Brian Kelleher and David Drake fire Carrigaline past Glengarriff into Junior B final

Carrigaline 0-13 (0-0-13) Glengarriff 2-6 (2-6) 

Carrigaline qualified for the McCarthy Insurance Group Junior B football decider following a hard-fought battle with Glengarriff in Clonakilty.

A single point win has set up a county final meeting with either Ballyphehane or Naomh Abán for a delighted Carrigaline.

Having overcome Dohenys on the same Clonakilty pitch in the quarter-finals, the Carrigdhoun side won out thanks to 0-5 apiece from David Drake and Brian Kelleher. The winners were equally indebted to goalkeeper Michael Lynch for three important stops.

On a heavy but well-prepared pitch, Carrigaline opened the scoring inside the first minute via Finn O’Connell.

Their opponents were twice denied goals by net-minder Michael Lynch and kicked two poor wides amid a disappointing first-quarter effort. Carrigaline were equally wasteful prior to consecutive David Drake (two) and Brian Kelleher scores.

The Beara club finally got on the scoreboard thanks to Gearóid O’Sullivan (free) and Darragh O’Sullivan Connell to make it 0-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Kelleher extended the Carrigdhoun side’s lead before a converted Drake 45 made it a four-point game.

Glengarriff finished the half positively with Gearóid O’Sullivan (free) and Gavin O’Sullivan leaving two points in it at the break.

Two Brian Kelleher efforts stretched the leaders’ advantage prior to Ciarán McElhinney raising a white flag at the opposite end.

Finn O’Connell responded before another Lynch save denied Glengarriff a certain goal. The Beara club kept pressing and were rewarded shortly after. A Glengarriff point attempt came back off an upright and Ciarán McElhinney slotted the rebound into the net.

That was Carrigaline’s cue to up the tempo and unanswered Brian Kelleher, Cormac Nolan and David Drake (two) efforts made it 0-13 to 1-5 with five minutes remaining.

Once again, their opponents mustered a response. Forcing a turnover, Darragh O’Sullivan Connell pounced and netted to leave two points between the teams.

Deep into injury-time, Glengarriff broke from defence and worked the ball to O’Sullivan Connell whose goal attempt fizzed an inch over the crossbar.

That was the last action of a cracking second half as a relieved Carrigaline emerged with the narrowest of victories.

Scorers for Carrigaline: D Drake (0-1 45), B Kelleher 0-5 each, F O’Connell 0-2, C Nolan 0-1.

Glengarriff: D O’Sullivan Connell 1-2, Ciarán McElhinney 1-1, Gearóid O’Sullivan 0-2 f, Gavin O’Sullivan 0-1.

CARRIGALINE: M Lynch; S Browne, S Murray, S McHugh (c); H Andrews, P Ronayne, D Stack; S Vaughan, T Deasy; F O’Connell, B Kelleher, O O’Connell; D Kelly, D Drake, A Crowley.

Subs: A O’Connell for P Ronayne (16, inj), N O’Keefe for S Murray (h-t), C Ryan for H Andrews (44, inj), C Nolan for A Crowley (50).

GLENGARRIFF: F McCarthy; A Dunne, D McCarthy (c), P O’Sullivan; T Harrington, Gavin O’Sullivan, S Power; P Harrington, D Harrington; Calum McElhinney, B O’Sullivan Connell, Ciarán McElhinney; D O’Sullivan Connell, T McCarthy, Gearóid O’Sullivan.

Sub: S O’Sullivan for Gearóid O’Sullivan (47, inj).

Referee: Niall Hayes (Carbery Rangers).