Cork GAA: What we learned from the club football action

The weather meant St Finbarr’s were the only Premier Senior contenders we saw in action this weekend but their game did plenty to whet the appetite for a semi-final with Castlehaven.

They didn’t lead from the 25th minute until the 60th but were still good value for their victory, even if the five-point margin was so harsh on Ballincollig’s efforts.

When chasing the game, the Barrs redoubled their efforts to press higher and higher up the field. The turnover and kick-out maps from @GaelicStatsman told the full story.

The Barrs forced 13 turnovers outside their own 45. Ballincollig had just one. The Barrs stole eight kick-outs, including five inside the opposition 65. Ballincollig robbed just one.

Styles make fights. Ballincollig soaked up the pressure as best they could and counter-punched with precision. But the Togher team set up to bend the game to their will.

When Steven Sherlock kicked them into the lead as stoppage time loomed, they didn’t relent. Ethan Twomey squeezed up on a runner to the edge of the D. Brian Hayes, so effective when switched inside, swooped across in a pincer movement. Twomey knocked the ball loose. It fell straight into Hayes’ hands. He lobbed the keeper to ensure the victory.

Ballincollig pushed them all the way due to the perfection of their finishing. When Cian Dorgan’s hit-and-hope free-kick was blocked on the line in the final throes of added time, it was just their second shot not to raise a flag.

DEADLY

They had gone 12 from 13 to that point, with no wide and one shot dropped short. It was a jaw-dropping display of finishing with a 91% success rate from open play. Dorgan’s 0-7 tally included five from play.

Seán Dore’s creativity marked him as one to watch for John Cleary and co. 

His immaculate pass to pick out Dara Dorgan’s backdoor cut for the opening goal came coded with the directions to round the keeper and finish. His arching run from the sideline to the square to lay on the second for Seán Kiely showcased a rapid turn of pace.

Lest we forget that they played all but the opening quarter without injured Cork star Luke Fahy and lost Darragh O’Mahony to a black card for the final 10 minutes. Liam O’Connell, Cian Kiely, Harry Ahearne, Mark Oldham, and Darren Murphy are other notable absentees compared to the team that gave Castlehaven a fright 12 months ago. In that context, their durability has been most impressive.

As for the Barrs, having absorbed the losses of Sam Ryan and Billy Hennessy, they continue to look more mortal than previous campaigns. Still, they created 32 shots to Ballincollig’s 14 and more accurate passing could’ve led to further goals. On that metric, they have plenty of scope to up their output.

In Saturday’s Senior A offering, Carrigaline won without Brian O’Driscoll but they felt his absence all the same. It’s only natural when a county man comes into a club and makes such an impact.

After beating Kiskeam in a low-scoring group-stage slog, Micheal Meaney praised the evolution of his troops for digging out the win. Captain Jack McCarthy and O’Driscoll were key influences to close out that tie, with the West Cork native breaking free from a swarm of defenders for a crucial score.

Against Cill na Martra, O’Driscoll kicked three points from play to pull level and then edge ahead in their second-half turnaround. One report noted: "It might not have been possible without the stellar performance from O’Driscoll."

They still hung on for a two-point victory against Bishopstown but they did so allowing an eight-point cushion to slip, while their crossbar was struck amid a series of late scares.

LAPSE

Meaney referred to human nature fostering a touch of complacency and the infiltration of showboating in their play. Their kick-out press lapsed and they sat on their lead. His teammates will learn plenty from the experience but O’Driscoll’s nous could’ve helped to quell the storm.

Saturday’s game came “that bit early” but they will hope his calf injury recovers to facilitate his return against Kanturk.

McCarthy continues to play a leader’s part. He twice tracked back for crucial blocks as Brian Clifford and Conor Dunne eyed goal. On the other flank, Kevin Kavanagh denied the Town any aerial outlet as his knockdowns from opposition restarts yielded 0-3 in the first half.

They certainly don’t lack for attackers although Kevin O’Reilly’s absence is another blow.

The semi-finals promise value for spectators’ money with Knocknagree and Dohenys an attractive pairing that gets top billing in a Páirc double-header on Saturday week.