Liam Seartan delighted as Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh stand up to challenge

An opening-round draw in the Cork county championships essentially means that judgement is reserved on what kind of result it was.

Win the second match and the draw was a good one, leaving a team on three points ahead of their final group outing; however, follow it with a loss and you have no wins from two, on as much of a relegation-avoidance footing for the last match as seeking to secure qualification for the knockout stages.

After a draw in the first McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC game with O’Donovan Rossa, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh had little room for error when they met another Carbery side, Dohenys, in Inchigeela on Saturday evening.

Thankfully for them, a 2-14 to 1-14 triumph means they have exceeded last year’s tally of two points and manager Liam Seartan is now looking ahead to the last match, against Bishopstown, with anticipation.

“We were very disappointed with our performance back against Skibb that day,” he said, “we were lucky to come out with a draw.

“The Dohenys game was knockout, for us and for them. We hadn’t beaten a tier-one team in senior A for maybe four years – that was our first win and hopefully it’ll carry us on.

“But we know that Bishopstown are a new team coming, a former inter-county manager. They’re well set-up – we’ve watched them a few times already this year and they’re a really strong team. We’re really looking forward to that now in three weeks’ time.”

When Dohenys goalkeeper Stephen Daly sent a two-point free over the bar as the final quarter dawned, Béal Átha trailed by 1-11 to 1-10 but an unanswered 1-3 – the goal from Diarmuid Mac Thomáis – put them into a lead that would not be relinquished.

“Yeah, I suppose we went a point down after their two-pointer, maybe with 15 minutes to go,” Seartan said.

“They had the momentum, so we were delighted that lads stood up – a lot of leaders stood up there, winning primary possession and kickouts, winning breaks and carrying the ball up the field.

“That opened them up for us to get the goal and and the couple of points, but it was a tough game.”

Another key factor in the turnaround was the impact of Seartan’s brother Ben, on as a sub after five months out. Having squad depth is vital, in the view of the manager, and will be again, he feels.

“Yeah, we made four subs there,” he said, “and we have two fellas out injured, one with a long-term injury and one hopefully back for the next day.

“They made a big impact and, to be honest, we had two or three more fellas who were disappointed that they didn't get on.

“We have a good panel at the moment, we're happy enough with it. We’re delighted to get to win, it’s a big one for the club.”