St Nick's U21 footballers see off O'Donovan Rossa to reach county final
St Nick's Eoin Downey is tackled by O'Donovan Rossa's James Goulding and Ciaran Coombes during the McCarthy Insurance Group U21 B FC semi-final at Clonakilty. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Jack O’Sullivan inspired St Nick’s to victory over O’Donovan Rossa and a McCarthy Insurance Group U21 B FC county final berth in Clonakilty.
1-6 from the talented corner-forward enabled St Nick’s to deservedly qualify for this year’s U21 B county decider. Restricting their opponents to a single point in the second period, the winners kicked for home once Jack O’Sullivan netted the semi-final’s only goal.
A strong wind was a factor but O’Donovan Rossa failed to properly utilise the elements. That, along with squandering goal chances either side of the break meant the Skibbereen club could have little issue with the outcome.
Backed by the wind, the West Cork side’s Dylan Hourihane opened the scoring with a cracking point. Niall Daly quickly added a free that was positioned in front of the goal for dissent.
St Nick’s settled and a superb move ended with a rebounded shot being fired into the net. That effort was ruled out for a square infringement prior to Jake Brosnan halving the deficit.
The Seandún champions enjoyed a dominant spell and levelled matters via a Jack O’Sullivan free. Niall Daly restored Rossa’s advantage and a Ciarán Coombes score made it 0-4 to 0-2 in the Skibbereen side’s favour.
Another O’Sullivan placed ball left the bare minimum between the teams after 20 minutes. Then, O’Donovan Rossa were punished for another indiscretion and Jack O’Sullivan’s third converted free brought parity to the score. Frank Hurley came up from full-back to send the Carbery champions in a point ahead at the short whistle.
Rossa’s Niall Daly fired a goal chance wide just before the interval. A second opportunity saw Jack O’Brien’s close-range shot brilliantly saved by Ross Cronin to start the second half.
Jack O’Sullivan continued to shine and made 0-5 apiece. The same player handed St Nick’s their first lead via a free before Jake Brosnan made it 0-7 to 0-5.
A rampant St Nick’s moved three clear once Donnacha Coughlan fired over and their opponents continued to struggle in front of goal. A free brought forward in front of St Nick’s goal permitted Luke O’Sullivan to score Rossa’s first point of the second half.
Then, the semi-final was decided by a sweeping St Nick’s move that ended with Jack O’Sullivan firing into the bottom corner after 48 minutes. Rhys Dunne’s point made it 1-9 to 0-6 with time ticking down before two late scores confirmed St Nick’s merited victory.
A county final against either Ballinhassig or Kilmurry in a fortnight was just reward for a delighted St Nick’s.
J O’Sullivan 1-6 (0-5 f), J Brosnan 0-2, D Coughlan, R Dunne, S Lynam 0-1 each.
N Daly 0-2 (0-1 f), L O’Sullivan (f), D Hourihane, C Coombes, F Hurley 0-1 each.
R Cronin; B Heffernan (c), F O’Driscoll, S Cronin; Z Lynch, E Varian, D Wall; E O’Sullivan, E Downey; D Coughlan, R Dunne, J Brosnan; C McCarthy, E O’Leary, J O’Sullivan.
S Lynam for D Coughlan (52), K Kelleher for E O’Leary (57), J Murphy for J O’Sullivan (60).
D Heaton Jones; J Goulding, F Hurley, A Daly; D Hourihane, J Nott, O Hurley; F Coombes, C Coombes (c); L Harte, N Daly, J Grace; I Harte, J O’Sullivan, L O’Sullivan.
B O’Driscoll for O Hurley (h-t), C O’Brien for N Daly (44, inj).
John Ryan (Macroom).
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