Division 1 FL: Cillian Myers-Murray kicks three late two-pointers as St Finbarr's edge out Éire Óg

St Finbarr’s: 0-14 (0-4-6) 

Éire Óg: 0-10 (0-0-10) 

Spearheaded by two-point king Cillian Myers-Murray, St Finbarr’s came good to defeat Éire Óg in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League at a bitterly cold Togher on Thursday night.

After being held on the opening day on home soil by Knocknagree, the Barrs will be glad to have picked up a victory mainly down to the shooting of Myers-Murray and an all-round much improved display in the second 30 minutes.

The hero kicked three late two-pointers, all from frees, to hand his side the victory.

Brian Roche’s side fell well below the standards that they have set in recent years for a good chunk of this game. They only hit one point in the first half albeit they were against the wind.

They still looked in bother with 17 minutes remaining as they trailed by five points, but they rallied to prevail by four points.

The reigning Division 1 League champions and Premier SFC winners were severely depleted for various reasons hence why they made no subs.

Trevor Howe made his debut for the Togher side and should be very proud with how he played in defence. 

Éire Óg remain on a point after they drew with Castlehaven last Sunday week. They will be frustrated considering they had this game in the palm of their hands for the majority.

St Finbarr’s got the first score after seven minutes through a Myers-Murray free, but they would fail to score again for the remainder of the opening 30 minutes.

They had their chances but nothing came to fruition. They were forcing the issue too much.

Éire Óg largely controlled the proceedings as they were much more efficient and composed on the ball. The Ovens side were aided by a strong wind in this half.

Ronan O’Toole, Conor McGoldrick, Mark Griffin and Oisín O’Shea all pointed for the away team as they led 0-4 to 0-1 after 22 minutes.

Excellent Éire Óg defending led by Michael Corkery and Daire McCarthy did help their side curb St Finbarr’s attack.

Brian Thompson and sub Colm Clifford gave Éire Óg a 0-6 to 0-1 half-time lead.

Wind-assisted St Finbarr’s registered their first score in 24 minutes when Bill O’Connell bisected the posts.

Clifford and a nice Jerome Kelleher effort gave Éire Óg a healthy six-point advantage.

Myers-Murray and Cian O’Sullivan did raise white flags for St Finbarr’s before sub Dylan Foley pushed Éire Óg 0-9 to 0-4 clear after 39 minutes.

St Finbarr’s awoke from their slumber from this juncture on. They brought the deficit back to the bare minimum with Luke Hannigan’s orange flag the pick of those scores. Myers-Murray (mark) and another O’Connell effort with the other points, 0-9 to 0-8.

Éire Óg sub Cathal Kirwan converted an easy free and it did look like they had weathered the storm with four minutes left.

Not to be. Three two-point frees from Myers-Murray gave St Finbarr’s a four-point victory as Éire Óg were left with regrets in what was an opportunity missed for them.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: C Myers-Murray 0-9 (3 2pt f, 0-1 f, 0-1 m), L Hannigan (1 2pt), B O’Connell 0-2 each, C O’Sullivan 0-1.

Éire Óg: C Clifford 0-2, B Thompson, C McGoldrick, O O’Shea, J Kelleher, R O’Toole, M Griffin, C Kirwan (f), D Foley 0-1 each.

ST FINBARR’S: C Haynes; D O’Kelly, J Burns, J Kennefick; B Hennessy, A O’Connor, T Howe; C Crowley, L Hannigan; A Lyne, E Dennehy, B O’Connell; C Myers-Murray, J Wigginton-Barrett, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: No subs made.

ÉIRE ÓG: C Kelly; C Murphy, M Corkery, D McCarthy; B Thompson, M Griffin, C McGoldrick; O O’Shea, M Kelleher; D Kelly, M Murphy, J Kelleher; R O’Toole, D Healy, B Hurley.

Subs: C Clifford for M Kelleher (27), D Foley for M Murphy (h-t), C Kirwan for D Healy (35), D Kirwan for D Kelly (40), C Quigley for B Hurley (50), D Dineen for J Kelleher, M Brady for R O’Toole (both 61).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).