Senior AFC: Carrigaline score easy victory after strong first half against Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh
Niall Quirke, Carrigaline, battles with Liam O Criodain, Beal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh in the McCarthy Insurance Senior A Football Championship in Kilmurry.
Carrigaline’s excellent first half performance helped them to a comfortable win in the end over Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh in the Cork Senior A FC on Saturday evening in Kilmurry.
Béal Átha struggled in the first half against the wind, hitting eight wides and dropping two attempts short in the first period, and had just three points to show for it. Carrigaline on the other hand had scored 13, and needed to hold their focus on the restart.
The Gaeltacht side hit 1-1 after the restart with brothers Ben and Donagh Seartan combining for a goal, setting up a potential scare for Carrig.
Though Béal Átha showed the right intent, Kevin O’Rielly excelled going forward as Carrig produced a response for everything that was thrown at them, including a goal from their own pair of brothers – with Niall setting up Brian for the finish.
Carrigaline only hit two wides all game and the result never looked in doubt after their first half blitz.
The eventual winners kicked the first two scores as Niall and Brian Coakley split the posts, but Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh quickly replied through Ben Seartan.
Carrig surged forward on the resumption and could have had an early goal when Brian O’Driscoll set up Kevin O’Reilly, but the corner forward was denied by the post.
They hit the woodwork again a minute later, this one from a point attempt but the follow up was well converted by Niall Coakley.
O’Reilly’s first score gave the title favourites a four point lead after 10 minutes, as his pace continued to trouble Ballingeary. O’Reilly’s second goal chance was on target this time, but his powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Darren Ó Coill.
Another free from Niall Coakley put Carrig five ahead while an accurate strike from Ben Seartan dropped short from the strong wind. Though he got a second go, it too dropped short, this time hitting the crossbar.
A couple from the recently transferred O’Driscoll and another from Niall Coakley made it 0-10 to 0-2, as Béal Átha continued to struggle. Carrig hit their first wide in the 25th minute, a testament to their outstanding shooting accuracy with the wind.
The outstanding performances from O’Driscoll and O’Reilly helped Carrig to a 10 point lead at the break, and it was already a long way back for Johnny Crowley’s side.
Ballingeary needed a strong start to the second period and Ben Seartan’s early point helped, before an excellently worked move from Donagh and Ben Seartan allowed the former to slot it into the back of the net, 1-4 to 0-13.
A brace of fisted points from O’Reilly were sandwiched by a long-range effort from Conchur Ó Loingsigh. Even as Béal Átha continued to pick up scores, Carrig kept landing the jabs that would be crucial.
After 46 minutes, Brian Coakley got his goal, a killer for Béal Átha who couldn’t close the gap in the final quarter, eventually losing by eight points.
N Coakley 0-6 (0-2 f), B Coakley 1-3, K O’Reilly 0-5, B O’Driscoll 0-3 (0-1 f), D Griffin 0-1.
B Seartan 0-5 (0-3 f), D Seartan 1-1, C Ó Loingsigh 0-2, S Ó Lúasa, S Ó Tuama 0-1 each.
S Mellet; N Quirke, I Sheerin, K McCarthy; K Kavanagh, C O’Herlihy, J McCarthy (Cpt); B O’Driscoll , D Griffin; A Cohalen, B Coakley, E Ryle; D Greene, N Coakley, K O’Reilly.
E Landers for B Coakley (47, inj).
: D Ó Coill; J Ó Donnchú, C Ó Duinnín, D Ó Ceallacháin; D Seartan, E Ó Duinnín (Cpt), N Ó Laoire; S Ó Lúasa, D Ó Briain; M Ó Riordáin, C Ó Loingsigh, S Ó Muineacháin; L Ó Críodáin, S Ó Tuama, B Seartan.
G Ó Laoire for N Ó Laoire (HT), C Ó Tuama for Ó Ceallacháin (45, inj), L Seartan for L Ó Críodáin (53), D Ó Ceallacháin for Ó Riordáin (55).
Shane Scanlon (Newcestown)
App?
