Cill na Martra battle back to beat Uibh Laoire in PIFC quarter-final

CILL na Martra returned to the final four of the Bons Secours Cork PIFC after they came from behind to sensationally defeat Uibh Laoire in a cracking encounter played in Tom Creedon Park, Macroom. 

The Gaeltacht men trailed by 0-10 to 0-4 with 20 minutes to go but managed to turn it around to earn a tie with Castletownbere in a fortnight.

That they are in the semi-final is thanks to Ciarán Ó Duinnín. The centre-forward hit 2-1 of their final 2-7 as their wave overwhelmed a heartbroken Uibh Laoire.

When they were six down, Cill na Martra’s cause seemed lost. But Ó Duinnín’s goal turned the game upside down. They followed it with three points to take the lead and though Chris Óg Jones levelled matters, Ó Duinnín’s second goal killed off Uibh Laoire. Points from Dan Ó Duinnín, Tadhg Ó Corcora and Maidhchí Ó Duinnín put some polish on the result before Jones’ fifth of the evening proved not to be enough.

The opening sequences of this encounter were of the highest quality with both sides attacking with intent and defending with intensity. Maidhcí Ó Duinnín put the Gaeltacht men in front after forty seconds, Ian Jones then cancelled that out before Cathal Vaughan traded scores with Ciarán Ó Duinnín to leave them tied at 0-2 each with six minutes played. Gradually though, Uibh Laoire began to take control of the game.

Conor O’Leary was busy at midfield, Kevin Manning was tidy at wing back and their inter-county man, Chris Óg Jones kicked a score off both feet to put them ahead. Brain Cronin then pushed them further ahead before a Fionnbarra Ó hEalaithe point made it 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of the opening quarter, with all of the scores coming from play.

From there, the cost of what was at stake began to influence proceedings as the pace winded down. Vaughan pushed Uibh Laoire three clear, and that was to be that for twelve minutes. Dan Ó Duinnín was black-carded for Cill na Martra, but Uibh Laoire failed to take advantage of their numerical supremacy as they went on to kick four wides. 

Ciarán O’Riordan did finally edge them further ahead but then it was time for Ó Duinnín to return before a Micheál Ó Deasúna free left his side trailing by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break.

Things then got worse for Cill na Martra, but they got decidedly better when Ó Duinnín found that goal-den touch.

Scorers for Cill na Martra: C Ó Duinnín 2-2, M Ó Duinnín, D Ó Duinnín (0-1 f) 0-2 each, S Ó Fóirréidh, D Ó hUrdail, M Ó Deasúna (f), T Ó Corcora, F Ó hEalaithe 0-1 each.

Uibh Laoire: C Óg Jones 0-5, C Vaughan 0-3 (0-2 f), I Jones 0-2, B Cronin, C O’Riordan 0-1 each.

CILL NA MARTRA: P Ó Críodáin; C Mac Lochlainn, G Ó Mocháin, F Ó Faoláin; D Ó Conaill, S Ó Fóirréidh, C Ó Fóirréidh; F Ó hEalaithe, G Ó Goillidhe (c); D Ó hUrdail, C Ó Duinnín, D Ó Duinnín; M Ó Duinnín, M Ó Deasúna, S Ó Duinnín.

Subs: A Ó Cuana for S Ó Duinnín (h/t), T Ó Corcora for Ó hEalaithe (34), S Ó Conaill for D Ó Conaill (38), C Ó Meachair for Ó Deasúna (45), E Ó Conaill for Ó hUrdail (60).

UIBH LAOIRE: J Creedon; F McSweeney, D O’Riordan, B Murphy; K Manning, S O’Leary, D O’Donovan; T Roberts, C O’Leary; S O’Riordan, C Óg Jones, B Cronin; C O’Riordan, C Vaughan, I Jones.

Subs: S Lehane for S O’Riordan (49), S Pickering for Cronin (57).

Referee: Michael Collins (Clonakilty).