Cill Na Martra show great form to come from behind and beat Milltown-Castlemaine in IFC semi final

Cill na Martra (Cork) 0-13 

Milltown-Castlemaine (Kerry) 0-10 

MUSKERRY'S Cill na Martra fought back from two points down early in the second-half to take victory over Milltown-Castlemaine in a tense AIB Munster Club IFC semi-final on their home turf in Cill na Martra on Sunday afternoon.

The result breaks the Kerry stranglehold in this competition, and the honour fell to Kingdom native John Evans, who is coach of Cill na Martra.

To come out on top was a tall order for the underdogs, but they got the job done in admirable fashion. Once they settled, they set about the task.

Passion and pride the order of the day, and they were backed all the way by wonderful local support.

In the end, both sides finished with 13 players.

For the winners, their captain Gearóid Ó Goillidhe received a straight red a minute from time, while Tadhg Ó Corcora got a second yellow in stoppage.

Kieran O’Carroll got a straight red for Milltown-Castlemaine also in stoppage, and at this juncture they had also lost Anthony Kelliher to a black card.

After leading 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval, all the Cill na Martra good work was undone after the restart with Milltown-Castlemaine fighting back with four unanswered points from Gavin Horan, Éanna O’Connor, Cillian Burke and Cathal Moriarty to take the lead. 

They tried to make further inroads, but to their credit the Muskerry side achieved parity twice, 0-9 apiece with the 15 minutes plus, remaining.

The introduction of Micheál Ó Deasúna helped steady the ship.

And what a hectic closing period it turned out to be.

Damien Ó hUrdail - who had to see out the final stages on the sideline, his black card allowing him back only deep in injury time - and Maidhcí Ó Duinnín (3) finding the target, as against one point from Milltown sub Conor Spillane in the fourth quarter.

The Kerry champions were flat out, the impact of the county final appeared to take its toll.

It was 0-2 each after a tentative first quarter, with brothers and defenders Seán and Cianie Ó Fóirréidh replying to Brendan Casey and Éanna O’Connor points.

Cill na Martra gained a foothold around the middle third, and by the interval they built up a four point interval lead through Seán Ó Fóirréidh, Tadhg Ó Corcora and Damien Ó hUrdail (2) with every player putting their shoulder to the wheel.

Cill na Martra now move forward to a provincial showdown next month against Mungret St Pauls of Limerick.

Scorers for Cill na Martra: D Ó hUrdail (0-2 frees) and M Ó Duinnín (0-3 each), M Ó Deasúna (0-1 45) and S Ó Fóirréidh (0-2 each), C Ó Fóirréidh, D Ó Conaill and T Ó Corcora (0-1 each).

Scorers for Milltown-Castlemaine: É O’Connor (frees) and C Moriarty (0-3 each), G Hora, B Casey, C Burke and C Spillane (0-1 each).

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

Subs: M Ó Deasúna for C Ó Meachair (half-time), S Ó Duinnín for A Ó Cuana (54), G Ó Mocháin for M Ó Deasúna (62).

MILLTOWN-CASTLEMAINE: C Leane; G McKenna, P Wrenn, D Kelliher; D Roche, K O’Carroll, A Kelliher; D Dennehy, G Horan; B Casey, É O’Connor, D O’Neill; C Moriarty (Capt), C Burke, J O’Sullivan.

Subs: K McKenna for D O’Neill (38), B Delaney for K McKenna (50 inj), C Spillane for J O’Sullivan (55).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).