Division 1 FL: Brian Coakley the hero as Carrigaline rally to stun Éire Óg for huge win 

Éire Óg: 2-11 (2-0-11) 

Carrigaline: 0-19 (0-4-11) 

Last year’s league winners Carrigaline have registered their first points of the season following a comeback win over Éire Óg in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League at Ovens on Sunday morning.

After losing their first five games, it’s sixth time lucky for Michael Meaney's side who are now in with a real chance of survival with three games remaining.

They showed real character and determination here, down five points with three minutes of normal time to play before three two-point frees from Brian Coakley helped Carrigaline to a priceless win.

Éire Óg remain on four points following a fourth loss in six games and while they will be pleased with the overall performance, their inability to hold onto their lead will disappoint them having done so much right.

The benefits of the new rules were on show here between two well matched and committed teams. Ultimately, it was the two-pointers that were the difference, four for Carrigaline while Éire Óg didn’t register any.

In what was a very enjoyable game in perfect conditions, the teams traded the first four points before Éanna Desmond nudged Carrigaline ahead with a free.

Rian O’Flynn did draw parity before Éire Óg raised a green flag after 13 minutes when Jerome Kelleher finished to the net after Carrigaline failed to clear their lines, 1-3 to 0-3.

Éire Óg were smart on the ball in the first half and a Dylan Foley effort pushed the home side four points clear. A Nathan O’Keeffe effort and a Brian Coakley two-point free left Carrigaline a point adrift before Desmond drew the game once more with a sweet effort, 0-7 to 1-4 after 21 minutes.

Despite the hot weather, there was a great pace to the game that had a championship feel to it.

Éire Óg finished the half well with three of the last five points. Cork U20 footballer Darragh Clifford, who had a fine match, with two great efforts as his team led 1-7 to 0-9 at half-time.

Carrigaline turned it around within three minutes of the second half with points from Kevin O’Reilly and a Niall Coakley free.

But, Éire Óg goalkeeper Chris Kelly drew his team level with an excellent 45. The teams traded efforts before O’Flynn nudged the team in red and yellow ahead once again, 1-10 to 0-12 after 43 minutes.

A crucial score, or so it looked, arrived 10 minutes from time when Daire McCarthy did brilliantly to set up Foley for an easy goal for Harry O'Reilly's charges, 2-10 to 0-12.

A free from sub Daniel Goulding gave Éire Óg a five-point buffer and it did look like the insurance score.

Carrigaline rallied though with than man Brian Coakley nailing three two-point frees while O’Reilly also raised a white flag. 

A massive win for the men from the South East.

Scorers for Éire Óg: D Foley 1-2, J Kelleher 1-0, D Clifford, R O’Flynn 0-2 each, E O’Shea, J Murphy (f), D Goulding (f), C Kelly (45), C McGoldrick 0-1 each.

Carrigaline: B Coakley 0-8 (4 2pt f), N Coakley 0-5 (0-3 f), E Desmond 0-3 (0-2 f), K O’Reilly 0-2, N O’Keeffe 0-1.

ÉIRE ÓG: C Kelly; J Mullins, M Brady, C Clifford; E O’Shea, H Murphy, D McCarthy; M Griffin, D Clifford; C McGoldrick, R O’Flynn, J Murphy; J Kelleher, D Foley, J Sheehan.

Subs: D Goulding for J Murphy (44), B Hurley for D Foley, D Healy for J Sheehan (both 50), D Kelly for M Griffin (52, inj), A McCarthy for E O’Shea (56, inj).

CARRIGALINE: C Dungan; K McNulty, I Sheerin, C O’Herlihy; D King, K Kavanagh, K McCarthy; P Mellett, N O’Keeffe; C Barrett, B Coakley, S Andrews; N Coakley, K O’Reilly, E Desmond.

Subs: E Landers for E Desmond (42, inj), E Ryle for C Barrett (50).

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).