Cill na Martra back on track in SAFC with huge win over Fermoy

Cill na Martra 1-20 (1-2-16) Fermoy 1-10 (1-3-4)

Cill na Martra are back on track to make the knockout stages of the McCarthy Insurance SAFC after their win over Fermoy at Éire Óg on Friday night.

The West Muskerry side were the better team overall and a strong finish, where they scored eight points without reply, ensured they ran out comprehensive winners in the end.

Greg Lardner opened the scoring for Fermoy before we had the first two-pointer of the half, with David Lardner scoring, to make it 0-3 to no score

But their lead didn’t last long with Cill na Martra broke at pace and Eoin Ó Conaill found the back of the net to see the level after eight minutes.

Criostoir Ó Meachair put Cill na Martra in front, with Gary O’Callaghan seeing them level for the second time with 20 minutes gone.

Daniel Ó Duinnin and Damien Ó hUrdail put Cill na Martra back in front, before Fermoy’s second two-pointer saw the lead swing their way.

This time Shane Aherne raised the orange flag, to make it 0-7 to 1-3.

With 21 minutes gone O’Callaghan was on the end of a sweeping Fermoy move to find the back of the net, to make it 1-8 to 1-3.

Cill na Martra pulled it back through Jason MacCarthaigh when he scored a two-pointer from a free, before they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Shane Ó Duinnin.

Their keeper, Micheál Ó Deasuna stepped up to take it, but his shot went over the bar.

This was the last score of the half as Fermoy led by 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.

MacCarthaigh hit a two-pointer at the start of the second half to level it, with Ó Duinnin putting the winners in front.

Lardner pulled a point back from a free, before two frees from MacCarthaigh extended Cill na Martra’s lead to 1-11 to 1-9. Lardner was on target again, both from frees, but this proved to be Fermoy’s last score.

Four points from Ó hUrdhail, including a two, along with scores from Ó Duinnin and Ó Connail ensured that Cill na Martra took the points and put themselves back in contention to make the knockout stages.

Scorers for Cill na Martra: J MacCarthaigh 0-7 (0-3 f, 1 tp), D Ó hUrdail 0-5 (1 tp), E Ó Connail 1-0, D Ó Duinnin 0-4, M Ó Deasuna (0-1 pen), C Ó Meachair, C Ó Connail, C Ó Duinnin 0-1 each.

Fermoy: G O’Callaghan 1-2, A Lardner 0-4 (2 tp), A Aherne 0-2 (1 tp), G Lardner, D Daly 0-1 each.

CILL NA MARTRA: M Ó Deasuna; C Ó Conaill, F Ó Faoláin, D MacLochlainn; C Ó Meachair, S Ó Foirreidh, T Ó Corcora; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goillidhe; D Ó hUrdail, C Ó Duinnin, J MacCarthaigh; E Ó Conaill, D Ó Duinnin, S Ó Duinnin.

Subs: A Ó Duinnin for E Ó Conaill (44), C Ó Foirreidh for C Ó Meachair (50), A Ó Loingsigh for S Ó Duinnin (60).

FERMOY: S Coughlan; L Aherne, P Murphy, J Molloy; G Lardner, T Clancy, M Brennan; S Aherne, J O’Brien; P de Roiste, D Daly, J Hutchings; D O’Carroll, G O’Callaghan, D Lardner.

Subs: D Kelly for D O’Carroll, D O’Callaghan for M Brennan (both 44), K Morrison for G O’Callaghan (54), R O’Hagan for D Lardner (56), A Aherne for D Daly (60).

Referee: Brian Crowley, Castlehaven.