Premier SFC: Avondhu find extra gear to see off spirited Seandún

Avondhu: 3-17 (3-1-15) 

Seandún: 3-14 (3-3-8) 

Avondhu just about had enough to get past a spirited Seandún side in the opening round of the unseeded divisions/colleges section of the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC at Glantane on Tuesday evening.

This victory sends the North Cork outfit into a Round 2 meeting with Beara next Tuesday, and the intensity of this contest will surely stand to them after what was a highly entertaining affair.

The winners took control in the final quarter to edge over the line by three points. They had trailed by one at the short whistle, with Avondhu spearheaded throughout by the influence of the Hanlon brothers, Conor and David, and Mark Lenahan. 

They finished the game with 14 men after sub Kevin Lenahan received a black card in the dying seconds, but they held firm under late Seandún pressure.

It was a big occasion for Seandún, who were returning to competitive action for the first time in seven years. They led by a point at half-time and their effort could not be faulted. Blake Murphy was outstanding, hitting 1-9 including three two-pointers and keeping his side in the contest throughout.

Avondhu kicked four of the first five points, but Seandún levelled after seven minutes when David Lynch finished brilliantly to the net following a surging run. Avondhu responded with two quick points, including a Mark Lenahan two-pointer, though Seandún might have had a second goal on 12 minutes only for Murphy to be desperately unlucky with his effort. 

The city side then hit 1-2 without reply — all from rising star Brian Galvin — to move 2-3 to 0-7 ahead with eight minutes left in the half. A Conor Hanlon goal, created by a clever Ben Twomey pass, followed by a Twomey point, restored Avondhu’s lead, but Seandún finished the half strongly kicking the last two scores including a two-pointer from Murphy to go in 2-6 to 1-8 ahead at half-time.

Avondhu restarted with purpose, landing three points on the bounce, before Seandún replied with 1-1, Murphy converting a penalty to push them 3-7 to 1-11 ahead after 40 minutes.

The sides were level again at 3-9 to 2-12, with a crucial goal from Mark Lenahan helping Avondhu regain momentum entering the final quarter. From there, the North Cork men found an extra gear, stringing together four points to create daylight.

Murphy narrowed the gap with a two-point free and later reduced it to one, but Mark Lenahan struck again for Avondhu with a goal to restore breathing room, 3-16 to 3-12 after 58 minutes.

Still Seandún refused to yield, Murphy raising another orange flag from a free to bring his side back within two. They pressed hard for a decisive late score, but Avondhu substitute Colin O’Brien split the posts to settle matters.

Despite finishing with 14 men, Avondhu held on for a deserved but hard-earned win.

Scorers for Avondhu: M Lenahan 2-4 (1 2pt), C Hanlon 1-4 (0-1 f), D Hanlon, B Twomey 0-3 each, M O’Neill, C O’Brien, K Lenahan 0-1 each.

Seandún: B Murphy 1-9 (1-0 pen, 2 2pt f, 1 2pt), D Lynch (0-1 f), B Galvin 1-2 each, A West 0-1.

AVONDHU: R Donovan (Buttevant); S O’Callaghan (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels), M Walsh (Buttevant), P O’Neill (Fermoy); A Trimm (Buttevant), G Lardner (Fermoy), O O’Callaghan (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels); A O’Neill (Buttevant), E Birchill (Killavullen); M Lenahan (Buttevant), M O’Neill (Buttevant), A Finnegan (Ballyclough); D Hanlon (Buttevant), C Hanlon (Buttevant), B Twomey (Fermoy).

Subs: C O’Brien (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels) for E Birchill (21), L Aherne (Fermoy) for M Walsh, K Lenahan (Buttevant) for A Finnegan (both h-t), J Whelan (Buttevant) for O O’Callaghan (49), D Lardner (Fermoy) for M O’Neill (58).

SEANDÚN: E Fleming (St Vincent’s); A Spriggs (Delanys), J Geasley (Ballyphehane), L Malone (Mayfield); A Harte (St Vincent’s), O Kelleher (Glanmire), G McCarthy (St Vincent’s); E O’Sullivan (Mayfield), J Kind (Passage West); C O’Neill (St Vincent’s), D Lynch (Glanmire), S Daly (St Vincent’s); B Galvin (Glanmire), B Murphy (St Vincent’s), B Hornibrook (St Vincent’s).

Subs: A West (Ballyphehane) for C O’Neill (h-t), D Holland (Ballyphehane) for L Malone (37), A Cummins (Ballyphehane) for B Hornibrook (44), D Quinn (St Vincent’s) for J Kind (53), C Murphy (Ballyphehane) for B Galvin (58).

Referee: Robert Whelan (Aghada).