Carrigaline get the job done against Kiskeam to seal knockout spot

Kiskeam and Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh will battle to avoid a potential relegation play-off.

A goal attempt from Carrigaline’s Kevin O’Reilly is saved by Kiskeam’s Anthony Casey during the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC clash at Mallow on Sunday. Picture: Chani Anderson

Cork SAFC Group 1 round 2: Carrigaline 0-10 Kiskeam 0-6 

It wasn’t as pretty as their first-round success but Carrigaline secured their place in the Cork senior A knockout stages with a four-point victory over Kiskeam.

They advance alongside Cill na Marta while Kiskeam and Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh are left to scrap to avoid a potential relegation play-off.

Carrigaline put up 1-18 in their opening victory over Béal Átha but it was soon obvious they wouldn’t be allowed to build such a total here.

Niall Coakley opened the scoring with a second-minute mark but they would only add three more by the break. Kiskeam defended in numbers and didn’t concede close-range frees. The men in blue and yellow coughed up a series of turnovers and struggled for long spells to break them down.

Kiskeam relied on Seán O’Sullivan to carry the scoring burden, beginning with an early equaliser.

The opposite centre-forwards, Brian Coakley and Thomas Casey, traded lovely, long-range points as the pattern of Carrigaline scores being nullified by Kiskeam responses was set early.

Quick hands from Dan Greene gave the Carrigdhoun club a 0-3 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes. A rare goal chance saw Kevin O’Reilly break through but he shot straight at Billy Daly, who was deputising for Anthony Casey.

An O’Sullivan free levelled a third time but a well-worked David Griffin point made it 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time.

O’Sullivan produced the outstanding score of the match to equalise on the resumption with a brilliant catch followed by a towering curler that split the posts.

Brian O’Driscoll replied by burning a swarm of defenders to score but another from O’Sullivan’s left boot levelled for a fifth time.

Carrigaline captain Jack McCarthy, wearing the number four jersey, sparked the winning move. He kicked the lead score in the 44th minute, laid off to Brian Coakley for the next, and then made it a three-point lead with 10 minutes to play.

In the meantime, Kiskeam’s inaccuracy was beginning to bite as their wide count climbed into double figures.

Brian Coakley extended the lead to four but Kiskeam edged back within reach thanks to O’Sullivan’s fifth point, this time from a free.

A stoppage-time Seán Meehan flick was taken off the line as Eoghan Landers sealed the deal with a fine counter-attack point despite an attempted trip that saw Martin Collins sin-binned.

Scorers for Carrigaline: B Coakley (0-3); J McCarthy (0-2); B O’Driscoll, D Griffin, D Greene, E Landers, N Coakley (mark) (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kiskeam: S O’Sullivan (0-5, 2 frees); T Casey (0-1).

CARRIGALINE: S Mellet; N Quirke, I Sheerin, J McCarthy (capt); Kevin Kavanagh, C O’Herlihy, A Cohalan; B O’Driscoll, D Griffin; D Greene, B Coakley, E Ryle; E Landers, N Coakley, K O’Reilly.

Subs: C Barrett for Ryle (13, inj), C Barry for Cohalan (40), Cohalan for O’Reilly (53).

KISKEAM: B Daly; D Murphy, J Daly, J O’Connor; AJ O’Connor, S Meehan, Mike Casey; T Dennehy, Daniel Fitzgerald; E Daly, T Casey, Maurice Casey; S O’Sullivan, A Carroll, A Dennehy.

Subs: C Murphy for Maurice Casey (51), M Herlihy for Fitzgerald (52), K O’Connor for Mike Casey (54), D Scannell for A Dennehy (56).

Referee: C Murphy (Glanworth).

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