Cill Na Martra edge out Nemo Rangers in Division 1 Football League
FOCUSED: Cill na Martra's Eoin O'Conaill contesting for the ball with Nemo's Luke Horgan. Picture: Denis Boyle
Cill na Martra secured a narrow victory following this thriller in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Division 1 Football League against Nemo Rangers.
This was a captivating contest deep inside the Muskerry Gaeltacht on Sunday morning, which was right in the melting pot up until the dying stages, with a late point by Seán Ó Fóirréidh in stoppage time ultimately proving decisive.
Although Nemo posed many questions, Cill na Martra always found the right response and edged out a cracking affair.
Cill na Martra commenced on the front foot with early scores coming including from Jason Mac Cárthaigh and Dan Ó Duinnín.
Nemo opened their scoring account courtesy of a point from Kevin O’Donovan. The visitors went hunting for goals and found the back of the net on nine minutes, as Conor Horgan poked home from a few yards out after an initial Ross Corkery effort was saved.
The response from Cill na Martra was a rapid one. Some swift footwork by Daniel Ó Duinnín set Antaine Ó Loingsigh away and he planted the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Daniel Ó Duinnín was showcasing some of the talent that has had him involved with the Cork Senior Football setup in recent years, adding with a pair of scores to see Cill na Martra lead 1-7 to 1-2 after 22 minutes.
Nemo reduced the gap between the teams back down to three points as Bryan Hayes slotted over between the posts.
But it was Cill na Martra that ended the half strongly. Points from Danny Ó Conaill, Ciarán Ó Foirréidh and a two-pointer from Dan Ó Duinnín saw the Muskerry side in firm control.
Nemo responded with a well-taken two-pointer from Bryan Hayes on the stroke of the 30-minute mark.
But after what was an impressive opening half from the home side, it was Cill na Martra who led 1-11 to 1-6 at the break.
Cill na Martra further extended their advantage early in the second half, with Antaine Ó Loingsigh and Ó Fóirréidh scoring.
Nemo though were never going to fall away easily. They were well and truly motoring on 40 minutes, as Mark Hill found the bottom corner of the net with a fine finish, before a two-pointer by Hayes saw just one point between the sides with 44 minutes played on the clock.
Then Nemo got on level terms a few minutes later when Corkery landed over a well-taken score.
But Cill na Martra were refusing to buckle under the sustained pressure being applied by Nemo.
Jason Mac Cárthaigh put Cill na Martra ahead with a two-pointer on 58 minutes, with Nemo responding with a two-pointer from Conor Horgan.
After a brief delay as tensions almost boiled over between both sets of players, Cill na Martra landed the final blow as Seán Ó Fóirréidh kept his composure to score the decisive stoppage-time point.
D Ó Duinnín 0-5 (1 2pt), J Mac Cárthaigh 0-4 (2 2ptf), A Ó Loingsigh 1-1, C Ó Fóirréidh (1 2pt), D Ó Conaill 0-3 each, S Ó Fóirréidh 0-1.
B Hayes 0-6 (2 2pt, 0-1f), C Horgan 1-3 (1 2pt), M Hill 1-0, K O’Donovan 0-2, R Corkery, T O’Brien 0-1 each.
M Ó Deasúna; F Ó Faoláin, T Ó Corcora, M Ó Cathasaigh; D Ó Conaill, C Ó Cróinín, C Ó Foirréidh; A Ó hUidhir, A Ó Cuana; J Mac Cárthaigh, D Ó Duinnín,J Ó Loingsigh; E Ó Conaill, D Mac Cárthaigh, A Ó Loingsigh.
P Ó hEalaithe for Ó Faoláin (HT), S Ó Foirréidh for Ó Loingsigh (40), S Ó Duinnín for Mac Cárthaigh (46), D Ó Buachalla for D Ó Duinnín (50).
D O’Leary; D Quinn, M Hill, C Moore; T O’Brien, K O’Donovan, E Nation; C Molloy, L Horgan; R Corkery, R Dalton, O Whyte; B Hayes, C Horgan, C Kiely.
N O’Shea for L Horgan (HT), F Dietze for O’Leary (37), J O’Brien for Whyte (52).
Niall Hayes (Carbery Rangers)
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