Cork SAFC: O'Donovan Rossa beat Fermoy but agonisingly lose out on knockout spot

O’Donovan Rossa 3-10 Fermoy 1-13

O’DONOVAN Rossa scored five of the last seven points against Fermoy at Bandon on Sunday but it wasn’t enough to secure advancement in the Bon Secours Hospital Cork SAFC.

With Knocknagree beating Kanturk in the other game, the live table was in a state of constant flux as a three-way tie loomed. Having seen their lead whittled down to a point, Skibb finished well with points from Seán Fitzgerald, Kevin Davis, Rory Byrne and Niall Daly but an injury-time free from Fermoy’s David Lardner proved crucial. Skibb had the same scoring difference as Kanturk but lost out on scores for.

Fermoy began brightly, with Darragh Daly kicking two nice points as they led early on before Skibb hit the front in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Fermoy goalkeeper Dale Dawson had been away from his post during a period of possession for them, but after a turnover he looked to be back in position. However, a point attempt from Skibb midfielder Rory Byrne deceived the netminder and dropped in at the corner for a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

Byrne extended the lead to three and, while a pair of Pádraig de Róiste points provided a response for Fermoy, Skibb put together a great move that ended in a second goal.

It began with corner-back Dylan O’Donovan, the ball worked through the hands of Paudie Crowley and Dylan Hourihane Snr before end up with Thomas Hegarty, who finished from close range.

Seán Fitzgerald went close to a third goal, fisting the ball over the advancing Dawson from Hegarty’s pass only for it to hit the crossbar. Even so, a 2-3 to 0-6 half-time lead left them in a good position.

Dawson saved well from Niall Daly on the resumption and then, after a nice David Lardner point, the goalkeeper sent over a 45 to leave just a point in it. An equaliser couldn’t be found though and Skibb gave themselves breathing space through Daly and Kevin Davis before they were awarded a penalty.

It was another flowing piece of play, with Hourihane and Davis getting the ball to Hegarty. While he was tripped, he got a pass to Hourihane but, when Dawson denied him, referee Patrick O’Mahony pointed to the spot. Hourihane drilled his shot to the net to make it 3-5 to 0-8, Skibb’s biggest lead up to then.

Still Fermoy wouldn’t go away. Daly and Lardner had points before sub Ben Twomey was fouled, just inside the large rectangle. Ryan Price saved Brian O’Sullivan’s penalty but the sub got to the loose ball first and fired it in to leave just a point in it, 3-5 to 1-10.

Fermoy thought they had a lead goal as Daly waltzed through and deposited the ball in the net but the whistle had gone for over-carrying. Skibb made the most of the let-off and pulled clear again – they would need every one of those late points.

Scorers for O’Donovan Rossa: R Byrne 1-2, K Davis 0-4 (0-3 f), N Daly 0-3, D Hourihane Snr (penalty), T Hegarty 1-0 each, S Fitzgerald 0-1.

Fermoy: Fermoy: D Lardner 0-5 (0-2f), P de Róiste 0-4, D Daly 0-3, B O’Sullivan 1-0, D Dawson 0-1 (45).

O’DONOVAN ROSSA: R Price; D O’Donovan, D Daly, D Hourihane Jnr; K Hurley, P Crowley, S Fitzgerald; R Bryne, J Shanahan; B Crowley, K Davis, N Daly; D Hourihane Snr, T Hegarty, E Connolly.

FERMOY: D Dawson; S Shanahan, A Creed, R Morrison; G Lardner, D O’Carroll, P Murphy; S Aherne, P De Róiste; D Daly, T Clancy, D O’Callaghan; J Molloy, D Lardner, M Brennan.

Subs: J O’Brien for S Aherne (27, injured), B O’Sullivan for Shanahan (28, injured), B Twomey for Brennan, D O’Flynn for O’Callaghan (both 42), A Aherne for O’Flynn (56).

Referee: P O’Mahony (Kilbrittain).