Ibane Gaels into first Cork U21 decider after thrilling penalty shootout win over Kinsale

Kinsale 1-13 

Ibane Gaels 1-13 

(aet, Ibane Gaels win 6-5 on pens).

There was tears of pain, yelps of relief and drama aplenty in Sunday's Cork U21AFC semi-final as Ibane Gaels qualified for their maiden U212 final courtesy of a dramatic penalty shootout victory over their hosts Kinsale.

What started as a lacklustre and edgy contest - only 0-6 to 0-3 at half time - eventually blossomed into a barnstorming display of football with twists at every turn.

Ibane Gaels - an under age amalgamation of Barryroe and Argideen Rangers in Timoleague - dominated most of the first and part of the second half with Olan O’Donovan leading the charge, scoring 1-2 and setting up several other scores.

But massive kudos to Kinsale who never threw in the towel and eventually kicked into gear. 

They could have been truly dead and buried if it weren’t for their keeper Sean Byrne who pulled off a couple of magnificent saves in the second period to keep his side in the contest.

The first came when Donagh Flynn barrelled through on goal in the 52nd minute and shot for the top corner only for Byrne to palm it away. 

The second was even more impressive. Byrne rushed out and stayed tall to block Flynn’s effort from close range after Luke Murphy had set up the full forward.

A turning point, perhaps, came when Ibane half-back Diarmuid McCarthy dragged down Rory O’Brien in the 54th minute - as the half-forward was about to pull the trigger - picking up a black card. 

Three fantastic James Murphy scores (including a two-pointer) tightened the scoreline (1-7 to 0-7 to Ibane Gaels). 

Sub Jamie Collins pointed for Ibane to settle the ship, but only momentarily. A Conal Kingston goal in added time, smashed high into the roof of the Ibane net, and a beautifully finessed Gearoid Kearney point with seconds left made it all square.

Kinsale carried that energy into extra time. Kingston pointed from a tight angle after just one minute of extra time to give Kinsale the lead for the first time since the 15th minute.

Sub Charlie Sheehan curled one over off his right three minutes later, helping his side gain a two-point advantage. 

But Ibane's Olan O’Donovan contributed his fourth score of the game from a free to claw one back (1-10 to 1-9 to Kinsale).

David Looney and Ollie Buckley looked to have put some daylight between the sides with two points of their own and eight minutes to play.

However, Iban did to Kinsale what had been done to them in normal time - a couple of James Crowley points brought it to a one-point game, then James Murphy pointed and looked to have won the game for Kinsale before an ambitious effort from Crowley flew over the bar for a two pointer in the dying seconds to bring the contest to spot kicks.

In the shootout, both sides had eight penalties each. In the end, a lowstruck Rory O’Brien effort was saved by Luke McGrath leaving it to Donagh Flynn to score the winning penalty. 

It was dispatched with aplomb, 6-5 to Ibane Gaels, and cue wild celebrations for the west Cork lads.

They will face the winner of Douglas and Beara from next weekend's second semi final. Douglas, with a late Chris O'Keeffe goal, edged Ballincollig 1-9 to 0-10 in Ovens in Saturday's remaining quarter final.

Scorers for Kinsale: J Murphy 0-6 (4f, 1 2p), C Kingston 1-1, G Kearney 0-2, O Buckley, D Looney, C Sheehan, C Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ibane Gaels: O O’Donovan 1-3 (2f), J Crowley 0-5 (1 2p), L Murphy 0-2 (1f, 1 2p), D Walsh, D Flynn, J Collins 0-1 each.

KINSALE: S Byrne; D O’Leary, K O’Callaghan, C O’Leary; L Kirwan, G Kearney, C Fitzpatrick; J Murphy, B Long; S O’Callaghan, C Fitzpatrick, D Looney; A Keane, P Graham, R O’Brien.

Subs: J Byrne for C O’Leary (HT), C Sheehan for C Fitzpatrick (45), G Murphy for L Kirwan (52), C Kingston for B Long (56), O Buckley for R O’Brien (59).

IBANE GAELS: L McGrath; K Hennessey, J Crowley, D Maloney; M Collins, D McCarthy, J Twomey; T Buckley, D Dineen; D Walsh, O O’Donovan, C Twomey; L Murphy, J Crowley, D Flynn.

Subs: J Collins for D Walsh (53), S Ryan for D Dineen (70), D Walsh for D Maloney (77).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).