SAFC: Dohenys withstand late O'Donovan Rossa fightback
Dohenys' Rhys Coakley wins the ball from O'Donovan Rossa's Luca Harte during the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC game at Drimoleague. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
O’Donovan Rossa 0-11 (0-2-7)
Dohenys reacted well to late O’Donovan Rossa pressure to take the two points in Sunday’s McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC West Cork derby at Drimoleague.
Having already lost to Bishopstown and Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, the defeated SAFC finalists of 2023 needed something to guarantee survival. Their opponents had a chance of qualification but it was contingent on Béal Átha losing; as things transpired, defeat means the Skibbereen outfit must negotiate the relegation play-off.
A strong start helped the Dunmanway side to lead by 1-8 to 0-2 at half-time but, with the breeze in the second period, Rossas came back well. A two-pointer from sub Isaac Harte helped to kick-start a scoring run that saw them land 0-7 without reply between the 44th and 56th minutes.
A two-point free from Kevin Davis left it 1-10 to 0-1 before Luca Harte and Dylan Hourihane set up Luke Connolly, who had started corner-back but was now operating further forward – a goal might have resulted but the ball whizzed over the bar to cut the lead to two.
It was their last score, though, as Dohenys’ substitutes made their presence felt: Bill Murphy and Gavin Farr combined for a Paudie Crowley point and then Crowley set up Oran McCarthy for his second of the game.
Mark Buckley’s fourth point, in injury time, secured the two points and ended the year on a high note.
Dohenys had the benefit of the wind in a first half that featured changes of weather but little alteration to the flow of the game.
Two Keith White frees and a good score by wing-back Oran McCarthy had them up and running and, while Elliott Connolly got Skibb off the mark, it was only brief respite.
Mark Buckley made it 0-4 to 0-1 following good work by Cathal Daly and Adam O’Donovan, before they doubled the advantage with a goal.
The passage of play was symptomatic of how little was going for Skibb in those early stages - while a Fionn Herlihy point attempt was half-blocked, it popped into the air and was held by the wind, leaving goalkeeper Ryan Price flat-footed as Daly was able to claim possession and nimbly finish to the net.
With O’Donovan and Rhys Coakley y giving Dohenys supremacy at midfield, the scores kept coming - Mark Buckley sent over a beauty from the right, O’Donovan profited when White kept the ball alive from a wayward free and then the latter kicked his third got a 1-8 to 0-1 lead.
And yet Dohenys would have been frustrated not to have built that lead further - Fionn Herlihy, set up by Buckley, had a goal shot brilliantly taken off the line by Frank Hurley on 24, and two minutes later they were awarded a penalty.
Buckley was the player fouled after Aaron Mannix’s great run and the former Cork panellist took the spot-kick himself but Price – another one-time countyman – got down well low to his left to save.
At the other end, Skibb’s travails were summed up by them having a free brought forward and sun David Shannon kicking the ball up, intending Kevin Davis to take it, only for that delivery to be classed as the free itself.
Davis’s injury-time free did at least end the drought and he was on target twice in the early stages of the second half. Initially, Dohenys matched their scores but when Skibb got on that run, they picked up momentum.
Unfortunately for them, they could not find parity and Dohenys held out.
M Buckley 0-4 (0-1 f), K White 0-3 (0-2 f), C Daly 1-0, O McCarthy 0-2, A O’Donovan, K McCarthy, S Daly (0-1 f), P Crowley 0-1 each.
K Davis 0-5 (1 2ptf, 0-3 f), E Connolly, L Connolly, I Harte (2ptf) 0-2 each.
S Daly; D Collins, J Farrell, D Rice; O McCarthy, D Collins, C Daly; A Mannix, R Coakley; K McCarthy, F Herlihy, A O’Donovan; M Buckley, S Barry, K White.
G Farr for White (39), B O’Donovan for Barry (43), B Murphy for McCarthy, P Crowley for Barry (both 50).
R Price; L Connolly, D Hourihane Jr, F Hurley; C Coombes, K Hurley, B Crowley; R Byrne, L Harte; D Hourihane, T Hegarty, D Daly; K Davis, E Connolly, N Daly.
D Shannon for Byrne (19, injured), I Harte for Daly (43), A O’Regan for D Hourihane Jr (60+2).
P O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).
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