SAFC: Carrigaline back in the big time after fighting back to beat Knocknagree
David Griffin of Carrigaline in action in Sunday's McCarthy Insurance Group Cork SAFC final against Knocknagree. Picture: Larry Cummins
Carrigaline are back in the top tier of Cork football, holding off Knocknagree to claim the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC title at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
They certainly had to earn this win, which may prove to be the first half of a double with the Premier IHC. Even after having the better of the second half, Carrigaline – who trailed by four points at half-time – were not sure of victory as the game moved into the fourth minute of injury time. A point attempt by Knocknagree goalkeeper Patrick Doyle came back off the post and it was fitting that full-back Niall Quirke was central in ensuring danger was averted, with the resultant breakaway leading to an outpouring of joy.
Quirke was superb throughout, as was Éanna Desmond, who scored five points and put in a huge shift working back. At midfield, Brian O’Driscoll and Cian Barry were integral in ensuring they had the upper hand in the second period.
They left themselves some work to do, though. Knocknagree enjoyed a near-monopoly on attacking moments in the early ten minutes, with each of their full-forward line of Denis R O’Connor, Niall O’Connor and Anthony O’Connor on target as pressure on the Carrigaline kickout paid dividends.
There were some wides blotting their play, though, after Brian Coakley opened the Carrigaline account with a 45, he followed that with a long-range effort that bounced off the bar and over.
Quick restarts from goalkeeper Doyle meant that Knocknagree never stayed on the back foot too long, though, and Cork panellist Eoghan McSweeney provided a valuable playmaking outlet from centre-forward. It was his pass that led to a Niall O’Connor mark and a 0-4 to 0-2 lead before Anthony O’Connor put them three in front again.
They enjoyed the same margin, 0-6 to 0-3, when the first goal came. Anthony O’Connor was alert enough first of all to intercept a short Callum Dungan kickout and then had the confidence and ability to go for a lobbed goal, perfectly judging his shot over the back-pedalling goalkeeper.
A six-point lead with ten minutes left until half-time might have morphed into something insurmountable but Carrigaline’s response was strong – Brian O’Driscoll sent over a good point before Brian Coakley won and then converted a 45. Éanna Desmond’s free left just the goal between them and that might have even been wiped out when Niall Coakley’s pass gave Chris O’Herlihy a chance but Patrick Doyle saved well from him.
A Denis R O’Connor free sent Knocknagree in four in front but Carrigaline enjoyed a good start to the second second half, Desmond kicking three straight points – the middle one a free after captain Jack McCarthy’s surging run had to be illegally halted.
Knocknagree corner-back Gary O’Connor’s driving foray led to an Anthony O’Connor point that settled them and they were three in front again as David O’Connor provided the assist for Niall O’Connor’s third.
They lacked the same flow as they had had in the first half though and Carrigaline retained the overall momentum, benefiting from pushing up higher on their opponents.
Brian Coakley’s four points followed a lovely move featuring Brian O’Driscoll, Kieran McCarthy and Adam Cohalan before Desmond’s fifth cut the lead to a point.
The teams were level for the first time since the game began when O’Driscoll landed a boomer and Carrigaline had the lead when Niall Coakley’s shot from a tight angle on the left crept over the bar.
The same player added a free and then centre-back David Griffin extended the lead to three before Eoghan McSweeney ended 22 scoreless minutes for Knocknagree.
Carrigaline kept their heads, though. Another McCarthy run was the catalyst for sub Eoghan Landers to fist over and make it 0-16 to 1-10 in injury time. Denis R O’Connor’s free left two in it but the Carrigaline resistance could not be broken, confirming their return to the top flight.
É Desmond 0-5 (0-2f), B Coakley 0-4 (0-2 45), N Coakley 0-3 (0-2f), B O’Driscoll 0-2.
A O’Connor 1-3 (0-1f), N O’Connor (0-1m), DR O’Connor (0-3f) 0-3 each, E McSweeney 0-2.
C Dungan; C O’Herlihy, N Quirke, K McCarthy; D King, D Griffin, J McCarthy; B O’Driscoll, C Barry; L Pope, B Coakley, E Ryle; E Desmond, N Coakley, K O’Reilly.
A Cohalan for Ryle (40), R Delaney for Pope (45), E Landers for B Coakley (54), N O’Keeffe for O’Reilly (59).
P Doyle; M Mahoney (c), K Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, D O’Mahony, T O’Connor; T O’Mahony, David O’Connor; K Cronin, E McSweeney, M McSweeney; DR O’Connor, N O’Connor, A O’Connor.
M Dilworth for N O’Connor (44), D Mahoney for M McSweeney (49), F O’Connor for T O’Mahony (53), JF Daly for Cronin (56), D Twomey for A O’Connor (58).
J Bermingham (Bride Rovers).
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