SAFC: Dohenys beat Fermoy to get back on track

Dohenys: 1-13 

Fermoy: 1-8 

Last year’s beaten finalists Dohenys have kickstarted their campaign after getting the better of Fermoy in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC at Ballygarvan on Saturday evening. 

The Dunmanway side lost their championship opener three weeks ago and knew they had to reply in this one and they did thanks to a strong first half performance. They made use of the relatively strong wind, going into the dressing rooms nine points up at the short whistle. 

Keith White was the star of the show, with his electric pace causing Fermoy untold problems. The forward landed 0-5, with four coming from play. Centre-back Cullan Barry also stood out, nullifying Fermoy's attackers, while also chipping in with three points including two frees. 

Fermoy also lost first day out so it was no surprise that there was no quarter asked or given here with plenty of bite. The North Cork side could have won on another day, but a slow start and wayward shooting was their downfall. They registered seven wides in the first half, with all of them very scoreable. 

In a keenly contested Group 2 encounter with so much on the line, Dohenys were aided by the wind, and led 0-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes before a Barry free from an acute angle extended the Dunmanway side's advantage as they were slowly building ahead of steam.

Ben Twomey landed a free for Fermoy, but poor shooting was leaving them down. On the other hand, Dohenys were clinical. Last year's runners-up, landed five points on the trot with Cork footballer Fionn Herlihy’s effort the pick of those scores.

Declan O’Dwyer’s charges were showing their class and raised a green flag after 24 minutes when Herlihy’s weak shot nestled into the net following a pass by White, 1-8 to 0-2.

Twomey bisected the posts for what was a much-needed score for Fermoy, but they failed to build on it as White went down the other end to fist over a point. The sides traded frees before the break, with Gavin Farr converting for Dohenys and Twomey doing the business for his team, 1-10 to 0-4 at half-time. 

Fermoy needed a strong start to the second as they were now helped by the strong wind, and even though sub David Lardner clipped over a free, which was a mark, a minute in, a sustained comeback never looked likely. 

The teams exchanged points before Dohenys had the chance to put the game out of sight after 42 minutes. Herlihy and White were involved which resulted in Donal Rice having a chance from close range, but he missed the target. A big goal chance.

It was a poor second half. Dohenys went into their shell and Fermoy couldn’t break it down fully as they searched for scores, most importantly a green flag or two. 

Fermoy did kick two of the next three points but trailed 1-12 to 0-8 after 55 minutes. The Avondhu club did get their goal in the first minute of injury time through Twomey, who finished superbly. Merely a consolation. 

Dohenys used their experience in the remaining minutes to keep their opponents at bay. Sub Paudie Crowley put the icing on the cake for the winners with a fine point.

Dohenys face West Cork rivals O’Donovan Rossa in a mouthwatering derby in four weeks in the final group match while Fermoy lock horns with Kanturk.

Scorers for Dohenys: K White 0-5 (0-1 f), F Herlihy 1-1, G Farr (0-3 f), C Barry (0-2 f), 0-3 each, P Crowley 0-1.

Fermoy: B Twomey 1-4 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), D Lardner 0-2 (0-1 f, 0-1 m), G O’Callaghan, P de Róiste 0-1 each. 

DOHENYS: S Daly; D Rice, D Collins, J Farrell; B O’Donovan, C Barry, C Daly; A Mannix, R Coakley; A O’Donovan, F Herlihy, S Barry; K White, G Farr, B Murphy.

Subs: J Collins for B O’Donovan (46), P Crowley for G Farr (52), D Collins for B Murphy (59).

FERMOY: L Coleman; L Aherne, P Murphy, R O’Sullivan; J Molloy, D O’Carroll, G Lardner; J O’Brien, G O’Callaghan; D Dawson, M Brennan, D Daly; T Clancy, P de Róiste, B Twomey.

Subs: L Cronin for R O’Sullivan (25), D Lardner for G O’Callaghan, J Carr for D Daly, S Power for D Dawson (all h-t), A Aherne for M Brennan (47).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).