Stunning St Nick's comeback sets up final clash with Buttevant

Northsiders were four behind midway through the second half but Zack Lynch capped off a super comeback against Cobh

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025 - 20:20

Jonathan O'Connell, Carrigtwohill

Cork Premier JFC semi-final: St Nick's 0-14 (0-3-8) Cobh 0-12 (0-2-8)

St Nick's are through to the final of the Co-Op Superstores PJFC following a stunning comeback against Cobh at Carrigtwohill on Saturday evening.

Substitute Zack Lynch was the hero for the Seandún outfit with a stunning two-pointer deep into injury time. They'll now meet a fancied Buttevant in the final but the underdog tag hasn't bothered them all year.

There in black and white: St Nick's rebound down to hard work and planning

Behind at the interval, St Nick's found themselves four points down at the halfway stage in the second half, before they turned it all around.

First Cobh missed a free from 13 metres out. At the opposite end, another second-half sub Jamie Corkery made no mistake in converting his free from outside the arc. 0-12 to 0-10 to Cobh but with eight minutes left and the momentum now with Nick's.

St Nick's Robert Downey breaks out of defence past Cobh's Adam Lynch. Picture: David Keane.

It was level by the 56th minute. Nick's then went in front for the first time when a long ball found its way to Lynch. With the right boot from distance, his shot went straight between the posts and up went the orange flag.

Cobh did have one final chance to nick it at the death but Ross Cronin was on hand to deny Adam Hastings at his near post.

Cobh will be wondering how they let this one slip. Diarmuid Kearney, one of the shining lights, was cool, calm and composed to land a brilliant two-pointer 0-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.

Their bright start was put to a temporary halt when Eoin O'Leary got Nick's up and running.

They wouldn't score again for another 11 minutes. But when they did, there was only four between the sides, 0-6 to 0-2.

The margin was down to two when Cork hurling star Eoin Downey and Donagh Coughlan raised white 0-6 to 0-4 to Cobh at the break.

The early stages of the second half saw both sides trade scores before Mark O'Rourke scored Cobh's second two-pointer. They stretched the lead out to six when Heelan and Timmy Wilk raised white.

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But Nick's refused to lie down. They hit back with a two-pointer through Dean Brosnan and then Jack O'Sullivan made it a one-score game 0-11 to 0-8.

Sean Cummins' reply pushed Cobh four ahead.

They wouldn't score again as Nick's came roaring back. No stopping the Saints.

Scorers for St Nick's: J O'Sullivan 0-3 f, D Brosnan 0-3 (1 2pt), J Corkery, Z Lynch (1 2pt) 0-2 each, E O'Leary, E Downey, D Coughlan, S Cummins 0-1 each.

Cobh: D Kearney 0-3 (1 2pt), D Heelan (0-1 45), J Ronan, M O'Rourke (1 2pt) 0-2 each, D Burke, T Wilk, S Cummins 0-1 each.

ST NICK'S: R Cronin; D Dunlea, S Horgan, C Horgan; F O'Driscoll, R Downey, D Wall; E Varian, D Coughlan; G Marshall, J Brosnan, E Downey; J O'Sullivan, E O'Leary, D Morris.

Subs: D Brosnan for Marshall (h-t), L Quilligan for Coughlan (45), J Corkery for Morris (45), C McCarthy for O'Leary (49), Z Lynch for Brosnan (49).

COBH: Ed Walsh; A Stanton, B Geary, A McCarthy; T Wilk, S Cummins, M O'Rourke; C McLoughlin, G Keating; D Burke, D Heelan, D Kearney; A Lynch, J Ronan, E Hastings.

Subs: E Cullimore for Hastings (56), A Hastings for Keating (56), A Doran for Lynch (61).

Referee: Pat O'Leary (Kilmurry).