Four reds and a black card as Cill na Martra defeat Castletownbere to set up PIFC final with Bantry

Cill na Martra 2-12 Castletownbere 1-7 
DAN Ó Duinnín inspired Cill na Martra to victory over Castletownbere and a Bon Secours Premier IFC county final appearance following an ill-tempered clash in Bantry on Sunday evening.

The winners finished with 13 players and Castletownbere with 12 following an ill-disciplined second period in which the Mid-Cork club outlasted their opponents to set up a county final meeting with Bantry Blues.

It was a sometimes overly physical but far from dirty game. A previously entertaining clash became ragged once Castletownebere’s Gary and Billy Murphy were sent to the line in quick succession. Cill na Martra saw out the remaining time despite suffering red and black card offences and utilised Dan Ó Duinnín’s 1-4 haul to qualify for this year’s Cork Premier IFC decider.

Castletownbere fell behind to early Dan Ó Duinnín and Maidhcí Ó Duinnín scores. The Beara club rallied via a brace of Gary Murphy points and when James Harrrington capitalised on a poor kick-out. A scrappy period followed in which Damien Ó hUrdail levelled matters for a third time.

Fintan Fenner converted a free to edge Castletownbere back in front before their opponents enjoyed a purple patch. Consecutive Dan Ó Duinnín, Maidhcí Ó Duinnín and Damien Ó hUrdail efforts stretched the Mid-Cork team’s lead, 0-6 to 0-4.

Castletownbere needed a spark and got it after 26 minutes. Cill na Martra failed to clear a James Harrington free that landed in the square. Billy Murphy pounced to net from close range. An even first half concluded with Dan Ó Duinnín converting a free to send the sides in tied 0-7 to 1-4.

Cill na Martra blitzed their opponents for 1-2 in the opening minutes of the second period. Maidhcí Ó Duinnín palmed to the net either side of Dan Ó Duinnín and Damien Ó hUrdail scores to make it 1-9 to 1-4.

Then came the controversy as Gary Murphy was hauled down for a Castletownbere penalty only for the referee to overrule his original decision following a consolation with his umpires and instead award a hop-ball. Shortly after that, both Gary and Billy Murphy were sent to the line for second yellow card offences leaving Castletownbere with 13 players for the remaining 15 minutes.

A stop-start second half saw Cill na Martra’s Tadhg Ó Corcora receive a straight red and Maidhcí Ó Duinnín a black during a fractious finish.

Castletownbere’s Fintan Fenner was also red-carded just before the end, a period in which Dan Ó Duinnín rubber-stamped Cill na Martra’s county final appearance courtesy of a classy goal.

Scorers for Cill na Martra: D Ó Duinnín 1-4 (0-2 f), M Ó Duinnín 1-2, D Ó hUrdail 0-3, C Mac Lochlainn, S Ó Duinnín, C Ó Duinnín 0-1 each.

Castletownbere: J Harrington 0-3 (0-1 f), B Murphy 1-0, G Murphy 0-2, D Hegarty (0-1 free), F Fenner (0-1 free) 0-1 each.

CILL NA MARTRA: P Ó Críodáin; C Mac Lochlainn, D Ó Connaill, F Ó Faoláin; T Ó Corcora, S Ó Fóirréidh, C Ó Fóirréidh; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Hoillidhe (captain); D Ó Duinnín, D Ó hUrdail, C Ó Duinnín; M Ó Duinnín, F Ó h-Éalaithe, C Ó Meachair.

Subs: M Ó Deasúna for C Ó Meachair (h-t), S Ó Duinnín for F Ó h-Éalaithe (50), G Ó Mocháin for D Ó hUrdail (57), A Ó hUidhir for C Ó Fóirréidh (59).

CASTLETOWNBERE: D Hegarty; L Harrington (c), J Rosales, D Hanley; S McCarthy, T Collins, F Fenner; A O’Sullivan, O Byrne; O Murphy, J Harrington, K O’Sullivan; G Murphy, B Murphy, L Kelly.

Subs: J O’Neill for O Byrne (41), D Dunne for L Kelly (41), J Hanley for O Murphy (45), T Murphy for K O’Sullivan (58).

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).