Corbett the Clyda talisman as Fermoy reeled in

Fermoy had been eight points ahead and cruising.

Gary O’Callaghan with a first half goal for Fermoy in the McCarthy Insurance Group Senior ‘A’ Football Championship: Clyda v Fermoy in Charleville, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cork Senior A FC Group 2: Clyda Rovers 3-11 Fermoy 1-11 

Cork All-Ireland winner Paudie Kissane coached Douglas to a Premier SFC win in Shanbally before making a dash to Charleville to guide his beloved Clyda Rovers home in this SAFC opener against Fermoy.

Kissane is 42 by the way!

Conor Corbett was the talisman once again for Clyda Rovers as they completed an inspiring second-half comeback.

However, It was far from a one-man show. Clyda dug deep after an ominous first quarter of an hour that saw Fermoy eight points ahead and cruising after a brilliant goal from full-forward Gary O’Callaghan.

The momentum very much swung in the opposite direction though, with Fermoy only managing a paltry six points from the 15th minute.

Clyda kicked into gear, helped in no small part by the sterling Conor Corbett - who set things in motion for the Mourneabbey men with a couple of nifty first half scores - and a black card for Fermoy full back James O’Brien after 17 minutes.

A couple of injuries around the half hour mark slowed proceedings down considerably, which suited Fermoy, a side desperately in need of regrouping. Though, their chances weren’t helped by a fallow period in the first half that saw them without a score for 21 minutes.

Corbett had a golden opportunity in front of goal on 24 minutes, but his shot was deflected and saved magnificently by a dexterous Liam Coleman.

An Eoin Walsh goal on 28 minutes, struck beautifully into the bottom left corner, plus two points from Davids Cooney and Walsh pulled Clyda right back into the contest.

Eoin Walsh, Clyda in action in the McCarthy Insurance Group Senior ‘A’ Football Championship: Clyda v Fermoy in Charleville, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

It was a sign of things to come. Clyda began the second half exactly as their opponents had begun the first - explosively.

Walsh drew the sides level for the first time on 43 minutes with a curling effort off his right boot. Six minutes later captain David Walsh put them in front for the first time, and they never looked back.

A further 1-3 from Corbett added insult to injury for Fermoy. The goal - after 51 minutes - was smashed high into the net past a helpless Liam Coleman after Corbett had barrelled past two Fermoy defenders using sheer strength.

Former Cork star Paudie Kissane, now 42, entered the field of battle and played with the energy of a sprightly 21 year old.

Fermoy battled for the remaining 15 minutes - David Lardner giving feint hope with three late points - but it was never going to be enough, especially after half-forward Kevin Graham slotted another one into the Fermoy net on the hour mark, taking the ball with pace down the right and burying it low.

Clyda’s next test is Knocknagree in four weeks' time. Fermoy will take on Cill na Martra.

Scorers for Clyda Rovers: C Corbett 1-4, E Walsh 1-2, K Graham 1-0, D Walsh, P O’Grady 0-2 each, D Cooney 0-1.

Scorers for Fermoy: D Lardner 0-5 (3f), G O’Callaghan 1-0, J Hutchings, P de Róiste, S Ahern, J Morrisson, A Ahern, J Molloy 0-1 each.

CLYDA ROVERS: K Coffey; A Walsh, N Burke, M Forde; P O’Grady, G Deane, D Buckley; B Nyhan, D Walsh (captain); K Graham, C Corbett, E Walsh, A Kelly, D Cooney, C Flanagan.

Subs: C Kelly for N Burke (45), P Kissane for D Buckley (45), C Walsh for C Flanagan (53), C O’Sullivan for D Cooney (55), S Kelly for A Kelly (60).

FERMOY: L Coleman; L Aherne, J O’Brien, J Molloy; G Lardner, T Clancy, M Brennan; S Aherne, J Hutchings; P De Róiste, D Daly, J Ring, K Morrisson, G O’Callaghan, D Lardner.

Subs: J Carr for J Hutchings (29), R O Hagan for G O’Callaghan (44), D O’Callaghan for D Daly (50), D O’Carroll for K Morrisson (52), A Ahern for J Carr (64).

Referee: Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers)