O'Callaghan Cup: 14-man Christians secure controversial two-point win over St Colman's Fermoy
Fullback Denis Riordan, CBC in action in the O'Callaghan Cup semi final against St Colman's College, Fermoy at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh's 4G. Picture: Larry Cummins
Christian Brothers College are through to the O’Callaghan Cup final, where they’ll take on Gaelcholáiste Mhuire with a chance to avenge their Harty Cup defeat from earlier in the month, but few victories have ever come wrapped in as much confusion.
They finished two points to the good on Friday, having played the entire final quarter with 14 men after James O’Mahony was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident. But the dismissal wasn’t the flashpoint that drew debate.
We counted the score as 1-24 to 2-21, which would have been a draw – the same score that St Colman’s had. CBC had themselves up one, 1-24 to 2-20, but weren’t certain on that, and with the scoreboard not in use at Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G, it made the situation all the more complex for everyone in attendance.
Referee Cathal McAllister had it as 1-25 to 2-20, which stood as the final score.
It capped off a contest that was chaotic from the outset. The gate to the astro pitch remained locked until less than ten minutes before throw-in, forcing a delayed start, and once play finally got going, St Colman’s were first to settle.
With the wind, Fermoy asserted themselves in a commanding spell from the 11th to 24th minute, as they outscored their opponents 1-8 to 0-1 to lead 1-10 to 0-5, Cormac Barry and Jack Counihan central to everything. Their opening goal came from a Cormac Barry free, quickly taken to pick out clubmate Conor O’Riordan, and he fired home.
CBC clawed their way back into the contest through Eoghan O’Shea and Senan Brislane, before Cian O’Flynn’s searing run and finish – after he was set up by Brislane – brought them within touching distance, 1-12 to 1-8.
The half concluded with St Colman’s five clear, 1-13 to 1-8, but their grip on control loosened after the restart. CBC had worked that advantage down to three by the end of the third quarter, 1-17 to 1-14, before Fermoy hit their second major.
Amid an off-the-ball tussle, St Colman’s worked possession inside for Adam Lardner to pull to the net on 44 minutes.
Moments later, that same skirmish reignited – O’Mahony shown red as tensions boiled. Down to 14 though, CBC’s response was ferocious.
O’Shea, immaculate from frees, reeled off four on the spin, Murray added another, and by the hour mark they were level for the first time since the opening quarter, 1-22 to 2-19.
Confusion followed. The referee signalled that Colman’s were a point down. Fermoy hit the next two – Cormac Barry from a free and Counihan, who was superb throughout – before Seán Hurley and Murray struck back for CBC in stoppage time. St Colman’s believed it was to force extra-time; instead, McAllister’s final tally declared a two-point win for CBC.
For a fixture that began in disorder and ended in doubt, it still had its moments of quality.
Counihan and Barry were immense for St Colman’s, as was defender Denis Fitzgerald, who hit two points from play, while O’Shea’s 12-point haul and Brislane’s performance at half-back had kept Christians in contention as they made do without Michael Tadhg Brosnan, Cian Lawton, Max Murphy and Jack Hegarty who are all in action for their clubs this weekend.
But the discussions around this one will not be centred on performances, but rather, the grey, grey outcome.
E O’Shea 0-12 (0-7 f), C O’Flynn 1-2, J Murray 0-4, M Quill 0-2, J O’Mahony, S Hurley, S Brislane, D Riordan 0-1 each, AN Other 0-1.
C Barry (0-2 f), J Counihan 0-5 each, T McCarthy 0-4, A Lardner 1-1, C O’Riordan 1-0, R Donovan, D Fitzgerald 0-2 each, F O’Driscoll 0-1.
K Flood (Ballygarvan), J Costello (Clonakilty), D Riordan (Kilworth), D Kingston (Mallow) (c); C Burke (Glen Rovers), C Connolly (Glen Rovers), S Brislane (Inniscarra); J Murray (St Finbarr’s), M Quill (Blackrock); M O’Mahony (Bishopstown), E O’Shea (Ballinhassig), J O’Mahony (Glen Rovers); L Cregan (Douglas), S Hurley (Éire Óg), C O’Flynn (Blarney).
D Rowley (Blarney) for Cregan, D Holland (Inniscarra) for M O’Mahony (both 44), J Harrington (Ballincollig) for Brislane (50), R O’Callaghan (Glen Rovers) for Connolly (58).
M O’Donovan (Ballyduff Upper); J Batterberry (Ballycastle Gaels), J Mullery (Fermoy), B Ryan (Watergrasshill) (c); D Barry (Watergrasshill), Cathal Barry (Bride Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers); F O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers), J Counihan (Watergrasshill); Cormac Barry (Bride Rovers), R Donovan (Fermoy), C O’Riordan (Bride Rovers); O Hegarty (Kilworth), T McCarthy (Watergrasshill), A Lardner (Castlelyons).
M Kenny (Bride Rovers) for Hegarty (37), J O’Keeffe (Fermoy) for O’Riordan (48 inj), J Hennebry (Watergrasshill) for O’Mahony (53), J Butterworth (Fermoy) for D Barry (58).
C McAllister (Aghada)
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