Cill na Martra secure Division 1 status with comfortable win against St Michael's

Cill na Martra 3-9 (3-0-9) St Michael’s 0-14 (0-4-6)

The rain held off at Cill na Martra’s Páirc Uí Chuana as the home side eased to a deserved victory over the city visitors to secure their McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 status in advance of their final game against Newcestown.

With a large crowd in attendance, they were off to a flyer thanks to a goal from Ciarán Ó Duinnín, prominent in an attack benefiting from the return of Dan Ó Duinnín.

However, Michael's was not taking this lying down and went on the attack, securing 0-4 from Luke O’Herlihy's free in quick succession. O’Herlihy landed 0-7 of his team’s 0-9 first-half tally, a sum which included a pair of two-pointer frees. The other St Michael’s points were secured by Adam Hennessy and Liam O’Sullivan.

On the other side of the balance sheet, Cill na Martra had some good attacks but this wasn’t being reflected on the scoreboard. Ciarán Ó Duinnín secured another point in the 17th minute, followed by a Jason Mac Carthaigh free. Antaine Ó Loinsigh scored before Cill na Martra cut through the St Michael’s defence with a goal coming from centre-back Seán Ó Foirréidh: 2-3 to 0-9 at the interval.

The second half saw a re-energised Cill na Martra take the initiative and three points from Jason Mac Carthaigh, two from frees, saw them put their noses in front. They were now in control wadded a third goal from the boot of Shane Ó Duinnín after 17 minutes.

It wasn't until the 45th minute that St Michael’s registered a score, another free from Luke O’Helihy.  O'Herlihy nailed another placed ball from outside the arc after 53 minutes and his final effort also raised an orange flag with a free.

For Cill na Martra, Mac Carthaigh and Ó Foirréidh kept the scoreboard ticking over, however, to ensure that the home side were still comfortable coming down the stretch, ahead by four when that whistle was blown.

Scorers Cill na Martra: J Mac Carthaigh 0-5 (0-4 f), C Ó Duinnín, S Ó Foirréidh 1-1 each, A Ó Cuana, A Ó Loingsigh 0-1 each. 

St Michael’s: Luke O’Herlihy 0-12 (4 2pt f, 4 f), A Hennessy, L O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

CILL NA MARTRA: D Mac Carthaigh; F Ó Faoláin, T Ó Corcora, C Ó Meachair; A Ó Duinnín, S Ó Foirréidh, A Ó Loingsigh; M Ó Deasúna, G Ó Goillidhe; C Ó Duinnín, D Ó Duinnín, J Mac Carthaigh; E Ó Conaill, M Ó Duinnín, S Ó Duinnín.

Subs: D Ó hUrdail for M Ó Deasúna, A Ó Cuana for C Ó Duinnín, C Ó Foirréidh for A Ó Loinsigh, A Ó hUidhir for A Ó Duinnín, M Ó Cathasaigh for E Ó Conaill, D Ó Buachalla for M Ó Duinnín, J Ó Loinsigh for C Ó Meachair. 

ST MICHAEL'S: M O’Connell; L Carroll, J Golden, M Drummond; R Kavanagh, A O’Callaghan, D Corkery; Daniel Meaney, R O’Shaughnessy; A Hennessy, K Hegarty, K Leahy; L O’Sullivan, L O’Herlihy, D O’Sullivan.

Subs: S Keating for J Golden (injured) S Murphy for L O’Sullivan, T Grainger for K Leahy, A Murphy for D O’Sullivan.

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).