points thereafter, they looked likely winners all the way.

Fionn Herlihy’s 24th minute goal propelled them into a 1-10 to 0-4 interval lead. The green flag came from a quick free which was taken out the field, with Bill Murphy and captain Keith White prominent in the build-up.

Dohenys had lost to Kanturk in round 1, however manager Declan O’Dwyer said they were able to take positives from that two-point loss.

“There were 32 scores (0-17 to 0-15), it was an outstanding game of football.There are a lot of young lads coming on and a lot of lads who hadn’t played football in a year or two. It was massive learnings for them.

“Five of the team from the county final are gone. Everyone is valued in the group, but they are five experienced players. Full back, midfield, centre forward, full forward. And we lost Eoin Lavers for today (injured), he was our centre back last year - so right down the middle.

“That takes a bit of bedding in.

“Today was all about getting a win. This is a brilliant grade in my opinion.” 

In a wind-assisted opening 30 minutes, White was one of their standout forwards, raising four white flags from play.

“We were excellent in the first half, only two wides from two frees, that’s what you’re looking for.

“Look, the second half was disappointing. The players know it themselves. It is not good enough to score three points, one from play. But look, we are out of here with a win tonight and look forward to next month.” 

Fellow west Cork side O’Donovan Rossa await in round 3.

When Fermoy look back on this contest, they will rue missed opportunities. Seven wides alone in the first half, and failing to score between the 11th and 28th minute, was their downfall.

They overcame Ilen Rovers in a relegation final in 2023, so they’ll want to avoid that zone again, which makes their final group tie with Kanturk of huge importance.

As they well know, It comes down to small margins.

They were shorn of some first choice players too. Adam Creed, Seán Shanahan and Shane Aherne had to cry off - all three lined out in their narrow first round defeat to O’Donovan Rossa (1-14 to 0-16).

Ben Twomey continued his good form. The corner-forward clipped three points in the first half and he found the net in the 60th minute after he latched onto a Tomás Clancy delivery from the right corner.

Michael Dolan and Paul Donnellan were able to turn to their bench, and the introduction of four substitutions by the start of the second half gave fresh impetus.

David Lardner was one of those subs, and he initiated the comeback with a mark inside the first minute of the restart.

Scorers for Dohenys: K White (0-5, 0-1 free), F Herlihy (1-1), G Farr (frees) and C Barry (0-2 frees) (0-3 each), P Crowley (0-1).

Scorers for Fermoy: B Twomey (1-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘45), D Lardner (0-2, 0-1 mark, 0-1 free), P de Róiste and G O’Callaghan (0-1 each).

DOHENYS: S Daly; D Rice, D Collins, J Farrell; B O’Donovan, C Barry, C Daly; A Mannix, R Coakley; A O’Donovan, F Herlihy, S Barry; K White (Capt), G Farr, B Murphy.

Subs: J Collins for B O’Donovan (46), P Crowley for G Farr (52), D Collins for B Murphy (59).

FERMOY: L Coleman; R O’Sullivan, P Murphy, L Aherne; J Molloy, D O’Carroll (Capt), G Lardner; J O’Brien, G O’Callaghan; M Brennan, D Daly, D Dawson; B Twomey, P de Róiste, T Clancy.

Subs: L Cronin for R O’Sullivan (25), D Lardner for G O’Callaghan, J Carr for D Daly, S Power for D Dawson (all half-time), A Aherne for M Brennan (47).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).