UCC defy Carbery and the conditions thanks to Meath forward's eight points

UCC 0-16 Carbery 0-11

DESPITE only scoring twice in the second half at Ovens last night, UCC did enough to advance to the final of the divisions/colleges section of the Bons Secours Hospital Cork Premier SFC.

In tough conditions, the College made use of the strong wind at their backs in the first half, retiring at half-time with a 0-14 to 0-4 lead – eight of the points coming from Meath’s James McEntee – but in the second period they faced a Carbery siege.

However, while the south-western division ate into the lead, their wides tally began to mount and the UCC defence ensured that no goal chances were coughed up. They now advance to face Duhallow for a place in the quarter-final of the competition proper, with that game set to be played this weekend.

UCC made full use of the elements as they amassed a 0-9 to 0-1 in the opening quarter. McEntee gave a shooting exhibition, sending efforts over off right and left, while Liam Kennedy and Seán Desmond gave them a platform at midfield.

Carbery’s only early score was a point from Kevin O’Driscoll, operating at full-forward, while Kevin Keohane had a point just before the water-break. Captain Brian O’Driscoll, who along with brother Colm was unable to start, was introduced by Carbery at the pause in play and had immediate impact while his other brother Kevin moved to midfield and helped to stem the flow there.

On 19 minutes, Brian O’Driscoll’s pass put wing-back Darragh Nolan in but his shot was pushed on to the post by goalkeeper Cathal Keane and though Ger O’Callaghan pointed to cut the deficit to six, UCC pushed on again.

A Shay Walsh free was followed a super McEntee point and full-back Michael Flood brought his influence to bear too. Late in the half, O’Callaghan went for goal for Carbery after claiming an attacking mark, but Keane saved again to ensure that UCC had that ten-point interval advantage.

On the resumption, the pattern of play changed totally but Carbery were having to work hard to eat into the deficit. Early on, an O’Callaghan shot was brilliantly blocked by Flood and, Kevin O’Driscoll and sub Don O’Driscoll had points, they lost Brian O’Driscoll to a second yellow card on 39.

UCC opened their second-half account through Walsh, who had claimed a mark, on 44 and they wouldn’t score again until injury time, but Carbery couldn’t convert their possession into enough scores.

O’Callaghan and Don O’Driscoll were on target but, bar an O’Callaghan shot wide from a tight angle on 54, they couldn’t create any clear goal opportunities and UCC prevailed by five in the end.

Scorers for UCC: J McEntee 0-8 (0-1 f), S Walsh 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 mark), C Crowley, J Twomey, J O’Mullane 0-1 each.

Carbery: G O’Callaghan 0-4 (0-3 f), K O’Driscoll, D O’Driscoll 0-3 each, K Keohane D McCarthy 0-1 each.

UCC (Cork clubs unless stated): C Keane (Listowel Emmets, Kerry); C Smith (Aghabullogue), M Flood (St Bridget’s, Meath), E Fitzgerald (Gneeveguilla); E Dodd (Canovee), E Lehane (Canovee), A Quinn (Macroom); S Desmond (Clondrohid), L Kennedy (St Kieran’s, Limerick); J Twomey (Kilshannig), J McEntee (Curraha, Meath), C Crowley (Glanmire); S Walsh (Scartaglin), D Lucey (Mayfield), S O’Driscoll (Glanmire).

Subs: D Andrews (Shamrocks) for O’Driscoll (36), J O’Mullane (Kilmurry) for Dodd (47), W Jones (Glanmire) for Lucey (47), L O’Leary (Aghinagh) for Twomey (52), E Cronin (Spa, Kerry) for Walsh (60).

CARBERY: C Madden (Barryroe); B Everard (St Mary’s), B Murphy (St Colum’s), D O’Connor (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh); D Holland (Argideen Rangers), C Nyhan (Ballinascarthy), C O’Connor (St Colum’s); S McCarthy (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh), S Ryan (Ballinascarthy); J Ryan (Ballinascarthy), K Keohane (Kilmeen), O Scannell (Kilmeen); D McCarthy (Ballinascarthy), K O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh), G O’Callaghan (Gabriel Rangers).

Subs: B O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh) for S McCarthy (17, injured), R O’Donovan (Barryroe) for J Ryan, D O’Driscoll for O’Connor (both half-time), C O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh) for D McCarthy (47), D McCarthy for C O’Driscoll (48, blood), T Roberts (Clann na nGael) for B Murphy (56, injured).

Referee: J Regan (Lough Rovers).