SAHC: Carrigtwohill in superb form as they reach semi-finals
Carrigtwohill's Liam Gosnell races past Killeagh's Cathal Fitzgibbon during the Co-op SuperStores SAHC clash at Aghavine. Picture: David Keane
Carrigtwohill roared into the semi-finals of the Co-op SuperStores SAHC as a marvellous first-half display laid the foundation for victory over Killeagh on Saturday evening.
The permutations were many heading into the derby clash at Aghavine – it would have taken a heavy defeat for Carrig not to qualify but first place in the group was far from certain, while Killeagh could have won and failed to qualify or lost narrowly and still made it through. Carrig’s start meant all of that was moot, however.
Four unanswered points – one of them almost a goal but for Killeagh goalkeeper Philip O’Neill touching Liam O’Sullivan’s shot over the goal – had Carrig in command, while Killeagh suffered through the early departure of the injured Andy Walsh. The lead was strengthened as a goal arrived on 12 minutes: Patrick Walsh forced a turnover and then carried the ball well before firing home.
Turnovers throughout the field characterised the first half for Carrigtwohill, with Matthew Barrett and Justin Oke excellent at midfield while Aaron Walsh Barry and Jay Horgan led a mean but disciplined defence.
In attack, Walsh’s brother Seán conducted a unit that worked in beautiful harmony. Almost always, the ball was given to the player in the best position and good points from Liam Gosnell, Oke and Seán Walsh had them 1-9 to 0-2 in front by the 23rd minute, when the second goal arrived.
Seán Walsh’s lovely pass opened things up for marauding centre-back Seán de Búrca but, while he could have taken an easy point, he instead placed Patrick Walsh for his second green flag and Cian O’Riordan’s point made it 2-10 to 0-2.
While Cathal Fitzgibbon and David Buckley replied with Killeagh points, Carrigtwohill’s riposte was a two-goal haul from Seán Walsh – Barrett was involved in both while Daniel Murnane provided the assist for the first of them.
With no let-up, they had were ahead by 4-13 to 0-6 at half-time and they started the second half with a lovely team score as Oke, O’Riordan, Barrett and Gosnell combined for Seán Walsh to bring his tally to 2-4.
Killeagh were better after the break – their starting six forwards had all scored from play before the Carrig sextet had – but equally there was never a sense that a comeback of the kind needed to even put themselves in second place in the group was a viable prospect.
Carrigtwohill might have had more goals, with Gosnell flashing a shot wide after a superb Seán Walsh catch, but they did enough to keep the scoreboard humming, Walsh pointing after a great Barrett turnover and then after picked out by a sublime Shane Devlin puckout.
The score was 4-18 to 0-12 when Killeagh did mange the find the net, Evan Lane the goalscorer after Carrig corner-back Pat O’Sullivan had pulled off an incredible block on a Gary Leahy chance. Lane did go close again but Devlin saved and the tireless Oke was on hand to clear the danger while a Barry Walsh 20m free at the death was also kept out by Devlin.
Dylan McCarthy pointed the resultant 65 with the final action, Carrig 15 points to the good - and all but three of their points from play - as they cruised to an automatic semi-final spot.
S Walsh 2-7 (0-3 f), P Walsh 2-3, L Gosnell 0-4, J Oke 0-2, M Barrett, C O’Riordan, J Mulcahy, L O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Barry Walsh 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-1 65), E Lane 1-1, D McCarthy 0-3 (0-1 65), G Leahy 0-2, Ben Walsh, C Fitzgibbon, R McCarthy, D Buckley 0-1 each.
S Devlin; P O’Sullivan, B Twomey, A Walsh Barry; J Horgan, S de Búrca, D Murnane; M Barrett, J Oke; P Walsh, L O’Sullivan, L Gosnell; C O’Riordan, S Walsh, J Mulcahy.
S Brennan for L O’Sullivan, T Hogan for P Walsh (both 52), L O’Sullivan for Oke (58).
P O’Neill; D O’Brien, P O’Brien, B Delaney; A Walsh, D Walsh, S Long; C Fitzgibbon, Ben Walsh; D McCarthy, Barry Walsh, R McCarthy; E Lane, D Buckley, G Leahy.
C Leahy for A Walsh (2, injured), R Sinclair for D Walsh (half-time), A Keniry for D O’Brien (50, injured).
M Maher (St Finbarr’s).
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