Premier SFC: Late Fionnán Leahy goal helps St Michael's edge past Carbery Rangers

St Michael’s: 1-8 

Carbery Rangers: 0-8 

A Fionnán Leahy goal late on proved crucial as St Michael’s defeated Carbery Rangers in a tense McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC tie at sun-splashed Brinny on Saturday evening.

In this opening Group 2 encounter, it was the city side who did enough to claim two precious points considering Castlehaven and Clonakilty are also in this difficult group. Pat Doyle’s side trailed by two points until the green flag after 53 minutes which turned the game. There wasn't much between these teams but St Michael's extra bit of quality did show in the closing stages. 

Having not recorded a win in the championship last year, this is a huge blow for Seamus Hayes’ outfit who didn’t do an awful lot wrong in this one but fine margins proved decisive for them as they are now firmly on the back foot.

The Rosscarbery-based outfit were aided by a slight wind advantage in the first half but they fell behind after two minutes through a Keith Hegarty point. Carbery Rangers quickly replied when Mark Hodnett converted a free. 

St Michael’s then cut open the Carbery Rangers defence after five minutes which resulted in Emmett Sheehan having a glorious goal opportunity but Carbery Rangers goalkeeper Paul Shanahan made an outstanding point blank save. 

There was a nice tempo to this game and the sides exchanged points before a pair of Luke O’Herlihy points, one which was a free, pushed the Dazzlers two clear after the first quarter, 0-4 to 0-2. St Michael’s wouldn’t score for the remainder of the half.

The West Cork side needed a spark and were given a boost when St Michael’s Joe Golden received a black card after 19 minutes. That moment most certainly spurred on Carbery Rangers as they kicked two successive white flags courtesy of a Mark Hodnett free and a Peadar O’Rourke effort.

Carbery Rangers had two wides in quick succession before they did take their chance when Jerry O’Riordan pointed as Ross led for the first time. 

Golden came back on for Pat Doyle’s charges after his black card but they failed to score in the remaining minutes of the half as Carbery Rangers led 0-5 to 0-4 at the break. 

On the resumption, with St Michael’s now aided by the wind, they did try to force the issue in the early stages which suited their opposition. The first score of the new half didn’t arrive until seven minutes in when John O’Rourke kicked over a straight forward free for the West Cork side. Rory O’Shaughnessy got St Michael’s first score in 25 minutes when he landed a long range point, 0-6 to 0-5 after 40 minutes.

Kelan Scannell pushed Carbery Rangers two in front before St Michael’s bagged a goal after 53 minutes. Rory Kavanagh went on a marauding run and had the guile to set up Leahy and the latter finished with aplomb from a difficult angle, 1-5 to 0-7.

The momentum was with the city side heading down the home straight as they kicked three unanswered points to lead by four going into injury time.

St Michael’s were reduced to 14 players in the dying embers when Eoin Hickey picked up a second yellow card but it wasn't going to prove costly. Mark Hodnett did tap over a free for Carbery Rangers but it was merely a consolation score as St Michael’s came out on top. 

The Dazzlers meet Castlehaven in their next group game while Carbery Rangers take on Clonakilty.

Scorers for St Michael’s: L O’Herlihy 0-4 (0-2 f), F Leahy 1-0, K Hegarty 0-2, R O’Shaughnessy, R Kavanagh 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: M Hodnett 0-3 f, B Hodnett, K Scannell, J O’Riordan, J O’Rourke (f), P O’Rourke 0-1 each.

ST MICHAEL’S: M Burke; B Cain, J Golden, F Leahy; R Kavanagh, D Meaney, E Sheehan; E Hickey, R O’Shaughnessy; K Hegarty, A Murphy (c), T Grainger; A Hennessy, E O’Donovan, L O’Herlihy.

Subs: S Murphy for A Hennessy (41), E Buckley for E O’Donovan (50).

CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan (c); James O’Riordan, T O’Rourke, K Eady; Jerry O’Riordan, Padráig Hodnett, P Hurley; B Kerr, K Scannell; B Hodnett, J O’Rourke, B Linehan; M Hodnett, P O’Rourke, D Hayes.

Subs: J Hodnett for B Linehan (h-t), J Fitzpatrick for B Kerr (36), C McCarthy for Padráig Hodnett (41), C Santry for P Hurley (55), Paul Hodnett for K Scannell (58).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).