Late Hugh O'Connor point earns Robert Emmet's narrow win over Dromtarriffe in Duhallow U21 decider
Robert Emmets celebrate a narrow victory over Dromtariffe/Kanturk in the Duhallow U21 F Co. Qualifier Final at Banteer. Picture John Tarrant
Roberts Emmet’s left it late to overcome Dromtariffe/Kanturk in an exciting Duhallow U21 Football Cork County qualifier final in the presence of a large attendance at the Banteer 4G on Sunday night.
Tight games come down to small margins, the Newmarket and Lismire combination required a 57th-minute pointed free from county player Hugh O’Connor to separate the sides.
Credit both sides for making light of the difficult conditions, wind and rain impacting, availing of the elements, Dromtariffe/Kanturk dominated the opening spell to hold a four-point grip at the interval.
Noticeably Emmets improved on the restart, operating with a far greater urgency saw the victors enjoy an abundance of possession for a lengthy stage to swing the outcome.
From a game where referee Shane O’Rourke enforced the new playing rules particularly on dissent, Dromtariffe/Kanturk were quick into the action with early points from Bryan Healy and Callum Carroll.
Showing positive aspects, the frontrunners carried a threat from the positive play of Dylan O’Connor, Noel Forde, Jamie Kelleher and Healy.
Their cause was boosted by the game’s only goal, initiated by O’Connor saw the ball transferred upfield for Andrew Healy to finish right out of the top drawer.
Though Hugh O’Connor replied with a point for Emmets, Dromtariffe/Kanturk added to their tally from white flags raised by Healy and Kelleher.
Coming up to the break, Emmets lifted the siege, at times, wasting possession, Ethan Hourigan shot narrowly wide of a goal but points from team captain O’Connor and Conor Sheahan reduced the arrears 1-6 to 0-5 at the short whistle.
On the restart, Healy added to the Dromtariffe/Kanturk tally only to hand over the initiative to their opponents for the next 20 minutes.
Points from Sheahan and Lynn offered Emmets encouragement, Dromtariffe/Kanturk thankful to keeper Cathal Murphy to deny O’Connor and Kevin Daly with excellent saves.
This game had taken a definite turn to Emmets, Aidan Buckley, Eoin Goggin, Daly and Lynn standing up to the challenge in defence with O’Connor and Sheahan offering a greater presence going forward.
Points from Sheahan and Michael Lane tied up the contest 0-10 to 1-7 at the three-quarter stage.
The initiative remained with Emmets, O’Connor and Sheahan adding the next three points.
Dromtariffe/Kanturk were clearly on the backfoot but they must be credited for offering a committed comeback during the closing 10 minutes.
For a spell, their cause wasn’t helped by faulty shooting yet they kept plugging away, Healy re-discovering his radar with three points in quick succession to square up matters.
Competitive fare came to the boil, the physically stronger Dromtariffe/Kanturk appeared to hold the upper hand yet the Emmet’s response was impressive to regain the lead from a routine O’Connor pointed free.
Late on, Emmets defended well, leaving little room for their opponents to engineer any worthwhile opportunity to take the contest to extra time.
H O’Connor 0-7 (0-6 f), C Sheahan 0-4, E Goggin, R Lynn, M Lane 0-1 each.
B Healy 0-7 (0-4 f), A Healy 1-0, C Carroll, E O’Keeffe, D Murphy 0-1 each.
C O’Riordan; A Fleming, R Lynn, S Bourke; A McCarthy, J O’Connor, K Daly; M Lane, D O’Keeffe; E Goggin, C Sheahan, E Hourigan; C Lynch, H O’Connor, B O’Keeffe.
C Murphy; N Forde, D O’Connor, R O’Keeffe; C Byrnes, D Murphy, R Harrington; B Healy, J Kelleher; C Carroll, A Healy, D Bradley; C Carver, D Cronin, E O’Keeffe.
F McKee for C Carver, S O’Connor for C Carroll.
Shane O’Rourke (Ballydesmond).
App?
