Carrigaline boss Michael Meaney hails Ryan Delaney after penalty heroics against Kanturk

Carrigaline manager Michael Meaney has seen a lot of things during his time as manager of his beloved club, but last Saturday most certainly would have topped the lot.

The Carrigdhoun outfit prevailed over Kanturk in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh after a penalty shootout.

The teams couldn’t be separated after normal time as it was deadlocked at 0-11 apiece and it was 0-17 each then after extra time before Carrigaline just about held their nerve to win 2-1 on penalties. Seven missed kicks, with the winning goalkeeper Ryan Delaney the man of the moment, saving four penalties while also smashing home his own effort.

Meaney guided Carrigaline to the IFC title in 2009, and six years later, he was also the boss when the team won the PIFC. He has been around the block.

“Absolutely delighted,” said a relieved Meaney post-match.

“Since the Bishopstown game, we have learnt an awful lot and we concentrated for the last two weeks on grinding it out in training and we spoke about what we are about and you saw the fruits of it out there today. We weren’t giving up today. We had two or three chances to win the game, but when do we do anything easy in Carrigaline? It was a rollercoaster.

“Funnily enough, we spoke about penalties at training on Thursday night and we picked our five penalty takers, but for the game to go to penalties, it was absolutely unbelievable.” 

The hero Delaney has goalkeeping pedigree having been in goal for Cork City and Cobh Ramblers in the underage ranks, but when he came on as an outfield player after 45 minutes on Saturday, not many would have predicted he would be the man of the hour as a goalkeeper when the game was all said and done.

“To be honest with you, it was mentioned on Thursday about the possibility of Ryan going in goal,” the Carrigaline manager says.

“We didn’t say much more about it and in fairness, we were in the huddle there before the penalties and Ryan said I am going in goal. In fairness to our goalkeeper, Callum [Dungan], he was in goal for the whole whack but he didn’t have any issue and that’s it. That’s the type of fella he is.

“Any 19, 20 or 21 year olds these days, they are just cool as a breeze and Ryan is a great example, nothing fazes him. I think you saw that today when he came on as an outfield player and then went in goal, a good lad, but they are all good lads. The players gave it absolutely every ounce in fairness.” 

Carrigaline were crestfallen last year after losing their place in the top tier of Cork football following defeat to Mallow after a replay in the Premier SFC relegation play-off. The Carrigdhoun side can now replicate last year’s SAFC winners Newcestown by bouncing straight back up. Knocknagree will be their opposition in a fortnight.

The double is on for Carrigaline with their hurlers in the PIHC final in the coming weeks.

“If things are right, there will be two weeks between the finals. It’s only right for the five dual players we have and I hope the Cork County Board look at it. Exciting times for Carrigaline and there’s a great buzz around the place.”