Wasteful Fermoy relegated from SAFC after loss to O'Donovan Rossa

Brian O'Sullivan, Fermoy builds an attack as Fermoy seek late scores. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cork SAFC relegation play-off: O’ Donovan Rossa 1-18 (1-2-14) Fermoy 0-17 (0-3-11) 

A solid display of kicking from Kevin Davis ensured O’Donovan Rossa maintained their McCarthy Insurance Senior A FC status following a hard-fought win over Fermoy at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

In a game that Fermoy could have stolen if they had executed four golden goal opportunities, a superb 6-point exhibition of kicking from Kevin Davis ensured the Skibbereen status was safe.

One must praise the effort of the Fermoy centre back Tomás Clancy as the former Cork Senior panelist ran himself into the ground over the hour.

It only took two minutes for O’Donovan Rossa to be given a huge scare when goalkeeper Ryan Price fluffed a kickout as the ball went straight into the hands of the Fermoy half forward Ben Twomey.

Twomey had two options to shoot at goal or pass to a free man but he chose the former and kicked his shot straight at the keeper.

The Skibbereen outfit settled into the game and consecutive points from Kevin Davis gave them a two- point lead in the sixth minute.

After going eight minutes without scoring Darragh Daly kicked the opening Fermoy point but once again they fluffed a golden goal opportunity four minutes.

Careless defending allowed Twomey another path through on goal and his pinpoint pass found Daly unchallenged and with an open goal at his mercy his shot hit the post.

There was little to choose between the teams entering the second quarter with the west Cork side leading by the minimum 0-4 to 0-3.

It was evident both teams looked vulnerable in defence and O’Donovan Rossa punished Fermoy in the 19th minute.

Some classy fielding and running from full back Frank Hurley saw his assist to Niall Daly finished with class to the back of the net.

Credit to Fermoy they responded with a stunning two pointer from Ben Twomey and a white flag from Dave Lardner reduced the deficit to two points in the 23rd minute.

In fairness the Skibbereen outfit responded in style and four answered points in the closing minutes saw them go in at the break commanding a healthy six- point lead 1-9 to 0-6.

The second half was dominated by Rossa and although Fermoy did manage to reduce the deficit to three points in the 58th minute that’s as good as it got for them.

Ironically points from substitutes Oisin Lucey (2) and Isaac Harte closed out the game for Rossa as wasteful Fermoy were left to wonder how they failed to put away their goal opportunities that ultimately ensured their drop.

Scorers for O’Donovan Rossa: K Davis 0-6 (0-2f), L Harte 1-0, N Daly 0-2, O Leahy 0-2, K Hurley 0-2 (1-2pt), D Hourihane jnr 0-2(1-2pt), D Daly, B Crowley, T Hegarty, I Harte (0-1 each).

Scorers for Fermoy: D Daly 0-5 (1-2pt), B Twomey 0-4 (2-2pt f), D Lardner 0-3, S Aherne 0-2 (1-2pt), J O’Brien, G Lardner, P De Roiste (0-1 each).

O’DONOVAN ROSSA: R Price; D Hourihane (jnr), F Hurley, L Connolly; D Daly, K Hurley, C Coombes; L Harte, D Hourihane (snr); B Crowley, K Davis, N Daly; T Hegarty, D Shannon, E Conghaile.

Subs: I Harte for L Connolly (40), O Lucey for D Shannon (55).

FERMOY: S Coughlan; L Aherne, J O’Brien, J Molloy; T Clancy, G Lardner, P Murphy; J Hutchings, S Aherne; P De Roiste, D O’Carroll, B Twomey; D Lardner, G O’Callaghan, D Daly.

Subs: M Brennan for J Hutchings (h-t), K Morrison for G O’Callaghan (37), D Kelly for D O’Carroll (37), B O’Sullivan for D Lardner (49).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).