Dr O'Callaghan Cup final: Gaelcholáiste Mhuire snatch it late after brilliant battle with CBC
Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG players and mentors celebrate after defeating CBC in the Cork colleges O'Callaghan cup final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
It took late rescue acts from Craig Ó Suilleabháin and Lúcas Ó Muirthile, but Gaelcholáiste Mhuire are back-to-back O’Callaghan Cup champions after a thrilling win over Christian Brothers College at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Friday evening.
With the clock in red and only the few minutes of added time to go, the teams were deadlocked at 1-16 apiece. Ó Suilleabháin won a crucial free, and under pressure from the CBC crowd, Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin slotted over coolly to creep the AG back in front.
After Bobby Power had his shot blocked by Josh Ó Brosnacháin – who was outstanding for the AG – Hugo Rafferty picked up the stray sliotar and shot over. Level for the eighth time, 63 minutes played.
The AG stormed forward once more. Joe Ó Riain sent Callum Ó Cofaigh through. He shrugged off the challenge from Eoghan O’Shea, and fired straight between the posts. CBC had one last chance but they couldn’t get it on target.
And while the AG sideline eagerly anticipated the final whistle, Ó Muirthile gave them one last moment to cheer before the finish, striking over to get the point his performance certainly merited.
It’s history for the AG, they may not have a Harty quarter-final to play next year, but they come away from the Páirc as deserving winners.
The AG had powered into the early lead with the wind, 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after eight minutes, but they couldn’t shake Christians off.
Senan Brislane – on as a temporary sub – delivered a ball in that caused a defensive mix-up for the AG, and Seán Hurley was poised and ready. The Éire Óg clubman scooped up the loose ball, fired across goal and nudged Christians ahead, 1-1 to 0-4, after 10 minutes.
Ó Ceallacháin nailed a few frees and they almost found a major when Ryan Ó Cróinín sent Callum Ó Cofaigh racing through on goal. The Na Piarsaigh starlet shot low and hard, but rapid reflexes from Flood saw it go over for a point.
Christians would find parity one more time in that opening act, a free from O’Shea and crisp strike from Hurley had it 1-5 to 0-8, but again, the AG responded.
Trevor Ó Bruadau sent his fellow wing-back Seán J Ó Dálaigh galloping down the flank, and he slotted over from an outrageous distance to send Gaelcholáiste Mhuire in at the break with a point to spare.
Immediately on the resumption the AG went for the throat, Ó Muirthile running through on goal before squaring it across to clubmate Callum Ó Cofaigh, but Flood leapt in the way to block it with his body. Though the AG crowd could sense what was coming.
The AG would spend much of the second half hanging on against the wind, and by the 50th minute, their lead had been cut to the minimum, 1-13 to 1-12.
It would take CBC until the 58th minute to draw level, and when they did, it set up a finish for the neutral. But, the northsiders had the nerve to prevail.
G Ó Ceallacháin 0-8 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), C Ó Suilleabháin 0-5 (0-1 f), C Ó Cofaigh 0-3, J Ó Brosnacháin 1-0, L Ó Muirthile, E Mac Eochán, S J Ó Dálaigh 0-1 each.
S Hurley 1-2, E O’Shea (0-3 f), J Murray 0-4 each, C Connolly, M Quill 0-2 each, B Hegarty, H Rafferty, C Lawton 0-1 each.
K Flood (Ballygarvan); D Kingston (Mallow, jc), D Riordan (Kilworth), J Costello (Clonakilty); C Burke (Glen Rovers), C Stack (Blackrock), MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers); C Connolly (Glen Rovers), J Murray (St Finbarr’s); A Maher (Sarsfields), E O’Shea (Ballinhassig), M Quill (Blackrock); S Hurley (Éire Óg), C O’Flynn (Blarney), J Hegarty (Ballinora, jc).
S Brislane (Inniscarra) for Brosnan (6-10 temp) B Hegarty (Ballinora) for O’Flynn (HT), M Murphy (Midleton) for Maher (44), C Lawton (Midleton) for Burke (46), B Power (Ballincollig) for Stack (50 inj), H Rafferty (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels) for Hurley (60).
J Ó Gabhláin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna); N Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Cróinín (Na Piarsaigh), G Ó Duibhir Ó hArracháin (Na Piarsaigh); S J Ó Dálaigh (Naomh Uinseann), J Ó Brosnacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), D Ó Scannláin (Na Piarsaigh); J Ó Riain (An Blarna), T Ó Bruadau (Naomh Uinseann); E Mac Eochán (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), J Ó Cathaláin (Na Piarsaigh), G Ó Ceallacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), C Ó Suilleabháin (Na Piarsaigh), L Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh, c), C Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsiagh).
R Ó Buachalla (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for Ó Cathaláin (HT), D De Barra (Dúbhghlas) for Mac Eochán (51).
B Barry Murphy (Aghabullogue).
App?
