Carrigtwohill power past Na Piarsaigh with impressive second-half display
Ross O'Sullivan, Na Piarsaigh, Jay Horgan, Carrigtwohill. Pic: Jim Coughlan.
Another good day for Carrigtwohill, who recorded their second victory in the Co-Op Superstores Cork SAHC in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.
And all the more impressive considering they played the fourth quarter plus five minutes of stoppage time reduced to 14 men.
Despite the challenge and having wasted many scoring opportunities, their commitment was never found wanting.
They are now top of Group 1. Killeagh and Fermoy are on two points each, which means Na Piarsaigh have it all to do with no points on the board.
Led brilliantly in attack by the Walsh brothers Patrick and Seán, who shared 13 points, and James Mulcahy on 1-4, some of their scores were out of the top-drawer.
The strength of midfield duo Matthew Barrett and Justin Oke cannot be underestimated either and both contributed to the scoreboard.
Carrigtwohill, managed by Denis Walsh and coached by John Dwyer, turned one ahead.
The scores then started to flow.
Incredibly they outscored Na Piarsaigh eight points to one - the Na Piarsaigh point from a Ross O’Sullivan free.
Meanwhile, Pat O’Sullivan who closely marked Ross O’Sullivan, received a second yellow card in the 44th minute when it was a five-point game.
While it could have derailed their plans, they didn’t falter and went 1-20 to 2-9 in front with 10 minutes of regulation remaining.
Connery converted a few Na Piarsaigh frees late on, but in the closing minutes they had to go for goal.
The Carrigtwohill defence stood tall.
Carrig got a dream start against the wind and had 1-4 on the board inside five minutes.
Seán Walsh got the ball rolling after just 15 seconds and Patrick then put them two up.
A move started by midfielder Barrett to Seán Walsh ended with a well-taken James Mulcahy goal.
Another brace of white flags, and all were clinically finished.
Na Piarsaigh didn’t get going until the sixth minute through a Daire Connery free. The energy now switched to the north city club and when Connery soloed through the middle and grabbed a wonderful goal with a deft one-handed flick, it was game on, 1-3 to 1-5.
Carrigtwohill were then fortunate that Aaron Walsh Barry took the sliotar off the line from a Patrick Rourke shot.
They were three to the good when Na Piarsaigh levelled. The goal came all the way from goalkeeper Luke Donovan, who controlled the ball beautifully before launching a huge delivery that went all the way to his opposing number one, a goal that Shane Devlin will probably feel he should have saved in the 26th minute.
Carrigtwohill managed to regain the lead, only just though, 1-12 to 2-8 at the interval.
Their second half was class.
S Walsh (0-9, 0-3 frees), J Mulcahy (1-4), M Barrett (0-2 frees) and P Walsh (0-4 each), J Oke (0-1).
D Connery (1-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65), R O’Sullivan (0-4 frees), L Donovan (1-0), C Hanifin, E Galvin, Evan Sheehan (free) and P Guest (0-1 each).
S Devlin; B Twomey, P O’Sullivan, A Walsh Barry (Capt); D Murnane, S de Búrca, J Horgan; M Barrett, J Oke; P Walsh, L O’Sullivan, C O’Riordan; L Gosnell, J Mulcahy, S Walsh.
S Brennan for L Gosnell (45), T Hogan for L O’Sullivan (52).
L Donovan; C Flynn, C Meaney, P Murphy; K Buckley (Capt), C Buckley, G Joyce; G Healy, C Hogan; K Moynihan, D Connery, C Hanifin; P Guest, R O’Sullivan, P Rourke.
O Galvin for C Hogan (36), Evan Sheehan for G Healy (45), Eoin Sheehan for C Flynn (50), L Sheehan for P Rourke (51), E Cronin for D Connery (59 inj).
Conor Lane (Banteer).
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