Late Kanturk flourish earns passage to Cork SAFC semi-final

Kanturk’s Lorcan McLoughlin take aim

Cork SAFC: Kanturk 2-8 Fermoy 0-10

Kanturk diced with danger before a late scoring blitz that yielded 1-2 without reply to trim Fermoy’s sails in the McCarthy Insurance Group Co. SAFC at Glantane.

The Duhallow side maintained their unbeaten run but only just after a patchy performance yielded their third victory in the campaign and the reward of a direct passage to a semi final against Bishopstown or Carrigaline. Disappointment for Fermoy, unable to obtain any return from three games played yet they will regret a serious opportunity lost of gaining a dividend from this outing.

Entering the closing stages, Fermoy led by a point only to squander chances of adding to their tally. Left off the hook, Kanturk summoned up a burst highlighted by a Grantas Buckinanas goal before Lorcán McLoughlin added a late point.

Kanturk dominated the opening 20 minutes, Buckinanas, Alan and Ian Walsh on target for a 0-5 to 0-2 advantage.Steadily Fermoy raised their performance with points registered by Tomás Clancy and Padraig de Róiste. And the Avondhu men came close to a goal, David Lardner denied by a superb block from Kanturk ‘keeper Jordan Fullerton, Larder availing of the advantage rule to point the resultant free to tie up the contest 0-5 apiece at the interval.

On the restart, Fermoy took a first time lead, De Róiste on target. However Kanturk made a statement of intent for a goal on 38 minutes, Brian O’Sullivan laid off for Paul Walsh to net.

Fermoy’s Tómas Clancy and Kanturk’s Cian Clernon give chase. 

Fermoy failed to read the script, bringing a spirited response to stem Kanturk’s flow, three points in quick succession from O’Callaghan and Ben Twomey regained the lead 0-9 to 1-5 by the three quarter stage.

As the sides traded further points to Arlen Aherne and Alan Walsh, Fermoy held the greater share of possession, passing up two glorious opportunities to add to their tally.

That gave Kanturk a lifeline, Aidan Walsh delivered a smashing point to level matters for the fifth occasion. With the finishing line in sight, it triggered a Kanturk flourish, fittingly, their most consistent performers on the day were involved in the 59th min attack, cousins and county men Paul and Tommy Walsh combined for Buckinanas to drill home an all important goal.

In the subsequent play, Fermoy pressure went unrewarded, now Kanturk held a confidence to finish on the ascendancy and a late McLoughlin point proved the insurance score.

Scorers for Kanturk: G Bucinskas (1-2), P Walsh (1-0), Alan Walsh (0-2), L O’Neill, I Walsh (f), Aidan Walsh, L McLoughlin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Fermoy: D Lardner (0-2, 0-1 mark, 0-1f), G O’ Callaghan (0-2), P de Roiste (0-2), T Clancy, D Daly, B Twomey, A Aherne 0-1 each.

KANTURK: J Fullerton; J McLoughlin, R Walsh, B O’Sullivan; M Healy, R Walsh, L O’Neill; P Walsh, Aidan Walsh; Alan Walsh, C Clernon, L O’Keeffe; G Bucinskas, C Walsh, L McLoughlin. Sub. B Healy for L O’Keeffe (58).

FERMOY: L Coleman; S Shanahan, D O’Carroll, R O’Sullivan; P Murphy, T Clancy, A Creed; J O’Brien, S Ahene; J Molloy, P De Roiste, D Daly; B Twomey, G O’Callaghan, D Lardner.

Subs: M Brennan for J Molloy (38), D O’Flynn for J O’Brien (46 inj), A Aherne for D Daly (46).

Referee: Robert Whelan (Aghada).