Powter injury concern, but dominant Douglas much too strong for Michael's
Douglas player Conor Russell taps the ball over the bar for a point during the McCarthy Insurance Group senior football championship game between Douglas and St. Michael's at Shanbally.- Picture: David Creedon
A dominant display from Douglas saw off St Michael’s in a low-key McCarthy Insurance Cork Premier SFC clash at Shanbally on Saturday.
In a game where there was little to shout about for long periods, Douglas looked head and shoulders above their opponents, particularly in the shooting and defending departments.
Michael’s were unable to break down the stern Douglas defence and in the first half their shooting was below the standard required at this level.
Plenty of solid performances from the Douglas side led by Conor Russell — the full forward chipping in with eight points.
Douglas looked the far livelier team in the opening exchanges, and they were rewarded with a point from Russell from a free in the third minute.
Michael’s looked lethargic and they were almost punished two minutes later when Adam Cantwell’s shot was blocked when through on goal.
Russell added a second point in the eighth minute from play, with the Blackrock side struggling to break down their opponents' defence.
Consecutive points increased the Douglas lead to four points midway through the half.
Douglas looked to be at a different level and Russell was denied a certain goal a minute later, but his powerful shot was parried to safety by St Michael’s keeper Mikey O’Connell.
Finally Douglas got their reward for pressure when Cork ace Sean Powter soloed 40 yards before drilling a low shot past the bewildered O’Connell.
There is little doubt the Douglas coach Paudie Kissane had his work done as Michael’s talisman Luke O’Herlihy was held scoreless up to the 26th minute, getting few clear looks at the posts such was the alertness of the Douglas defence.
It was hard to believe that Michael’s went in at the break scoreless but in truth their general play was poor, and Douglas certainly looked in the driving seat when commanding a nine-point lead 1-6 to 0-0.
On the restart, Michael’s looked to have more urgency in their game and they should have raised a green flag, but a terrific Andrew Murphy shot was parried to safety.
Russell was on hand to kick his fifth point in the 37th minute as Douglas looked far superior going forward.
As the third quarter was coming to close, we witnessed a mini melee with players from both sides showing a little indiscipline, but as always the ice cool man in the middle Brian Coniry handled it with professionalism through the distribution of a couple of yellow and black cards.
Keith Hegarty got the biggest cheer of the night when he floated over Michael’s opening point in the 47th minute.
On a night to forget for the Blackrock outfit all they could muster up for the remainder of the game was three more white flags.
The one minus for Douglas was a shoulder injury picked by Sean Powter with five minutes remaining. He could be in a race to be fit for their next group game against Nemo Rangers.
In the end, Douglas were head and shoulders over their opponents which will give them confidence going into their remaining games against Nemo and Ballincollig.
C Russell 0-8 (0-4f), S Powter 1-0, S Coakley 0-3 (1-2pt f), J Cunningham 0-1.
K Hegarty (0-2); D Meaney, A Hennessy (0-1 each).
A Cotter; N Lynch, N Walsh, J O’Callaghan-Maher; C Kingston, J Burke, S Powter; D Buckley, P Lucey; K Shanahan, L Dwane-Fogarty, S Aherne; A Cantwell, J Cunningham, C Russell.
B Powter for P Lucey (41), S Coakley for J Cunningham (41), D Ward for N Lynch (43), S O’Leary for S Powter (inj 55).
M O’Connell; L Carroll, A O’Callaghan, S Keating; E Sheehan, D Meaney, A Murphy; E Hickey, D Corkery; A Hennessy, E Hegarty, L O’Sullivan; K Hegarty, L O’Herlihy, F Leahy.
E Buckley for L O’Sullivan (20), J Ryan for D Corkery (43), B Cain for E Hegarty (45).
Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).
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