Four-star Killeagh book quarters spot with impressive win over Inniscarra
Killeagh's Brendan Delaney tries to pick up the ball in defence before an incoming tackle from Inniscarra's Cameron Lynch and Marc Nagle during the Co-Op Superstores SAHC game between Killeagh and Inniscarra at Cobh. Picture: David Creedon
A dominant display from Killeagh guaranteed their place in the quarter-final of the Co-Op Superstores Cork senior A HC where they will meet 2023 finalists Blarney.
Their 21-point winning margin in Cobh on Saturday evening ensured the east Cork side second place in Group C with a +7 scoring difference - table-toppers Glen Rovers secured one of the semi-final spots.
Fourteen-man Inniscarra finished in fourth position (-35) while Ballyhea (-19) were third - Killeagh, Ballyhea and Inniscarra claimed one victory each in the group.
Killeagh were rampant in this tie - it was a match they needed to win - and goals within the first two minutes from David Buckley (set up by Andy Walsh) and Ryan McCarthy (teed up by Shane Smiddy) proved they were more than ready for the challenge.
Whilst Marc Nagle replied with an Inniscarra green flag in the fifth minute, they were unable to make any further inroads with the Killeagh defence taking no prisoners.
Bryan McCarthy’s charges led 2-5 to 1-1 when another statement of intent was shown by their goalkeeper Philip O’Neill who saved a Pádraig Holland penalty in the 18th minute following a foul on David O’Keeffe.
With one eye on the Glen/Ballyhea game, the message was to keep piling on the scores.
Free-taker Dylan McCarthy was running the show from corner-forward (0-7), while the finishing skills of their attack as a unit came to the fore.
Inniscarra, still without the services of injured Cork captain Seán O’Donoghue, were far from their best. Having seen off Mallow in a relegation final last season, they did improve on the run up to the break but losing wing-back Seán Sheehan to a straight red card five minutes into first half stoppage for an altercation with Dylan McCarthy left them with too much to do.
And they were struck another blow early in the second half (11 seconds) when Dylan McCarthy fired Inniscarra’s third goal with Seán Long the supplier.
Midway through the half and with the light fading, Colm Leahy showed his predatory instincts finishing to the net after the opportunity was created by his brother Andrew, 4-18 to 1-10.
It was a night to forget for Inniscarra who had defender Joe Enright emerging as top-scorer.
Killeagh, meanwhile, were relentless to the end, with the McCarthy brothers Ryan and Dylan tallying 2-14 between them.
: D McCarthy (1-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), R McCarthy (1-5, 0-2 frees, 0-1 65), Colm Leahy (1-2), D Buckley (1-1), S Smiddy (0-3), S Long (0-2), Ciarán Leahy and R Long (0-1 each).
J Enright (0-6, 0-5 frees), M Nagle (1-0), C Lynch (0-2), S O’Mahony, F O’Leary, D O’Keeffe and M Murphy (0-1 each).
: P O’Neill; A Keniry, P O’Brien, D Walsh (J-Capt); R Sinclair, B Delaney, A Walsh; S Long (J-Capt) Ciarán Leahy; R McCarthy, R Long, S Smiddy; D Buckley, Colm Leahy, D McCarthy.
Subs: A Leahy for D McCarthy (35-37 temp), G Leahy for S Smiddy (43 inj), A Leahy for D McCarthy (45 inj), S Walsh for A Walsh (49).
: J O’Keeffe; D Keane, B O’Mahony, J O’Sullivan; J Enright, C O’Leary (Capt), S Sheehan; S O’Mahony, L Ryan; A McCarthy, M Nagle, C Lynch; F O’Leary, P Holland, D O’Keeffe.
Subs: M Murphy for P Holland, A Doyle for F O’Leary (both half-time), T Lyons for J O’Sullivan (33), C Geoghegan for A McCarthy (42), F O’Leary for L Ryan (49 inj).
: Niall Fahy (Brian Dillons).
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