Duhallow derby draw with Newmarket sends Kanturk into Knocknagree clash
Alan Walsh sets up an attack against Newmarket in the McCarthy Insurance Group Co. SAFC at Banteer. Picture John Tarrant
All square on the scoreboard after this Duhallow derby in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC at Banteer.
Kanturk departed far happier though after securing a quarter-final against Knocknagree.
It might have been tight and tense but that didn’t take away from the entertainment value enjoyed by the large attendance. With all four teams entering the last series of games in Group I on two points apiece, Kanturk held the superior scoring aggregate so Newmarket required a win.
Not to qualify was tough on Newmarket as missed goal chances proved costly. Kanturk were joined by Éire Óg in the knockout phase. Operating against the wind. Newmarket gathered an encouraging start, shooting the initial three points from Conor O’Keeffe and Hugh O’Connor.
Kanturk got to grips with the situation, settling after Ian Walsh and Grantas Bucinskas found the range.
Goal chances surfaced at either end. A blaster from Alan Walsh came off the Newmarket crossbar. The ball came downfield, Newmarket’s Ryan O’Keeffe thwarted by Kanturk keeper Ronan Cashman and heroic defending.
Newmarket enjoyed an edge in general play, Cathal Browne and Barry O’Connor on target for a 0-6 to 0-4 grip midway through the first half. However, Newmarket failed to add to their tally during the second quarter, Kanturk drawing a positive response from county players Tommy and Paul Walsh.
That allowed Kanturk to up their work-rate. Colin Walsh posted a two-pointer to help secure a 0-10 to 0-6 advantage at the break.
Newmarket found a new urgency on the restart, three points from Hugh O’Connor helped draw up the game. Though Bucinskas answered with a Kanturk two-pointer, they were thankful to Cashman on producing a wonder save from Darren O’Keeffe.
Not Newmarket’s day after a low Rory Lynn effort came off the upright, Kanturk happy with the draw to secure a quarter-final against Knocknagree.
G Bucinskas 0-4 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), I Walsh 0-4 (0-1 f), C Walsh 0-3 (1 2pt), P Walsh, K Fitzpatrick, A Walsh 0-1 each.
H O’Connor 0-6 (2 2pt f), C O’Keeffe 0-3 (0-1 f), C Browne 0-2, B O’Connor, R O’Keeffe, D Hannon 0-1 each.
R Cashman; J McLoughlin, M Healy, L O’Neill; L McLoughlin, T Walsh. D Browne; J Fitzpatrick, A Walsh; P Walsh, B O’Sullivan, C Walsh; G Bucinskas. D O’Connell, I Walsh.
R Walsh for B Healy (45), L O’Keeffe for I Walsh (51), C Mullane for L O’Neill (55).
J O’Keeffe; M Browne, B Daly, P Allen; R Lynn, A Ryan, A Browne; C Browne, D Cottrell; D O’Keeffe, C O’Keeffe, D Hannon; B O’Connor, R O’Keeffe, H O’Connor.
M Cottrell for D Hannon (48), K O’Sullivan for B O’Connor (50).
David Murnane (Macroom).
App?
