Premier SFC: Donncha O'Connor impresses in goal as Duhallow brush aside UCC 

Duhallow: 4-13 

UCC: 1-12 

Duhallow have advanced to the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC Divisions/Colleges section final after easing past UCC at Mallow on Friday evening.

This semi-final contest was one-sided as Ger O’Sullivan’s team, who made the semi-finals of the championship proper last year, will face Muskerry in the decider. 

2010 All-Ireland SFC winner Donncha O'Connor was between the sticks for this one and he performed admirably, making two super saves in the second half. 

Duhallow were down two key players due to long-term injuries in Millstreet pair Darragh Cashman (Cork senior footballer) and Kevin Crowley (former Cork senior footballer), in what was a solid team performance by the winners.

Duhallow did all the running in the early stages despite playing against the wind as they kicked two of the first three points. The winners scored a well worked goal after eight minutes. Luke Murphy, who pulled the strings throughout, set up David O’Connor and the latter finished calmly.

The Skull and Crossbones were under the guidance of the legendary Dr Con Murphy and their response to conceding the goal was points from Robert Quirke and a Cathail O’Mahony free.

The sides then traded white flags as Duhallow led 1-3 to 0-4 with 14 minutes to the break. Diarmaid Phelan reduced the gap down to a point before the college suffered a sucker punch after 19 minutes when Jack Curtin goaled after a splendid Seamus Hickey pass, 2-3 to 0-5. Ger O’Sullivan’s team drove home their advantage in the final 10 minutes of the half, outscoring their opposition 1-3 to 0-1. The goal coming after 29 minutes when Murphy finished into the roof of the net, 3-6 to 0-6 at half-time.

Duhallow had the wind advantage for the second half, and they had the experience to keep their youthful opposition at arms-length. They led 3-8 to 0-8 six minutes in. Then Duhallow netminder Donncha O’Connor got down well to deny Cork footballer Cathail O’Mahony a goal from close range. It looked like it would sneak into the bottom corner. Great save.

Quirke kicked over a beauty of a 45 for UCC but Duhallow were in control, hitting three of the next four points, 3-11 to 0-10 with eight minutes remaining.

A fourth Duhallow goal arrived after 53 minutes when David O’Connor got his second green flag. Seamus Hickey pointed for Duhallow before goalkeeper Donncha O’Connor made another save, this time denying Ian Jennings as the Ballydesmond man spread himself well. 

The sides swapped points before UCC got 1-1 late on, merely consolation scores. Quirke with a palmed finish to the net. There was no question about the result.

Duhallow and Muskerry will meet on the last weekend in August in the final of this particular section.

Scorers for Duhallow: David O’Connor 2-2, L Murphy 1-3, G O’Sullivan, Seamus Hickey 0-3 each, J Curtin 1-0, Shane Hickey, J Linehan 0-1 each.

UCC: R Quirke 1-4 (0-1 45), C O’Mahony 0-3 (0-2 f), D Phelan 0-2 (0-1 f), S Ahern (f), T Cunningham, D McMahon 0-1 each.

DUHALLOW: Donncha O’Connor (Ballydesmond); S Curtin (Rockchapel), K Cremin (Boherbue), D Buckley (Boherbue); Shane Hickey (Millstreet), C O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), C Murphy (Castlemagner); Seamus Hickey (Rockchapel), L Moynihan (Boherbue); J Curtin (Rockchapel), C Walsh (Cullen), M McAulliffe (Rockchapel); G O’Sullivan (Boherbue), David O’Connor (Boherbue), L Murphy (Cullen).

Subs: C Curtin (Rockchapel) for L Moynihan (42), J Kelleher (Dromtarriffe) for Shane Hickey (46), J Linehan (Millstreet) for J Curtin (50), D O’Callaghan (Ballydesmond) for M McAuliffe (54), F Cronin (Cullen) for C Murphy (56).

UCC (Cork clubs unless stated): D Treanor (Tyholland, Monaghan); S Nix (Kerins O’Rahillys, Kerry), N Lordan (Ballinora), J Rosales-Harrington (Castletownbere); D Murray (Glanmire), D Phelan (Aghada), M O’Rourke (Cobh); I Jennings (Kilmacabea), F O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar, Kerry); S Ahern (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), T Cunningham (Kilshannig), N Davis (Ballinora); D McMahon (Canovee), C O’Mahony (Mitchelstown), R Quirke (Ballinora).

Subs: D Holland (Argideen Rangers) for S Nix (31), J Murphy (Kinsale) for F O’Sullivan (h-t), J O’Riordan (Glenville) for S Ahern (43), F Desmond (Ballymartle) for N Davis (48), N Davis (Ballinora) for J Murphy (52, inj), S Ahern (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin) for C O’Mahony (56, temp).

Referee: Ciarán Murphy (Glanworth).