Seán O'Donoghue the hero as Inniscarra come back from the dead to win County JAFC title against Ballygarvan
Inniscarra captain John O'Callaghan holding the trophy aloft after their win over Ballygarvan. Picture: Dan Linehan
An incredible comeback from Inniscarra saw them crowned McCarthy Insurance Group County JAFC winners for the first time after beating Ballygarvan in dramatic fashion at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday afternoon.
The Muskerry side trailed by three points deep into added time before captain John O'Callaghan, who survived a concussion protocol last weekend, goaled from close range before a free from an impossible angle was converted by Cork hurler Seán O’Donoghue to win the game for his side. Ballygarvan were left stunned and heartbroken.
This is Inniscarra’s second adult county football crown after winning the County JBFC in 1987 and the celebrations after the final whistle painted the picture of what this success means. It was an incredible ending that won’t be repeated again for a long time.
A great achievement for the team in blue and white as they can look forward to Premier Junior football in 2025. They only won their division this year for the first time since 1989.
You would have to feel sorry for Ballygarvan, who looked home and hosed. They led until the last minute and did a lot of things right as they also chased a first county crown at this grade.
Ballygarvan raced out of the traps in the decider with a goal after just 14 seconds. Seán Brady won the throw-in and made a driving run at the heart of the Inniscarra defence as he did a one-two with Daniel Mackey and Brady calmly slotted the ball into the net.
After the fast start, the next while was a mixture of mistakes, ponderous play and great defending as the next score wouldn’t arrive until the 12th minute when Evan O’Connor pointed a close-in free for the team in red and white.
Inniscarra were unable to penetrate a really disciplined Ballygarvan defence in the first quarter. Evan O’Connor added another free before Scarra went more direct and it worked with quick-fire points from Liam O’Connor (free) and Shay Dineen, 1-2 to 0-2 after 22 minutes.
The sides traded points before Ray O’Halloran kicked a super long range effort to give his side a four-point lead at half-time, 1-4 to 0-3.
Inniscarra started the new half brightly as O’Donoghue showed his class with an excellent point from near the sideline. There was more intent from the Mid-Cork men but it failed to materialise significantly on the scoreboard.
The wind picked up as it favoured Ballygarvan and a free from Evan O’Connor gave his side a healthy advantage with a quarter remaining, 1-5 to 0-4, in what was a low-scoring third quarter. Ballygarvan sub Dylan O’Connor extended his side's advantage with Brady playing an influential role in the build-up.
David O’Keeffe bisected the posts twice in two minutes for Inniscarra but time was against them with six minutes left. They were now in control though and here came the drama.
A goal from close range from John O'Callaghan three minutes into added time following a goal mouth scramble drew the sides level before O’Donoghue’s magic from an impossible angle near the sideline from a free gave Scarra a memorable win right at the death.
Amazing.
S O’Donoghue 0-3 (0-1 f), J O'Callaghan 1-0, D O’Keeffe 0-2, L O’Connor (f), S Dineen 0-1 each.
S Brady 1-1, E O’Connor 0-3 f, D O’Connor, R O’Halloran 0-1 each.
D Kelleher; D Keane, L Ryan, J O’Callaghan (c); D O’Keeffe, C Dineen, J O’Dwyer; S Sheehan, D Coughlan; F Horgan, S Dineen, S O’Donoghue; T Lyons, D O’Connell, D O’Sullivan.
M McLoughlin for S Sheehan (42), D O’Sullivan for S Dineen (46), C Lynch for D O’Connell (55), J Hayes for J O’Dwyer (58), T Murphy for D Coughlan (60).
G White; P Ryan, R O’Leary, Z Davidson; S Fenton, S O’Donovan, M O’Mahony; S Brady, C O’Regan; E O’Connor, P O’Halloran, D O’Mahony; D Mackey, R O’Halloran (c), N Dowd.
J Fenton for Z Davidson (39, inj), K Lyons for D Mackey (43), D O’Connor for N Dowd (44), C Mackey for C O’Regan (55).
Peter Finnegan (Douglas).
App?
