SAFC: Ryan Delaney the hero as Carrigaline beat Kanturk after tense penalty shootout 

Carrigaline: 0-17 

Kanturk: 0-17 

(Carrigaline win 2-1 on penalties) 

Carrigaline are into the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC final after victory over Kanturk in a penalty shootout at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.

The South East side suffered demotion from the top tier last year and are now a game away from making a swift return following this semi-final win.

Michael Meaney’s side were marginally the better team even if it took penalties to decide this one. Their wayward shooting in normal time didn’t turn out to be costly. In what was a panel effort, special mention must go to Carrigaline sub Kevin O’Reilly, who made a huge difference with his 0-4 (0-1 m).

The penalties were full of nerves with seven missed between the two teams as Carrigaline won 2-1. Niall Coakley and Ryan Delaney, who went in goal for the penalties having come on after 45 minutes as an outfield player, scored for Carrigaline, while Paul Walsh was Kanturk’s only scorer from the penalty shootout. Delaney saved four penalties including Aidan Walsh’s kick, which saw Carrigaline advance. Delaney also converted his own effort.

Carrigaline had the game in the palm of their hands in normal time and extra time, but didn’t see the game out on each occasion. Kanturk showed all their battling qualities including a stunning point from Grantas Bucinskas to send the game to penalties.

Carrigaline will now face Knocknagree in the decider after the Duhallow side beat Dohenys 1-18 to 0-10. The double remains on for the Carrigdhoun outfit with their hurlers in the PIHC final in the coming weeks.

Kanturk, in their second season at this grade, have gone one step further than last year, but will be disappointed with how this one panned out. They have lost on penalties for the second season on the bounce having lost to eventual winners Newcestown at the quarter-final stage in 2023.

In what was a lively opening between two evenly matched sides, the teams shared the first four points inside eight minutes before Kanturk tacked on points from Bucinskas and Tommy Walsh, with the latter’s effort his second point with the outside of the boot.

Éanna Desmond converted a close in free for Carrigaline before the sides swapped white flags in what was an enjoyable opening quarter, 0-5 to 0-4. Bucinskas kicked another free for the Duhallow club to push his team two points clear, but in what was a throwback game of football, Carrigaline put together three unanswered points to nudge ahead for the first time after 29 minutes. The Coakley brothers, Brian and Niall, and a Desmond free with the efforts, 0-7 to 0-6.

It was no surprise that the teams went down the tunnel deadlocked at the break after Bucinskas tapped over a free.

It was a slow start to the new half with the first score not coming until six minutes in when Desmond gave Michael Meaney’s troops a very slender advantage. Carrigaline were starting to turn the screw with Cork footballer Brian O’Driscoll having a big bearing on the contest in the second half. The South East club hit over two points without a response courtesy of a Desmond free and a Brian Coakley 45, 0-10 to 0-7 with 18 minutes remaining.

Kanturk created the first real goal scoring opportunity after 43 minutes, Aidan Walsh gave a gorgeous ball to his cousin Alan Walsh, but the forward’s effort was saved on the line by Carrigaline defender Kieran McCarthy and the ball went out for a 45, which Bucinskas duly converted.

There was a few minutes of a delay due to an injury to Carrigaline’s Kevin Kavanagh before the aforementioned Bucinskas pointed from a free once again. Carrig sub Ian Sheerin bisected the posts to open up a two-point gap, 0-11 to 0-9, but they could never shake off their opposition.

Points from Bucinskas (free) and Aidan Walsh tied up the game going into six minutes of added time. There would be no winner as the game went into extra time.

There was very little to separate the sides in extra time, with the teams swapping points before Carrigaline landed two quick-fire efforts to open up another two-point lead. But in keeping with the game, back came Kanturk with points from subs, James Fitzpatrick and Ian Walsh (free), 0-14 each at the interval.

Scores were hard to come by in the second period of extra time, but crucially the excellent O’Reilly landed a pair of points to give Carrigaline a two-point buffer with three minutes to go.

Ryan Walsh left a point in it, but Brian O’Driscoll’s fisted effort pushed Michael Meaney’s side two clear again. A Bucinskas free cut the deficit down to one, before the forward, soccer style, levelled proceedings as the game went to penalties.

It was nerve-wracking with Carrigaline prevailing.

Scorers for Carrigaline: E Desmond 0-5 (0-4 f), K O’Reilly 0-4 (0-1 m), N Coakley 0-3 (0-2 f), B Coakley 0-2 (0-1 45), B O’Driscoll, K McCarthy, I Sheerin 0-1 each.

Kanturk: G Bucinskas 0-8 (0-5 f, 0-1 45), T Walsh, I Walsh (0-1 f), Aidan Walsh 0-2 each, R Walsh, J Fitzpatrick, P Walsh 0-1 each.

CARRIGALINE: C Dungan; C O’Herlihy, N Quirke, K McCarthy; J McCarthy (c), D Griffin, K Kavanagh; B O’Driscoll, C Barry; D Greene, B Coakley, E Ryle; E Landers, N Coakley, E Desmond.

Subs: L Pope for D Greene (h-t), K O’Reilly for E Landers (39), R Delaney for B Coakley (45), C Barrett for E Ryle (47), I Sheerin for K Kavanagh (52, inj), A Cohalen for C Barrett (65), E Ryle for K McCarthy (73), N O’Keeffe for E Desmond (78).

KANTURK: J Fullerton; J McLoughlin, R Walsh, L O’Neill; M Healy, T Walsh, B O’Sullivan; P Walsh, Aidan Walsh (c); Alan Walsh, C Clernon, D O’Connell; G Bucinskas, C Walsh, L McLoughlin.

Subs: I Walsh for C Clernon (h-t), J Fitzpatrick for L O’Neill (62), L O’Keeffe for C Walsh (69, inj).

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).