Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh win saves senior status and generates optimism for the future
RELEGATION RELIEF: Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh’s Diarmuid Mac Tomaís scores a point during the Cork SAFC game against Kiskeam. Picture: Martin Walsh.
It will be Kiskeam against Clyda Rovers in the Cork SAFC relegation play-off as Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh secured their senior status with an eight-point victory at Carrigadrohid.
The independent observers from Fermoy will be pleased, too, as their fears of a draw dragging them into the quagmire were soothed during a dominant second-half display.
Even more notable for Béal Átha was the fact they earned this victory without top-scoring forward Ben Seartan, who togged out despite injury but didn’t have to be called upon.
While he wished it were a knockout fixture, manager Johnny Crowley was pleased to bring through some rising prospects for next year.
“A big encouraging thing from a management point of view was the younger players we had coming in: Daire Ó Briain in midfield, Barra (Ó hArgáin) playing full-back, Seán Ó Muineacháin.
“That’s encouraging for the future that we’ve brought three or four players through onto the team this year.
“Our lads were up for it and it’s nice to get a win. Kiskeam have had a tough two weeks with bereavement in the club and they have another chance next week against Clyda.”
Kiskeam’s fault has been a lack of scoring power. They have yet to register a goal or break 10 points in any championship game. Having turned 0-6 to 0-5 behind, they mustered just four shots in the second half. All were from free-kicks and none from play.
A 39th-minute goal from substitute Matt Ó Riordáin broke their resistance and they finished with 14 men after Adrian Carroll was sent off. He will count his lucky stars that it was for a second yellow rather than a straight red.
“We knew we had fresh legs to come in so we were happy just to be ahead,” said Crowley of his half-time team talk.
“That’s important with Kiskeam. They play quite defensive and then they break fast. If they get a lead on you, they’re very difficult to tag back. They have a really good defensive structure.
“The first goal was always going to make a huge difference in a game like this. We got it and that gave us daylight.”
Kiskeam continued without goalkeeper Anthony Casey but got a good start in this rescheduled fixture with points from Cillian Murphy and Mike Casey. Diarmaid Mac Tomáis levelled with a pair of frees.
Three further times Kiskeam edged ahead, through Seán Meehan and twice via Thomas Casey, despite a heavily strapped right leg.
Each time Béal Átha cancelled it out via Donagh Seartan, a John Ó Donnchú mark, and Mac Tomáis.
When Seamus Ó Tuama landed a sweet free off the deck, they had their first lead and held it into the break.
They resumed with a Conchúir Ó Loinsigh curler, nullified when Seán O’Sullivan found his free-taking radar.
Béal Átha’s bench would make a telling impact. Dara Ó Ceallacháin and Ó Riordáin were introduced early and they were both involved in the goal. Ó Ceallacháin twice exchanged passes with Nollaig Ó Laoire and he squared for Ó Riordáin to palm home. 1-7 to 0-6.
They pushed that lead out with the next four points, including three in quick succession from Ó Tuama (free), Ó Loinsigh, and Ó Muineacháin.
Before Mac Tomáis would add the next, both sides were reduced to 14 men. Kiskeam’s Carroll saw red for lashing out at Ó Tuama, who was sin-binned two minutes later for blocking an off-the-ball run.
In between, Donagh Seartan had a shot comfortably saved by Billy Daly.
O’Sullivan’s free was Kiskeam’s first shot or score in 17 minutes and would be their last. In the remaining seven minutes, Seartan added the final point to cap a solid day’s work for the Gaeltacht men.
D Mac Tomáis (0-4, 2 frees); M Ó Riordáin (1-0); D Seartan, C Ó Loinsigh, S Ó Tuama (2 frees) (0-2 each); J O’Donnchú (mark), S Ó Muineacháin (0-1 each).
S O’Sullivan (2 frees), T Casey (1 free) (0-2 each); S Meehan, Mike Casey, C Murphy (0-1 each).
D Ó Coill; C Ó Nuanáin, É Ó Duinnín, B Ó hÁrgáin; C Ó Duinnín, D Seartan, J Ó Donnchú; S Ó Tuama, D Ó Briain; S Ó Luasa, L Ó Críodáin, S Ó Muineacháin; D Mac Tomáis, C Ó Loinsigh, N Ó Laoire.
Dara Ó Ceallacháin for C Ó Duinnín (h-t), M Ó Riordáin for Ó Críodáin (36), G Ó Laoire for Ó Donnchú (36), Diarmuid Ó Ceallacháin for Ó Luasa (50), L Seartan for Ó Nuanáin (57).
S Ó Tuama (49-59).
B Daly; D Murphy, J O’Connor, J Daly; AJ O’Connor, S Meehan, Mike Casey; T Dennehy, A Carroll; E Daly, Daniel Fitzgerald, Maurice Casey; S O’Sullivan, T Casey, C Murphy.
M Herlihy for T Casey (43), D Scannell for C Murphy (45), K O’Connor for Fitzgerald (50), M Collins for Maurice Casey (50).
A Carroll (47).
P O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).
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