Cill na Martra impress in home win over Kilmihil with Dan Ó Duinnín in top form
Ciaran Ó Duinnin, Cill na Martra, gets his shot away ahead of Scott Cafferky and David Coughlan, Kilmihil, to score a goal. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
A special day in the history of Cill na Martra resulted in an emphatic win over Kilmihil in the AIB Munster Club IFC quarter-final at Cill na Martra.
The Gaeltacht village in west Cork was decked out in blue and white for this momentous occasion, and the big home support behind their players had much to cheer about.
They will have their backing again in a fortnight when they host the winners of next Sunday’s Kerry IFC final between Fossa and Milltown-Castlemaine in the semi-final.
Once Cill na Martra settled into their stride, they romped to victory over 14-man Kilmihil. Not fazed either when Shane Downes clipped over the opening point for the Banner men after five minutes.
It was a performance that oozed with confidence, this commanding success plain sailing for the entire second half.
It is a month since Kilmihil claimed county honours over Kilrush Shamrocks by a single point, and it appeared the long lay-off told, as they were outplayed.
The John Evans-coached team welcomed back the suspended Tadhg Ó Corcora and he was given the task of curtailing Kilmihil danger man Ciarán Downes.
In attack, Dan Ó Duinnín showed the way for the winners, he scored 0-9, 0-6 from play, before being withdrawn in the second half. He also made an incisive run deep alongside his brother Ciarán, who confidently finished a 20th-minute goal that effectively killed off this as a contest.
The only green flag of the game enabled them lead 1-9 to 0-5 at the break, with six different scorers on the board, whilst Kilmihil were reliant on Ciarán Downes.
It was four points to one after quarter of an hour. Dan Ó Duinnín (2), Damien Ó hUrdail and Criostóir Ó Meachair had scores on the board.
Kilmihil brought it back to two through Ciarán Downes, but the overall power and accuracy of the home side came to the fore.
The mood improved considerably when the Ó Duinnín brothers combined for the only green flag of the hour, and from there on they played like champions.
Their seven-point half-time lead was a true reflection of their dominance.
Kilmihil, with the breeze at their backs, tried to make a game of it in the second half, quick-fire points from David Lernihan and Martin O’Leary reduced the deficit.
But it only spurred on the home side, as they got back on the scoring track straight away. They kicked eight straight points, while keeping the visitors scoreless for the remainder of the hour, plus.
Four of those from Dan Ó Duinnín, Micheál Ó Deasúna got two and there was one each by the hero from the county final two weeks ago Shane Ó Duinnín and Damien Ó hUrdail.
It didn’t help Kilmihil’s cause that Dan Keating received a straight red card in the second half, meaning his teammates played the final 20 minutes a man down.
D Ó Duinnín 0-9 (0-3 f), C Ó Duinnín 1-0, M Ó Deasúna 0-3 (0-2 f), D Ó hUrdail 0-2 (0-1 f). F Ó Faoláin, S Ó Duinnín, C Ó Meachair 0-1 each.
C Downes 0-4 (0-2 f), D Lernihan, M O’Leary, S Downes 0-1 each.
P Ó Críodáin; C MacLochlainn, T Ó Corcora, F Ó Faoláin; D Ó Conaill, S Ó Fóirréidh, C Ó Fóirréidh; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goillidhe (c); D Ó Duinnín, C Ó Duinnín, D Ó hUrdail; F Ó hÉalaithe, M Ó Deasúna, C Ó Meachair.
S Ó Duinnín for C Ó Meachair (45), E Ó Conaill for D Ó Duinnín (51), G Ó Mocháin for C Ó Fóirréidh (53), A Ó hUidhir for A Ó Cuana (55), A Ó Loingsigh for D Ó hUrdail (56).
S Scott Cafferkey; F Febbraro (jc), J Finucane, M Keating; J Browne, D Keating, G Downes; D Lernihan, S Lineen; S Downes, C Downes, G O’Grady; M O’Leary (jc), S Crowley, D Coughlan.
C Crowley for G O’Grady (45), C Finucane for D Lernihan (53), N Reidy for D Coughlan (55), P O’Grady for S Crowley (56).
Séamus Mulvihill (Kerry).
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