Cork IFC: Glanworth drop down as Kildorrery grind it out in relegation decider 

CLOSE QUARTERS: John Hunter and Luke Keating, Kildorrery, battle with Sean Cunningham, Glanworth goalkeeper. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

Cork IFC Relegation Final Replay: Kildorrery 0-9 (0-2-5) Glanworth 0-8 (0-2-4) 

Kildorrery came out on top in the McCarthy Insurance Intermediate football championship relegation final at Shanballymore on Saturday.

In truth a disappointing game played before another capacity attendance failed to ignite at any stage and with so much at stake for the near neighbours it was bound to be a tense affair.

In the end Glanworth will feel once again they left victory behind them for when Darragh O’Brien got through one on one with the Kildorrery keeper in the final minute his shot went inches wide of the right post.

The opening exchanges were cagey with both teams passing the ball at will which was surprising for Kildorrery who had the advantage of playing with a stiff breeze.

Glanworth, to their credit, were trying to play at pace and they were rewarded with a Dave Pyne white flag in the seventh minute.

To be fair, without excelling Kildorrey were playing a mighty patient game and they were rewarded two minutes later with a fabulous Peter O’Brien two-pointer.

The standard of football in the opening quarter was atrocious with the build-up play clocked at a snail’s pace.

In the 17th minute a rare quality Kildorrery attack finished with their second two-pointer courtesy of a long-range Cian Coughlan beauty.

In the closing ten minutes it was evident Kildorrery were taking control and Timmy O’Sullivan produced a stunning run and split the posts to edge his side into a four- point lead.

The Kildorrery keeper Anthony Crowley increased the lead to five points with a neat kick following a placed ball as Glanworth were now struggling to get a grip in this game.

Luckily Glanworth did manage to register the closing point of the half following a Darragh O’Brien white flag but they had some work to do in the second half trailing 0-6 to 0-2.

The plus side for Glanworth was they had the wind advantage for the restart, but they needed more structures in their play to break down the dominant Kildorrery defence.

The huge Glanworth support were given the perfect start to the second half when Podge Hannon kicked a splendid point their first from play.

The next five minutes were a comedy of errors but Pyne reduced the deficit to two points with a stunning two-pointer from a placed ball in the 41st minute.

Credit to Kildorrery they responded with a quality move that yielded a quality point from Shane Fitzgerald entering the last quarter.

It was nip and tuck in the closing minutes and when Pyne nailed a two-pointer from a free with three minutes remaining it brought the minimum between the sides.

Sadly, for Glanworth O’Brien’s opportunity at the death was off target as the sound of the final whistle brought jubilant scenes in the Kildorrery camp.

Scorers for Kildorrery: A Crowley 0-2 (f), P O’Brien 0-2 (1-2pt), C Coughlan 0-2 (1-2pt), T O’Sullivan, K Hurley, S Fitzgerald (0-1 each).

Scorers for Glanworth: D Pyne 0-6 (2-2pt-f, 0-1f), D O’Brien, P Hannon (0-1 each).

Kildorrery: A Crowley; C O’Sullivan, D Hunter, J McCarthy; W Fuohy, L Keating, C Coughlan; S Fitzgerald, D Kent; J Hunter, J Keating, P O’Brien; T O’Sullivan, K Hurley, T Hurley.

Subs: J McEniry for T O’Sullivan (52), S O’Grady for D Hunter (60).

Glanworth: S Cunningham, P Condon, J Coughlan, S Finn; J Fogarty, R Murray, M Blackburne; D Pyne, P Hannon; D O’Brien, Darragh O’Brien, J O’Sullivan; P O’Driscoll, G O’Neill, S Condon.

Subs: M Jackson for G O’Neill (inj 12), J walsh P O’Driscoll (46), M Moloney for M Blackburne (50).

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).