'No better man': Coleman pinches last-gasp win for Blarney

Throw in time between Castlelyons and Blarney at Sarsfields. Pic: Noel Sweeney

Cork SAHC: Blarney 1-21 Castlelyons 1-20

Blarney pinched their Cork SAHC opener in Riverstown on Saturday in the most dramatic of finishes with a goal from a last-minute close-in free by Cork's Mark Coleman.

The Cork star hit an unstoppable shot after the sliotar was moved to a more favourable position for ill-discipline.

It was Castlelyons’ third time in the game being penalised for protesting.

Colm Barry received a second yellow for the offence.

“No better man than Mark Coleman to stick the goal, and what a goal,” said Blarney head coach Paul O’Leary. “He has that confidence, and the ability more importantly. We’re delighted for him. Himself and Shane and Paudie have lifted everything since they came back in. They are a big part of our club.

“We’ve been building for this game for a while, so delighted with the heart the lads showed at the end.

“We thought we’d missed our chance but you just have to have faith in the work that we’ve done. They could have put up the white flag and felt sorry for themselves but no, they turned it around into a positive.” 

Blarney were up-and-running courtesy of Hegarty’s Olan and Cathal. Castlelyons levelled, and then took the lead through a splendid long-range Colm Spillane effort.

Blarney edged in front with Cathal Hegarty, Barrett, captain Patrick Crowley and Pádraig Power pointing, 0-7 to 0-5 after quarter of an hour.

The first goal opportunity fell Castlelyons’ way when an Anthony Spillane shot was diverted out for a ’65, which Fenton converted. And they proceeded to take a two-point lead with 10 minutes of the first-half remaining.

Blarney fought back to hold a slender interval lead of 0-11 to 0-10.

Cian Barrett stretched the margin straight from the restart. They had a goal chance, but Cathal Hegarty’s shot wide.

A Niall O’Leary point sandwiched between a Cian Barrett white flag kept the east Cork men in touch.

Blarney kicked on through Coleman and Barrett frees, meanwhile Fenton drew a great save from Conor Murphy.

A big score then arrived for Castlelyons when Doocey fielded a Colm Spillane delivery to find the net, 1-12 to 0-115.

Blarney clipped points mainly from Barrett frees to go ahead again. Castlelyons won their share of frees too, which Fenton was only too happy to convert.

Five minutes from the end Blarney were clinging on to a 0-21 to 1-16 advantage. Fenton (2), Doocey and Keith O’Leary put Castlelyons two up. 

Coleman showed true grit to deliver the decisive green-flag in the 64th minute.

Castlelyons were hard-hit by the result. Down, but not out. 

“Congratulations to Blarney. I remember a few years ago we played them out in Mourne Abbey in the first round and afterwards they beat us in the county final. It’s swings and roundabouts,” reflected Castlelyons manager Ciarán McGann.

“We’ll learn our lessons. There were three times the ball was brought forward for discipline, especially the last one. And you just can’t get away with that at the top level when percentages are so tight.

“We knew we had a performance coming, so very proud of the way the lads performed.

“There is a brilliant mood in the camp, lads are training so well over the last couple of weeks. We had fellas recovering from injury, fellas coming back from long-term travelling from four or five months and they all integrated back into the group.

“I’ve no doubt coming Tuesday night, we’ll get back on the wagon. Some of the performances out there were incredible. We’ll park it nice and quick.” 

Scorers for Blarney: S Barrett (0-9, 0-8 frees), M Coleman (1-2, 1-1 frees), C Hegarty (0-3), C Barrett (0-3), P Crowley (0-2), P Power and O Hegarty (0-1 each).

Scorers for Castlelyons: A Fenton (0-10, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65), L Doocey (1-2), A Spillane (0-3), C Spillane, N O’Leary, J Kearney, K O’Leary and O Hallihan (0-1 each).

BLARNEY: C Murphy; S Crowley, C Power, S Mullane; O Hegarty, M Coleman, A McEvoy; D McSweeney, P Crowley (Capt); C Barrett, P Power, S Barrett; E Kirby, C Hegarty, S Mulcahy.

Subs: C McCarthy for S Mulcahy (48).

CASTLELYONS: J Barry; J O’Leary, C Barry, D Spillane; S Moroney, C Spillane, N O’Leary; J Kearney (Capt), E Maye; K O’Leary, O Hallihan, A Spillane; D Morrison, L Doocey, A Fenton.

Subs: S Cotter for E Maye (48), O Linehan for D Morrisson (53).

Referee: Patrick O’Mahony (Kilbrittain).