Premier SHC: Declan Dalton scores late winner as Fr O'Neills beat Newcestown
Fr. O'Neill's Peter Hassett holds possession despite the attentions of Newcestown pair Luke Meade and Eoghan Collins in the Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC game at Carrigaline. Picture: David Creedon
Declan Dalton was the match-winner as Fr O’Neills earned their first Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC victory by squeezing past Newcestown at Carrigaline on Sunday.
Trailing by six points after Newcestown enjoyed a great start to the second half, O’Neills hit form in the final quarter.
Dalton’s eighth point of the day tied matters in the 55th minute – the first time in the second half that parity had prevailed – and then sub Michael Wall had them in front, 1-16 to 2-12.
In the final minute of normal time, Newcestown won a long-range free, but their usual dead-ball taker, Edmund Kenneally, had been withdrawn. Richard O’Sullivan kept his composure to tie matters again but there was time for more drama.
When centre-back Daniel Harrington – so central to O’Neills’ resurgence – won a ball at midfield, he fed Ciarr O’Connor, who in turn found Dalton on the left flank and he did the needful, bringing his personal tally to 1-9.
While another Newcestown attack came to nothing – they felt David Buckley was being fouled – they made one last foray and Luke Meade found Colm Dinneen. Surrounded, a goal attempt was the better option for him but Harrington made a superb block to ensure the win for the East Cork side.
Having drawn two and lost one last year, their first at the top grade of Cork hurling, this maiden win takes on extra significance given that games against Blackrock and St Finbarr’s are to come. They will take heart from the character shown but both they and Newcestown will reflect on bulging wides columns – the West Cork side had 17 with O’Neills registering 15.
That wastefulness prevented the Ballymacoda/Ladysbridge club from settling in the wake Niall Kelly’s point for Newcestown from the throw-in.
Four chances went begging before Newcestown’s next attack yielded a goal – Luke Meade’s free was won by Kenneally, whose lovely pass allowed Jack Meade to produce a good finish to the net.
That strike provided insulation for Newcestown as O’Neills eventually found their stride and made use of the wind. However, after Cillian Broderick’s nice point left one in it, 1-2 to 0-4, Newcestown struck again. Cathal Wilson’s puckout was the catalyst, with Buckley doing well before finding Kelly, who in turn played in Seán O’Donovan for a second goal.
Almost immediately, though, that four-point lead was cut back down to one as Dalton drilled a free from 25 yards to the net and a sideline cut and free from the Cork player had them in front for the first time – but for a strong Fionn Keane block on Jason Hankard, a second goal might even have accrued.
Newcestown, having been afflicted by poor shooting as the half wore on, improved coming up to half-time as points from Buckley and Kenneally (free) sent them in leading, 2-4 to 1-6. On the resumption, they pushed on further.
Six of the seven points went their way, Buckley and Dineen with the pick of them, and it was 2-10 to 1-7 with 22 minutes left.
However, O’Neills never panicked and made the most of let-offs when Newcestown could have kept themselves further ahead. Three points in quick succession, from Kevin O’Sullivan, Brockerick and Joe Millerick, had them within two and they could even afford Dalton firing a speculative goal effort wide after a quick free on 53 minutes.
A long-range dead ball from him was followed by John Millerick’s leveller and they were back in front when Dalton sent over a free brought in for dissent. Wall’s point left things the way they would be at the end – O’Neills ahead by a point – but there were a couple more twists and turns to come.
D Dalton 1-9 (1-4 f, 0-1 sideline), C Broderick 0-3, K O’Sullivan, J Hankard, Joe Millerick, M Wall, John Millerick 0-1 each.
S O’Donovan, J Meade 1-1 each, E Kenneally 0-3f, D Buckley, T Twomey, C O’Donovan 0-2 each, C Dinneen, R O’Sullivan (0-1f) 0-1 each.
P O'Sullivan; E Motherway, G Millerick, M Millerick; M O'Keeffe, D Harrington, C O'Connor; P McMahon, Joe Millerick; P Hassett, K O'Sullivan, J Hankard; B Dunne, D Dalton, C Broderick.
R Cullinane for O’Keeffe (half-time), John Millerick for McMahon, M Wall for Hassett (both 45), R Kenneally for Hankard (53).
C Wilson; F Keane, G O’Donovan, M McSweeney; C O’Neill, L Meade, E Collins; T Twomey, C O’Donovan; S O’Donovan, J Meade, R O’Sullivan; C Dinneen, D Buckley, E Kenneally.
N Kelly for S O’Donovan (49), C O’Donovan for Kenneally (58).
S Stokes (Tullylease).
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