Na Piarsaigh 1-17 Carrigtwohill 1-17 

A LATE point six minutes into added time from Shane Forde rescued Na Piarsaigh from defeat against Carrigtwohill in a highly exciting Co Op Superstores Premier SHC at Caherlag.

Though it took Na Piarsaigh 50 minutes to realise they were in a championship battle they almost snatched it at the death. The results was harsh on the East Cork outfit. Carrigtwohill departed Caherlag in full knowledge they allowed their city opponents off the hook.

It was a missed opportunity, in a group where Glen Rovers are heavy favourites but progress and the Barrs are reeling after a big beating on Saturday night.

Early on, Carrigtwohill, playing with the wind, actually struggled with their shooting as they accumulated five wides in the opening six minutes.

Na Piarsaigh were struggling in many departments from the off, particularly in the physicality stakes where they lost the majority of dirty ball.

The striking of Liam Gosnell kept Carrigtwohill ahead up to the 15th minute but the movement and threat of former Cork underage star Evan Sheehan was a noticeable positive for the city side.

Daire Connery, despite going against the stiff breeze, struck over a free from all of 80 yards that gave his side 0-7 to 0-4 lead in the 23rd minute.

Carrigtwohill to their credit responded and a brace of James Mulcahy points ensured they went in at the break level at eight points each.

Na Piarsaigh were expected to pick it up on the resumption, but it was Carrigtwohill who dominated the third quarter with Gosnell knocking over three consecutive points.

The introduction of the former Cork star Niall McCarthy certainly lifted Carrigtwohill and two minutes later Na Piarsaigh were stunned when Liam O’Sullivan drilled a superb shot to the corner of the net.

McCarthy raised his first white flag with 10 minutes remaining, but Na Piarsaigh responded to the wake-up call as Connery struck over the first of four consecutive points for the Farranree outfit.

Shane Forde showed tremendous pace and accuracy when he flicked in a tremendous shot to the roof of the net in the 58th as Na Piarsaigh led by the minimum.

The game swung too and fro and with referee Simon Stokes adding six minutes it was anybody’s guess who was going to win.

Another fabulous strike five minutes into the added time from McCarthy looked to have sealed a win for Carrigtwohill.

There was to be one more twist in the tale as Forde produced a masterful touch that levelled proceedings.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Evan Sheehan 0-6 (0-2 f), S Forde 1-1, D Connery 0-3 (0-1 f), Eoin Sheehan 0-2, K Moynihan 0-2 P Guest, K Forde, C Joyce 0-1 each.

Carrigtwohill: L Gosnell 0-8 (0-7 f), L O’Sullivan 1-0, J Mulcahy 0-3, N McCarthy 0-2, D Rooney, T Hogan, P Hogan, S Walsh 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: L Donovan; A Dennehy, E Gunning, A Dennehy; G Joyce, C Joyce, D Connery; C Buckley, K Buckley; S Forde, E Sheehan, K Moynihan; Evan Sheehan. K Forde, P Guest.

Subs: C Hannifin for C Buckley (41), K De Paor for K Forde (56).

CARRIGTWOHILL: S Devlin; B Twomey, P O’Sullivan, J Horgan; D Rooney, R Power, A Walsh-Barry; P Hogan, T Hogan; S Roche, L Gosnell, J McCarthy; J Mulcahy, L O’Sullivan, S Walsh.

Subs: C O’Connell for S Roche, N McCarthy for J Mulcahy, L Kelly-O’Regan, S O’Hanlon for T Hogan.

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).