Rob Downey rocket helps St Nicks reach Cork Premier JFC quarters

Knowing that only victory would do to progress, St Nicks showed stern character to pass the examination against Kilmacabea

Kieran Kelleher, St Nicks comes under pressure in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC match against Kilmacabea at Macroom. Pic: Larry Cummins

Cork Premier JFC: St Nicks 2-10 (2-1-8) Kilmacabea 1-10 (1-0-10) 

St Nicks booked their place in the knockout stages of the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier JFC following a well earned victory over Kilmacabea in what was a lively affair in Macroom on Friday night.

Knowing that only victory would do to progress, the city side showed stern character to pass the examination.

He has been a pillar of the defence for the Cork senior hurlers over recent years, but on this Friday night Robert Downey showed he also has plenty of footballing talent.

Downey blasted the ball home to the net in impressive fashion with a rocket of a strike to give St Nicks a much needed boost on 18 minutes.

Growing in momentum, things got even better for St Nick’s on 27 minutes, when Conor McCarthy clinically converted to the net from close range.

A fine individual goal from Jennings ensured though that the sides were level at half time at St Nicks 2-4 to the 1-6 of Kilmacabea.

After the break the sides continued to exchange scores. Shanahan was the man Kilmacabea could rely on time and again.

At the other end St Nicks kept the scoreboard ticking over through O’Sullivan and McCarthy scores.

With plenty on the line for both sides in terms of knockout stage qualification, there was nothing to separate the sides, who were level at 2-6 to Kilmacabea’s 1-9 midway through the second half.

With this titanic tussle heading into the closing stages, it was St Nicks who stood tallest.

A crucial and lovely two pointer from O’Sullivan put them into the lead.

The same man added another score a few minutes later, with a fisted point from Dave Dunlea putting the city men four points ahead.

Kilmacabea, who introduced Cork Senior Footballer Damien Gore into the action in the closing stages, ensured there was a grandstand finale, with Shanahan slotting another score over.

But St Nicks were not going to be denied and their championship dreams live on, with a quarter final contest against Kinsale next on the agenda.

Scorers for St Nicks: J O’Sullivan 0-7 (1 2ptf, 0-1 f), C McCarthy 1-1, R Downey 1-0, D Dunlea, D Morris 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilmacabea: E Shanahan 0-8 (0-5f), I Jennings 1-1, L McCarthy 0-1.

ST NICKS: R Cronin; D Dunlea, O O’Connell, C Horgan; F O’Driscoll, E Varian, Z Lynch; R Downey, S Horgan; R Long, J Morrissey, D Morris; J O’Sullivan, K Kelleher, C McCarthy.

Subs: R Dunne for Long (37), S Kennefick for Kelleher (49), B Heffernan for Horgan (52) 

KILMACABEA: C McCarthy; D Whooley, L Tobin, D Tobin; S O’Driscoll, M Collins, D O’Callaghan; K Whelton, I Jennings; O Tobin, R Shanahan, D McCarthy; E Shanahan, J Collins, L McCarthy.

Subs: J Keating for Collins (39), D Gore for McCarthy (52).

Referee: Alan Hourihan (Aghinagh).