PIHC: Carrigaline stunned as Watergrasshill roar back from 10 points down

Watergrasshill 2-19 Carrigaline 2-17 

 Watergrasshill edged out Carrigaline with an extraordinary comeback in this PIHC first round clash in Ballincollig. 

Trailing by 10 points midway through the second half Watergrasshill looked out of sorts and out of ideas as Carrigaline had dominated this game. But some brilliant free-taking by Adam Murphy kept them in touch and six points without reply got them back within four after 58 minutes.

Two brilliant goals from Sean Desmond and Brendan Lehane propelled them to a famous victory as their delirious supporters celebrated wildly. Carrigaline’s Rob O’Shea scored a superb individual goal deep in injury time to reduce the gap to the minimum but another Adam Murphy free was the final score of a truly pulsating clash.

Carrigaline’s David Drake registered the opening score of this brilliant contest, and Brian Kelleher added a placed effort to double their lead. Watergrasshill responded with two great scores from Anthony Cronin and Chris Healy. Further points from Drake, Rob O’Shea and Brian Kelleher ensured Carrigaline led by 0-7 to 0-4 after 16 minutes. 

Watergrasshill had to work very hard for their scores and a placed effort from Adam Murphy and a good effort from Ciaran O’Leary kept them in touch. But Carrigaline finished out the half strongly with a brace from the lively Brian Kelleher and a well-taken goal from Cian Barry to lead by 1-11 to 0-6 at the break.

Two placed efforts from Brian Kelleher extended their lead before Watergrasshill’s Adam Murphy’s free was comfortably saved. David Drake added his third of the evening in superb style to put his side comfortably ahead, 1-14 to 0-7 after 42 minutes. 

This game looked to be petering out until Adam Murphy landed two placed efforts which triggered an incredible response from his side. Further points from Brendan Lehane, Sean Desmond, Liam Foley, and Adam Murphy reduced the gap to four. 

But Carrigaline looked to have stopped the momentum when substitute Finn O’Connell landed a superb point from play and his defence cleared off the line to maintain a five-point lead. Adam Murphy landed another free before a brilliant goal from Sean Desmond reduced the gap to the minimum. 

The sides were level within seconds following a superb point from Adam Murphy.

Watergrasshill substitute James McCarthy put his side in front before Brendan Lehane scored a second goal in injury time. To be fair Carrigaline went straight up the field and the evergreen Rob O’Shea scored a classy goal which left a single point between the sides. 

But there was no stopping Watergrasshill now and it was fitting that Adam Murphy clipped over his 11th point to cap off a classic championship encounter.

Scorers for Watergrasshill: A Murphy 0-11 (0-4 f, 0-1 sl), B Lehane, S Desmond 1-1 each, A Cronin, C Healy, C O’Leary, J McCarthy, A Spriggs, L Foley 0-1 each.

Carrigaline: B Kelleher 0-10 (0-6 f), R O’Shea 1-2, C Barry 1-0, D Drake 0-3, K O’Reilly, F O’Connell 0-1 each.

WATERGRASSHILL: A Foley; C Healy, D McCarthy, D Roche; M O’Driscoll, I O’Callaghan, D O’Leary; A Spriggs, C O’Leary; A Cronin, B Lehane, R Murray; S Desmond, P O’Leary, A Murphy. 

Subs: L Foley for C Healy (h-t), D O’Farrell for D Roche (h-t), K O’Neill for R Murray (h-t), J McCarthy for A Spriggs (55).

CARRIGALINE:

R Foster; C Vaughan, S Williamson, D Stack; N O’Keeffe, D Griffin, R McCarthy; R Kelleher, C Barry; D Greene, D Drake, R O’Shea; C Kearney, K O’Reilly, B Kelleher. 

Sub: F O’Connell for C Kearney (45).

Referee: P O’Mahony (Kilbrittain).