Premier IFC final: Shane Ó Duinnín the hero as Cill na Martra come good at the death
Cill Na Martra players celebrate after defeating Bantry Blues during the Bon Secours Premier IFC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
SHANE Ó Duinnín was the Cill na Martra super-sub as his three late points gave them victory by the narrowest margin against Bantry Blues in Sunday’s Bon Secours Hospital Cork Premier IFC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Having lost the 2022 final to Kanturk, Bantry looked to be set to make amends as they turned a six-point deficit into a three-point lead, 2-13 to 3-7, following Paddy Cronin’s point on 54 minutes.
The cushion was almost wiped out as Cill na Martra sub Micheál Ó Deasúna had a goal chance, Mike Casey saving brilliantly. The Muskerry side had been awarded advantage and Dan Ó Duinnín pointed the free.
Then, when Ó Deasúna produced a great catch to threaten another goal, Casey again saved but Shane Ó Duinnín ensured that they got something from it. That left it 2-13 to 3-9 and, after Maidhcí Ó Duinnín’s 62nd-minute effort came back off the post, Shane Ó Duinnín was on hand to level.
A draw seemed likely but Cill na Martra had time for one last effort and Seán Ó Fóirréidh found Ó Duinnín, who landed a monumental effort to ensure victory.
They had been coasting when Dan Ó Duinnín struck for their third goal on 35 and a 3-6 to 1-6 lead. However, Bantry played their way back into the game with a dream-like period of football.
Good points from Arthur Coakley and Kevin Casey had them back to within four and that deficit was quartered when Paddy Cronin set up Ruairí Deane for a fine goal, a low shot to the corner.
Impressive corner-back Cillian O’Brien had them level before Cronin and Deane combined for the lead score, 2-10 to 3-6. With Deane pulling the strings and Kevin Casey also prominent, two good Coakley points had them further clear.
After Shane Keevers had opened the scoring with a Bantry point, Cill na Martra fired back with a goal. After centre-back Seán Ó Fóirréidh drove forward, he exchanged passes with Ciarán Ó Duínnín. While the latter had a chance to shoot, he unselfishly played the ball to Críostóir Ó Meachair for an easy finish.
If Bantry were rattled, they didn’t show it as their next score was a goal, too. A lovely passing move saw Dara McCarthy, Seán O’Leary and Shane Keevers have their hands on the ball before the latter passed to Arthur Coakley. He swept the ball home and then added a good point for a 1-2 to 1-0 lead.
With two frees from him responding to Maidhcí Ó Duinnín’s point, it was 1-4 to 1-1 after 14 minutes but they were not to score again before half-time.
Cill na Martra began to find their feet, working the ball incisively, as Bantry struggled to create opportunities in scoreable areas. The Gaeltacht side were level on the quarter-hour as Danny Ó Conaill’s delivery from the right was judged perfectly to allow Maidhcí Ó Duinnín to get there just before goalkeeper Michael Casey and poke the ball to the net.
Three more points followed in quick succession, two from Ciarán Ó Duinnín and one from Maidhcí, had them in a commanding position and the lead could have been solidified as three more goal chances were created.
They all fell to the Ó Duinníns– Ciarán flashed an effort wide, then Maidhcí was crowded out by Casey and full-back Tim Cronin before Seth Thornton got in a superb block of Dan’s effort.
By this stage, Bantry had brought Ruairí Deane out to midfield as they sought to regain a foothold. After Danny O’Connaill had moved Cill na Martra four in front, the Carbery side almost had a fortuitous goal in injury time as Jack O’Neill’s point effort dropped short but nearly crept into the net.
When Damien Ó hUrdail pointed early in the second half, Cill na Martra were five to good and coasting. Even when Seán O’Leary ended 18 scoreless minutes for Bantry and Deane added a good free, Cill na Martra had a devastating riposte as Ciarán Ó Duinnín set Dan Ó Duinnín away for a great finish.
They were in a great position and they did ultimately end up winning, but not without plenty of twists and turns.
M Ó Duinnín 1-2, D Ó Duinnín 1-1 (0-1 f), S Ó Duinnín 0-3, C Ó Meachair 1-0, C Ó Duinnín, D Ó hUrdail 0-2 each, D Ó Conaill 0-1 each.
A Coakley 1-6 (0-3 f), R Deane 1-2 (0-1 f), S O’Leary, P Cronin, K Casey, S Keevers, C O’Brien 0-1 each.
M Casey; T Cronin, S Thornton, C O’Brien; M Óg O’Sullivan, E Minehane, J O’Neill; B Foley, S O’Leary; D McCarthy, K Casey, S Keevers; P Cronin, R Deane, A Coakley.
C Cronin for Minehane (44), D Daly for McCarthy (57), S Coughlan for K Casey (60).
P Ó Críodáin; C Mac Lochlainn, G Ó Mocháin, F Ó Faoláin; D Ó Conaill, S Ó Fóirréidh, C Ó Fóirréidh; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goillidhe; F Ó hÉalaithe, D Ó hUrdail, C Ó Duinnín; C Ó Meachair, D Ó Duinnín, M Ó Duinnín.
S Ó Duinnín for Ó Goilllidhe (14-16, blood), M Ó Deasúna for Ó Meachair (44), S Ó Duinnín for Ó Cuana (48), D Mac Lochlainn for C Ó Fóirréidh (56).
Cormac Dineen (Douglas).
App?
