IAHC: Youghal survive double relegation as Douglas go down after nine-goal thriller
Youghal's Brett Moloney celebrates a goal against Douglas during the Co-Op Superstores Cork IAHC relegation playoff at Carrigtwohill. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
YOUGHAL defeated Douglas in dramatic fashion the IAHC Relegation Playoff in Carrigtwohill on Saturday after an incredible duel. Douglas unfortunately couldn't escape relegation two years in a row, and will now drop to Premier Junior as their east Cork opponents breathe a sigh of relief.
Youghal started with a bang, as Sean Smiddy delivered the ball deep into Bill Cooper. Once the Imokilly man had the ball in his hand, a goal looked inevitable, and he smashed it home from close range within a minute of throw in.
The team in maroon and yellow followed up with a score from Alan Frahill O’Connor, but Douglas struck back through Conor O’Donovan. The full-forward received the pass from Ian Lucey and made no mistake, 1-1 to 1-0.
Youghal managed a second goal after 18 minutes, as a quick counterattack saw Rory McMahon and Brett Moloney involved in the build-up, before Devon O’Donoghue struck it sweetly into the bottom corner.
The Imokilly outfit had a third five minutes later, as Moloney again teed up O’Donoghue, putting them six points ahead after 23 minutes.
The east Cork side pulled clear, scoring four unanswered, including a brilliant point from Oisin Hill who, under pressure from the Douglas backs, kicked the ball over the bar.
Despite having three goals, Youghal were sloppy going forward in the first half, and their nine wides to Douglas’ one would have been a cause of concern were it not for their 10-point lead at the break.
Youghal started the second period well as James O’Mahony pointed, before Moloney got their fourth goal to make it 4-10 to 1-6 after 33 minutes.
Douglas wouldn’t concede defeat and hit two points back. Sean O’Leary made a great run up field, before striking it powerfully beyond Jack Corcoran for a second green flag for the city side.
Within five minutes they had their third goal, as Fionnan Barry fired at goal from a close range free to reduce the gap to six with 15 to go.
Youghal closed out the game strongly, extending their lead to eight, but in added time Douglas’ Barry curled one brilliantly into the top corner after pulling on the sliotar, but Youghal went up the other end to score a fifth goal through McMahon.
D O’Donoghue 2-3, B Moloney 1-5 (0-5 f), B Cooper, R McMahon 1-1 each, J Murray, S Smiddy, J O’Mahony, A Frahill O’Connor, E Cronin, O Hill, C O’Mahony 0-1 each.
F Barry 2-2 (1-2 f), C O’Donovan 1-3, M Dolan 0-3 f, S O’Leary 1-0, C O’Keeffe, E O’Sullivan, D O’Callaghan, N Hartnett 0-1 each.
J Corcoran; K Browne, C Geary, N Roche; E Cronin, J Cooper, J Ormond; J O’Mahony, S Smiddy; B Moloney, A Frahill O’Connor, O Hill; D O’Donoghue, B Cooper, J Murray.
R McMahon for J Murray (11-18, bs), C O’Mahony for Murray (50), R Coady for Smiddy, McMahon for Frahill O’Connor (both 60+1).
K O’Neill; D O’Callaghan, S O’Donoghue, S O’Leary; M O’Callaghan, E O’Flynn, D Kelly; M Dolan, B O’Connor; R Hanley, N Hartnett, I Lucey; E O’Sullivan, C O’Donovan, C O’Keeffe.
F Barry for O’Donovan, S St. Ledger for O’Keeffe, G O’Shea for O’Sullivan (all 40).
Brian Coniry (Crosshaven)
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