Éanna Desmond's late point secures thrilling victory for Carrigaline over gallant Carbery Rangers

Carrigaline: 2-11 (2-1-9) 

Carbery Rangers: 1-13 (1-2-9) 

Éanna Desmond was the hero for Carrigaline as they defeated Carbery Rangers by a point in an epic finish to their McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC clash at Newcestown on Sunday evening.

Despite it being the first game for both in Group 2, given St Finbarr's and Clonakilty are also in the group, a win here was paramount for either team and it was the men from the South East that finished well to pick up the two points on offer.

Carrigaline did look likely winners for the majority until Carbery Rangers introduced Paul Hodnett and he changed his side’s fortunes with two fantastic two-pointers and a sublime effort. They led by a point going into added time having trailed by five points at the start of the second half.

They couldn’t hold out, instead Brian Coakley rescued Carrigaline before Desmond stepped up to give his team a huge victory.

Carbery Rangers will look back on their below-par first half showing as one of the reasons why they fell short. After ending up in the relegation play-off last season, they have two very difficult group games to navigate to make sure there's not a possibility of ending up there again.

It was a lively start by both teams. Desmond did land a free after 42 seconds for Carrigaline, but it was replied quickly by a Timmy Cullinane effort for Carbery Rangers.

Michael Meaney’s side, who were effective early on, rattled off 1-1 without reply in three minutes. Brian Coakley with an effort and Desmond with a palmed finish to the net after a Brian Coakley assist, 1-2 to 0-1 after six minutes.

A pair of John O’Rourke white flags did keep Carbery Rangers in touch, but after a promising start, both sides were guilty of some poor shooting and wrong decisions.

Jerry O’Riordan did have a sight of a goal chance in between his side’s two scores, but he never looked comfortable as his effort went wide.

Desmond and John O’Rourke traded frees as Carrigaline led 1-3 to 0-4 after 23 minutes.

In a first 30 minutes that lacked championship bite, Carrigaline finished the better with Brian Coakley kicking a boomer and better again, a two-pointer from a free, 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time.

Carbery Rangers started with much more urgency after the interval, kicking two of the first three points. Brian Hodnett’s fisted effort following a driving run the pick of the scores.

Carrigaline were reduced to 14 players for ten minutes after a Kevin Kavanagh black card after 35 minutes.

Niall Coakley converted a difficult free for the Carrigdhoun side, but they were rocked by an easy John O’Rourke goal after being set up by John Hodnett, 1-8 to 1-6 after 38 minutes.

Kavanagh came back on with his team still in front by two points, but Paul Hodnett, just on the pitch, landed a two-pointer to draw Carbery Rangers level, 1-8 each after the third quarter.

It was short lived, a Brian Coakley goal from close range gave Carrigaline the advantage again with 14 minutes remaining. They couldn't push on.

Carbery Rangers' response was outstanding. They landed three of the next four white flags before the impressive Paul Hodnett kicked his second two-pointer to nudge his team in front for the very first time, 1-13 to 2-9 with six minutes to go. The comeback was purely down to hard work and winning the breaking ball.

That man Brian Coakley showed nerves of steel to point to draw Carrigaline level a minute into added time and a share of the spoils did look likely until Carbery Rangers goalkeeper Paul Shanahan had a chance to give his side the lead again, but his 45 drifted wide.

Three minutes into stoppage time, there was a hero when a patient Carrigaline move resulted in Desmond bisecting the posts with the final whistle sounding seconds later.

Scorers for Carrigaline: B Coakley 1-5 (1 2pt f), E Desmond 1-3 (0-2 f), B O’Driscoll, N Coakley (f), E Landers 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: J O’Rourke 1-3 (0-1 f), P Hodnett 0-5 (2 2pt), T Cullinane 0-3 (0-1 f), James O’Riordan, B Hodnett 0-1 each.

CARRIGALINE: C Dungan; K McCarthy, C O’Herlihy, D King; B O’Driscoll, K Kavanagh, J McCarthy; P Mellett, N O’Keeffe; C Barrett, B Coakley, C Kearney; E Landers, E Desmond, N Coakley.

Subs: E Ryle for C Kearney (43), S Andrews for E Landers (51), N Quirke for C Barrett (56).

CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan; James O’Riordan, J Kevane, C Daly; S Linehan, Jerry O’Riordan, J Hodnett; B Hodnett, J O’Brien; P Hurley, J O’Rourke, P O’Rourke; T Cullinane, M Hodnett, D Hayes.

Subs: T O’Rourke for J Kevane (37), P Hodnett for M Hodnett (43), C Twomey for P Hurley (46), C McCarthy for J Hodnett (56), K Scannell for J O’Brien (61).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).