Fr O'Neill's defeat Erin's Own in a cracker to stave off relegation

Fr O’Neill’s 3-19 Erin’s Own 4-14 

Fr O’Neill’s guaranteed themselves another season at the top table of hurling in Cork after they just about edged Erin’s Own after a thrilling Group 1 match in the Co-op Superstores PSHC played in Killeagh on Sunday. The result means that Erin’s Own will play Newtownshandrum in the relegation playoff, twenty-five years after they played in the county final.

It was a win that looked unlikely just before Ian McCarthy blew the half-time whistle. Erin’s Own had been simply outstanding as goals from Conor Lenihan, Robbie O’Flynn from a free and Peter O’Shea had fired them into a 3-8 to 0-8 lead.

However, O’Neill’s gave themselves a lifeline in the third minute of added time when Billy Dunne rattled the net after being set up by Declan Dalton to leave his side two goals adrift at the interval.

They carried that momentum into the second half, hitting Erin’s Own for 1-5 without reply. Dalton buried a penalty and pointed two frees while John Millerick with two and Joe Millerick with his second accounted for the others.

Erin’s Own were winded, but they eventually found their way again, hitting five of the next six points to put them 3-13 to 2-14 to the good, Lenihan with the pick of them. O’Neill’s then landed another blow with ten minutes remaining. Dalton’s shot at goal was well saved by Tom Dillon, but Rob Cullinane was on hand to slip the rebound over the line and O’Neill’s were back in business.

Joe Millerick and Kevin O’Sullivan pushed them three clear, but Erin’s Own kept plugging away and the sides were level for the third time when Ronan Twomey fired home their fourth goal. Points from Tadhg O’Donoghue Brosnan and Peter Hassett then pushed O’Neill’s clear, and when they repelled O’Flynn’s late attempt at a goal from a free, their status was secured.

Scorers for Fr O’Neill’s: D Dalton (1-9, 1-7 frees, 0-1 ’65), B Dunne and R Cullinane (1-0 each), Joseph Millerick and John Millerick (0-3 each), T Millerick, K O’Sullivan, P Hassett and T O’Donoghue Brosnan (0-1 each).

Erin’s Own: R O’Flynn (1-7, 1-4 frees, 0-2 ’65), C Lenihan (1-3), P O’Shea (1-1), R Twomey (1-0), F O’Brien (0-2), C O’Callaghan (0-1).

FR O’NEILL’S: P O’Sullivan; R Kenneally, T Millerick, M Millerick; E Motherway (JC), D Harrington (JC), M O’Keeffe; K O’Sullivan, Joseph Millerick; R Cullinane, D Dalton, P McMahon; John Millerick, M Wall, B Dunne.

Subs: P Hassett for McMahon (49), T O’Donoghue Brosnan for Motherway (inj, 54), J O’Brien for Dunne (63).

ERIN’S OWN: T Dillon; C O’Connor, C Dunphy, R O’Regan (JC); B Óg Murphy, C Dooley, O O’Regan; M O’Carroll, C McDonnell; F O’Brien, P O’Shea, S Irwin; C Lenihan, R O’Flynn (JC), C O’Callaghan.

Subs: R Twomey for O ‘Carroll (inj, 37), T O’Connell for R O’Regan (51), M O’Riordan for McDonnell (56).

Referee: Ian McCarthy (Bandon).