Iniscarra edge out Aghinagh after six-goal Muskerry final classic
Inniscarra's Liam O'Connor, Jack O'Dwyer and John O'Callaghan celebrate at the final whistle. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Inniscarra were crowned Ross Oil Junior A Football champions after a titanic battle with Aghinagh at Grenagh.
The winners could and should have been out of sight at halftime but a never-say-die attitude from Aghinagh ensured a nail-biting finish. Inniscarra’s experienced players Dan O’Connell and Sean O’Donoghue landed a couple of crucial scores down the home straight which ultimately got them over the line.
Inniscarra enjoyed a glorious start with Dylan O’Sullivan scoring 1-1 inside the opening minute. After clipping over a lovely point O’Sullivan was gifted a goal by a sublime pass from Sean O’Donoghue. Aghinagh replied in emphatic style with a Liam Twohig placed effort before Con Buckley intercepted the kick out and rattled the Inniscarra net, 1-1 apiece after two minutes.
After a helter-skelter opening couple of minutes, a number of yellow cards were flashed after some niggling tackles from both sides. Again Inniscarra seized the initiative with Dan O’Connell clipping over a free after a good mark. Moments later O’Connell blasted to the net after an excellent pass from Frank Horgan, 2-2 to 1-1 after 15 minutes.
Cork hurling star Sean O’Donoghue clipped over a glorious point before setting Dan O’Connell who looked certain to goal but Aghinagh’s Paul O’Sullivan made a brilliant double save. Aghinagh lifted the siege and Liam Twohig landed a free after being fouled, 2-3 to 1-1 after 20 minutes. Inniscarra were dominant now with a fisted point from Liam Ryan and a rocket from Shay Dineen’s going over the crossbar, 2-6 to 2-2 at the break.
On resumption, Inniscarra powered forward and a brilliant team move involving Dan O’Connell and Sean O’Donoghue was finished to the net by Dylan O’Sullivan. Aghinagh replied with a fine point from Con Buckley. Aghinagh were working hard now and a Micheal Horgan score reduced the gap to five points. Within a minute Aghinagh’s Con Buckley scored his third goal of the game after a magnificent defence-splitting run.
Inniscarra replied again with a superb point from their talisman Sean O’Donoghue. Aghinagh kept probing and another placed effort from Liam Twohig reduced the gap to the minimum again, 3-8 to 3-7.
Agonisingly for Aghinagh William Coakley’s fisted effort hit the post as the game entered injury time. The closing minutes were frenetic with Dan O’Connell landing a monster effort from distance which was cancelled out by a super effort from Aghinagh’s Con Buckley.
A fisted effort from Coakley reduced the gap to the minimum again but Inniscarra hung on for a famous victory.
Unfortunately, this game was very much overshadowed by a serious illness to Aghinagh’s goalkeeper Kevin Cotter who took ill after last week’s game. The thoughts and prayers of everyone in Muskerry GAA is with the Cotter family.
D O’Sullivan 2-2, D O’Connell, 1-2, S O’Donoghue 0-2, L Ryan, S Sheehan, S Dineen, L O’Connor 0-1each.
C Buckley 3-2, L Twohig 0-4 f, C Buckley, M Horgan, W Coakley 0-1 each.
D Kelleher; D Keane, J O’Callaghan, Jack O’Sullivan; L Ryan, J O’Dwyer, C Lynch; D Coughlan, S Sheehan; F Hogan, S Dineen, S O’Donoghue; T Lyons, D O’Connell, D O’Sullivan.
C Dineen for C Lynch (12 inj), J Hayes for J O’Sullivan (36), T Murphy for D Coughlan (45), M McLoughlin for D O’Sullivan (45), L O’Connor for S Sheehan (55).
P O’Sullivan; O Cummins, D O’Riordan, A Twomey; D Ambrose, L O’Leary, E McCarthy; S Corkery, T Morgans; M McCarthy, C Buckley, M Horgan; G O’Sullivan, L Twohig, TJ Buckley.
D Kelleher for D Ambrose (35) W Coakley for M McCarthy (40), M O’Brien for S Corkery (55).
J Ryan (Macroom).
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