Cork Premier 2 MHC final: Killeagh denied late on as Barrs force replay

An injury time goal by Cork minor Liam O'Regan and a point from Alex O'Herlihy got the Barrs level

Jay Geary scored 1-1 for Killeagh in his side's draw with St Finbarr's. Pic: Chani Anderson

Cork Premier 2 MHC final: St Finbarr’s 1-13 Killeagh 1-13

It ended all square between Killeagh and St Finbarr’s in their Cork ETB Premier 2 MHC final clash at Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday night.

The Barrs can thank their Cork minor Liam O’Regan who scored an injury time goal to put one between them before Alex O’Herlihy got the equalising point to send it to a replay.

Both sides missed chances to take the lead before CJ Barrett scored from a free for the Barrs after six minutes.

Andrew Brenner replied for Killeagh from the restart to make it 0-1 each.

Three minutes later and Killeagh went in front when Ben Geary was on target.

He scored again a minute later to make it 0-3 to 0-1 in Killeagh’s favour.

The Barrs were guilty of a few wides you expect them to score from, as well as dropping the ball short on several occasions.

Cormac Deane extended Killeagh’s lead, before Harry McTiernan got the Barrs second point after 12 minutes.

Geary replied from a free for Killeagh to make it 0-6 to 0-2.

Barrett got his second, as did Brenner for Killeagh to keep three between them, before Charlie Kelleher scored for the Barrs to make it a two point game.

Disappointment at the full-time whistle for Killeagh as St Finbarr's score a goal and a point in injury time to level the game. Pic: Chani Anderson

Two from Cormac Delaney stretched Killeagh’s lead, with Barrett again scoring from a 65 to keep his side in contention.

Cathal Brennan scored a magnificent point from distance out near the sideline for Killeagh, with Barrett again replying, to make it 0-9 to 0-6 after 25 minutes.

Geary pointed a 65 for Killeagh with Killian McCabe replying for the Barrs to see the former lead by 0-10 to 0-7 at half time.

Barrett got the first score after the restart, from a free, to put two between the sides.

The first real goal chance came after 37 minutes when Deane and Brenner combined to play John Farquhar in but David Clarke O’Mahony saved superbly to deny him.

A minute later and Clarke O’Mahony made another top-class save, this time denying Geary a green flag, as it remained 0-11 to 0-8.

Another from Geary stretched their lead further before it was the turn of Killeagh to thank their keeper, as he saved from O’Herlihy.

James Martin pointed the breaking ball as Killeagh led by 0-12 to 0-9 after 45 minutes.

Another free from Barrett reduced the deficit with 10 minutes remaining before Killeagh struck a killer blow.

A long ball in was collected by Ben Geary and his pass found his brother Jay to make it 1-12 to 0-10.

Jay Geary added a point but the Barrs hit back, with Kelleher scoring to make it 1-13 to 0-12 with five minutes to go.

Credit to the Barrs they kept going and in the third minute of injury-time O’Regan goaled from a free to put only one between them.

With the last shot of the tie O’Herlihy pointed to see it end level as they have to meet again at the weekend in the replay.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: L O’Regan 1-0, CJ Barrett 0-6 (4f, 0-1 65), C Kelleher, J Martin 0-2 each, H McTiernan, K McCabe, A O’Herlihy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Killeagh: J Geary 1-1, B Geary 0-6 (5f, 0-1 65), A Brenner, C Delaney 0-2 each, C Deane, C Brennan.

ST FINBARR’S: D Clarke-O’Mahony; C Garvey, R Dunne, S Gabriel; L O’Regan, D McGuirk, E Burke; K McCabe, C Kelleher; H McTiernan, C Herlihy, J Martin; E Naughton, CJ Barrett, A O’Herlihy.

Subs: E Murphy McKeown for E Naughton (45), S Fleming Byrne for S Gabriel (60).

KILLEAGH: E Deane; P Dineen, R O’Connor, A Howey; D McCarthy, C Deane, C Brennan; B Guerin, A Brenner; C Delaney, A Fogarty, John Farquhar; Jack Farquhar, B Geary, J Geary.

Subs: R O’Riordan for B Guerin (ht), C Lawton for J Farquhar (55).

Referee: Shane Scanlon, Newcestown.