Premier SHC: Erin's Own produce impressive fightback to overcome Charleville
Erin's Own's Cormac McDonnell is tackled by Charleville's Darragh Fitzgibbon during the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC game in Mallow. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Having won the Seán Óg Murphy Cup three times, Erin’s Own have obviously had bigger victories than this one.
They may not even progress from their group in this year’s Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC, in which case it might be forgotten relatively quickly. However, for a transitional team looking to retain their place in the firmament, this could certainly be put in the character-building category.
Down by seven points early in the first half, the Glounthaune side trailed by 1-11 to 0-9 at half-time but summoned a strong opening to the second period, a goal from James O’Carroll helping them to draw level. However, their scores were interspersed with some poor wides and it looked as if the fightback had taken too much of out them when Charleville regained their supremacy.
Darragh Fitzgibbon – well marshalled by Cormac McDonnell up to then, began to exert his influence. The Cork star restored their lead with a brilliant solo point before first-half goalscorer Andrew Cagney had them two in front. A Fitzgibbon blockdown led to another Cagney point and then sublime skill from Fitzgibbon allowed Jack Doyle to score his third, making it 1-15 to 1-11 with 16 minutes left.
And yet, that was not that, by a long way. A huge free by Erin’s Own goalkeeper Shay Bowen from his own 45 ended a ten-minute scoreless and a good Tom Foley effort was followed by points in the 50th, 51st and 52nd minutes from Shane Irwin as they led for the first time in the match.
The scores continued to come: Irwin was in hot-hurley territory as he brought his tally to 0-6, all from play. His youthful exuberance was allied with the experience of Maurice O’Carroll and Eoghan Murphy summoned from the bench.
James O’Carroll and O’Flynn were also on target as they established a four-point advantage with three minutes left. Charleville’s period without a score extended to 14 minutes before Cagney fired over – 1-4 for him – but Foley answered that one. Jack Sheehan and Cian O’Connor combined to smother a Cagney goal attempt and, though Fitzgibbon cut the lead to a goal, 1-20 to 1-17, with the resultant 65, Eoghan Murphy made the game safe with a pair of frees.
They will face Midleton in a fortnight as underdogs but still with a live chance of qualification, an outcome that looked unlikely at various stages. For Charleville, all is not yet lost but they must beat Kanturk in their last match to have a chance; however, they are likely to be without Jack Doyle after a late red card.
Fifty-three weeks previously, the sides had clashed at the same venue with a draw resulting, but Charleville’s start – albeit a wind-assisted one – suggested that they would hold the whip-hand.
The RedFM Hurling League finalists, beaten by Midleton first day out, led by 1-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes as Conor Buckley broke Cian Collins’ puckout for Tim Hawe, who passed to Cagney for a wonderful finish. That score was followed by three more points from Danny O’Flynn, Fitzgibbon and Buckley and they were cruising.
While Irwin gave a preview of what was to come as he and Conor Lenihan pointed before O’Flynn got a marvellous individual score to leave it 1-7 to 0-7, David Forde, Doyle and Oran O’Connell all had late points as Charleville went in with the 1-11 to 0-9 lead, though they did need a good Collin save to deny Lenihan.
Irwin’s second point opened the second half for Erin’s Own and they were right back in it when O’Flynn, seemingly of no danger in the right corner, lobbed a perfectly timed pass across for the on-rushing James O’Carroll to meet, allowing him to pop a shot past Collins.
Barry Óg Murphy’s long-range free had the sides level for the first time since the opening but Charleville’s four-point burst suggested they would push on again.
Erin’s Own had other ideas, however.
S Irwin 0-6, J O’Carroll 1-1, R O’Flynn, T Foley 0-3 each, E Murphy (0-2 f), B Óg Murphy (0-2 f), M O’Riordan (0-2 f) each, C Lenihan 0-2 each, S Bowen 0-1 (f).
A Cagney 1-4, D Fitzgibbon 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-1 65), J Doyle 0-3, C Buckley 0-2, D O’Flynn, O O’Connell, D Forde, R O’Carroll 0-1 each.
S Bowen; R O’Regan, J Sheehan, C O’Connor; C Dunphy, C Dooley, B Ó Murphy; P O’Shea, C McDonnell; M O’Riordan, T Foley, J O’Carroll; R O’Flynn, S Irwin, C Lenihan.
M O’Carroll for O’Shea (38), S Broderick for R O’Regan (46), E Murphy for O’Riordan (48), C O’Callaghan for Lenihan (49, injured).
C Collins; D Butler, A Dennehy, J Madigan; F Cagney, D O’Flynn, R Carroll; O O’Connell, D Fitzgibbon; D Casey, C Buckley, D Forde; T Hawe, A Cagney, J Doyle.
DJ Collins for Forde, G Kelleher for Buckley (both 55).
S Scanlon (Newcestown).
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