FL Division 6 - Aghinagh produce strong comeback to see off Kilmacabea
Liam Twohig scored eight points as Aghinagh overcame Kilmacabea in Friday's McCarthy Insurance Group FL Division 6 final at Sam Maguire Park in Dunmanway. File picture: Larry Cummins
A late goal from sub Luke Ring capped a superb turnaround for Aghinagh as they claimed the McCarthy Insurance Group FL Division 6 on Friday night.
The Rusheen side trailed by 0-11 to 0-4 at half-time in Sam Maguire Park in Dunmanway but a trio of two-point scores from centre-forward Con Buckley helped to bring them back into contention.
While a Gore point split the second and third of those to make it 0-14 to 0-10 for Kilmacabea in the 48th minute, it proved to be the Leap club’s last score of the game.
After Buckley brought his tally to six points to leave two in it again, Kilmacabea lost Dara Tobin to injury – the corner-back had been excellent throughout and Aghinagh compounded the blow as they worked the ball well through the Kilmac cover. Midfielders Declan Ambrose and Thomas Morgans combined well with Liam Twohig and when the ball came to Ring – who had gone close shortly beforehand – in space, he made no mistake to give his side the lead for the first time in the game.
While there was time for Kilmacabea to conjure a response, strong defending from Aghinagh ensured that it did not materialise. After a free was brought forward for dissent, Twohig converted and then he made it a three-point game in injury time.
When sub Aodh Twomey was fouled in a late breakaway, Twohig again did the needful, giving him eight points to his name by the end and sending the trophy to Muskerry.
It was an outcome that seemed unlikely in the first half, when Kilmacabea’s greater efficiency allowed them to build their advantage.
They almost had a goal in the first minute as Liam McCarthy had an effort blocked by John Lynch and John Keating’s follow-up came back off the crossbar, but even without that – and despite not having captain Ian Jennings available – they moved clear.
Goalkeeper Colin McCarthy sent over a trio of huge frees while the full-back line was strong as Aghinagh struggled to make inroads outside of Twohig’s contributions – he had all four of their opening-half points, including two clever solo-and-go efforts following fouls.
Kilmacabea were also thankful to McCarthy for a fine save to deny Buckley in the 21st minute, at a time when the score was 0-4 to 0-3 before they pushed on in the closing stages.
Damien Gore, well-marhsalled by Aghinagh captain Donagh O’Riordan, made a strong impact before the break with an orange flag and a white flag in quick succession before hardworking midfielder Cillian Whelton extended the lead to seven with a long-ranger on the whistle.
Aghinagh responded well, however, with Luke O’Leary to the fore as they eroded the deficit on the restart, and Bobbie O’Dwyer’s side eventually got their reward.
L Twohig 0-8 (0-f 5), C Buckley 0-6 (3 2pt), L Ring 1-0, A O’Leary 0-1.
C McCarthy 0-6 (3 2ptf, D Gore 0-4 (1 2pt), C Whelton 0-2 (2pt), J Keating, E Shanahan 0-1 each.
C Lucey; D O’Callaghan, D O’Riordan, J Lynch; A O’Leary, T Buckley, L O’Leary; D Ambrose, T Morgans; N O’Leary, C Buckley, S O’Riordan; W Coakley, L Twohig, D Crowley.
L Ring for N O’Leary (half-time), A Twomey for Crowley (44), S Horgan for S O’Riordan (58), J Ambrose for A O’Leary (60+4).
C McCarthy; D Tobin, L Tobin, D Whooley; M McCarthy, S O’Driscoll, D McCarthy; M Collins, C Whelton; K Whelton, R Shanahan, E Shanahan; L McCarthy, D Gore, J Keating.
D O’Donovan for Whelton (41), J Collins for Keating (51), O Kerrisk for D Tobin (54, injured).
P O’Leary (Cloughduv).
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