Naomh Abán dethrone Macroom in Tom Creedon Cup as Maidhc Ó Duinnín lands three two-pointers

Macroom 0-9 (0-2-5)  Naomh Abán 0-15 (0-3-9) 

Naomh Abán are into the final of the Tom Creedon Cup after defeating champions Macroom at the Castle Grounds in Macroom.

Overall, this was a deserved victory for the Muskerry Gaeltacht side and a good momentum builder ahead of their Cork PIFC battles in the coming weeks.

Macroom, who have five-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry in Aidan O’Mahony as manager again this season, opened the scoring through a Pa Lucey point.

Jimmy Allen is at the helm of Naomh Abán this term. He was the man in charge as the Ballyvourney side won the Cork IFC title back in 1999.

Cork U20 footballer Ed Myers then helped to put Naomh Abán in front, before a point by Dara Ó Laoire extended their advantage on the 15-minute mark.

Macroom reduced the deficit through points by Eolan O’Leary and Lucey.

However, the visitors got a pair of two-pointers on a stroke of half time, both through Maidhc Ó Duinnín, with Naomh Abán holding the advantage at 0-8 to the 0-3 of Macroom at the interval.

In the early stages of the second half Macroom looked to mount a fightback, with the lively Lucey adding to his scoring tally.

Macroom then had a penalty which was taken by Sean Kiely, but saved well by the Naomh Abán netminder Eoghan Ó Luasa.

Naomh Abán soon retook control of proceedings, with Dónal Ó Ceallaigh slotting over the bar.

By this stage, they were in firm control of their destiny and they saw proceedings out to a successful conclusion.

Awaiting in the final of the Tom Creedon Cup for Naomh Abán is Knocknagree, who were victorious over Kilmurry in the other semi-final clash.

Next for Naomh Abán in the Cork PIFC is a meeting with Glanmire on August 24.

Scorers for Macroom: P Lucey 0-8 (0-2 f, 2 2pt), E O’Leary 0-1.

Naomh Abán: M Ó Duinnín 0-7 (3 2pt), E Myers 0-3, D Ó Ceallaigh 0-2, S Ó Riordáin, D Ó Laoire, M Ó Liatháin 0-1 each.

MACROOM: D Kiely; P O’Farrell, R Buckley, C Burke; T Dineen, M Corrigan, S Meaney; C Donovan, C Dineen; M Cronin, E O’Leary, C Buckley; S Kiely, P Lucey, D Twomey.

Subs: J Murphy for Burke (6, inj), M Hunt for Twomey, D Creedon for C Buckley (both h-t), M Condon for O’Donovan (40), J O’Riordan for Meaney (55).

NAOMH ABÁN: E Ó Luasa; S Hendy, C Ó Deasúnaigh, C de Róiste; J Ó Donnchú, C Ó Luasa, É Ó Criodáin; S Ó Riordáin, C Ó Donnchú; W MacCarthaigh, M Ó Duinnín, M Ó Críod; E Myers, D Ó Laoire, D Ó Ceallaigh.

Subs: M Ó Liatháin for MacCarthaigh (HT), D Ó Ceocháin for Ó Críod, F Walker for Ó Laoire (both 43), N Ó Ceallaigh for D Ó Ceallaigh, S Ó Mathúna for de Róiste (both 54), F Ó Loingsigh for Ó Deasúnaigh (58).

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Carbery Rangers).