Skibb recover from slow start to move into clash with Ballincollig

O’Donovan Rossa 2-12 Carrigaline 1-8

SKIBB are through to the first round of the SFC where they'll meet Ballincollig after an impressive win in the preliminary round at Cloughduv on Saturday evening.

O'Donovan Rossa had to survive a slow start when they were punished in the opening minutes by Barry Ryan’s goal for Carrigaline. The full-forward’s powerful strike deceived Rossa goalkeeper, Ryan Price, and nestled in the bottom-left corner.

Rossa, inspired by the clinical Kevin Davis, responded perfectly to that early setback and they notched four unanswered points and had taken the lead by the 11th minute.

Carrigaline equalised moments later, but, midway through the first-half, Rossa scored a goal, a brilliant finish from Thomas Hegarty, and took control of the game.

Carrigaline only added two more points before half-time, while their opponents tallied another brilliant goal, this time from the influential Mark Collins, and a brace of white flags, from Kevin Davis. 

Rossa led 2-6 to 1-3 at the interval.

The sides began to swap scores on the restart, as Adam Coughlan, Billy Pope, and substitute Mark Brosnan (2) hit points for Carrigaline, while Dylan Hourihane, Thomas Hegarty and Kevin Davis (2) responded for Rossa.

The score was 2-10 to 1-7 with 13 minutes remaining.

Carrigaline knew they needed a goal to have any chance of mounting a dramatic comeback and they almost got it, but Billy Pope’s fierce shot was well-saved by Price.

In the end, Carrigaline would pay the price for having hit 14 wides, as O’Donovan Rossa finished strongly to progress to the first round with this impressive, seven-point victory.

Scorers for O’Donovan Rossa: K Davis 0-7 (0-2 f, 0-2 45), T Hegarty 1-2, M Collins, 1-0, D Hourihane, D Og Hodnett and E Connolly 0-1 each.

Carrigaline: B Pope 0-4, M Brosnan 0-3 (0-1 f, 0-1 45), B Ryan 1-0, A Coughlan 0-1.

O’DONOVAN ROSSA: R Price; D O’Donovan, J O’Sullivan, J Keohane; S O’Driscoll, D Hazel, S Fitzgerald; D Og Hodnett, R Byrne; P Crowley, M Collins, D Hourihane; T Hegarty, C Crowley, K Davis.

Subs: E Fitzgerald for S Fitzgerald (black card, 19), E Connolly for C Crowley (black card, 54).

CARRIGALINE: S Mellet; E Riordan, N Quirke, T Deasy; S Dwane, C Barry, K Kavanagh; E Kavanagh, K Dwane; L Boyle, K McIntyre, K Kavanagh; B Pope, B Ryan, A Coughlan.

Subs: M Brosnan for B Ryan (30), N Coleman for K Dwane (56).

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).