SAFC: Dohenys battle back to earn draw with Aghabullogue

Aghabullogue 1-16 (1-2-12)

Dohenys 2-13 (2-1-11)

Keith McCarthy’s 62nd-minute point completed an 11-point comeback for Dohenys as they shared the points with Aghabullogue in Saturday night’s McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC Group A clash in Kilmichael.

Against the wind in the first half, the Dunmanway side had fallen 1-13 to 0-5 behind in first-half injury time when Aghabullogue captain John Corkery landed a two-point score. While Shane Barry’s free did reduce the arrears slightly before the break, Dohenys’ cause looked bleak, given how well last year’s premier intermediate champions had played.

Though the two Keiths – White and McCarthy – had points for Dohenys on the restart, there was still little sense of what was to come as Cialan O’Sullivan replied with a pair of scores for the Coachford side, with Corkery and Matthew Bradley involved in both.

However, with the experienced Eoin Lavers influential in the Dohenys defence, the side in white change jerseys – Aghabullogue were in maroon – began to harness the elements at their backs.

Pádraig Crowley and Fionn Herlihy combined for White’s sixth point and the deficit was reduced from nine to a more-manageable six as McCarthy’s delivery was won by midfielder Adam O’Donovan, who produced a smart finish to the net.

Twenty minutes remained, though the fightback might have been nipped in the bud as a lovely Aghabullogue move saw the ball worked to Bradley – he already had 1-4 to his name and a second goal looked likely but the ball came back off the post and Dohenys made the most of the let-off.

Sub Ian Bryan made an immediate impact as he and Oran McCarthy worked to feed Barry in space – while goalkeeper John Buckley got a touch on the shot, he couldn’t keep it out and it was 1-15 to 2-19.

The gap was down to the minimum when Herlihy sent over a boomer for an orange flag, though Bradley provided an Aghabullogue response with a close-range free to leave them two in front with nine remaining.

It was only brief respite though as the margin halved again as Seán Murphy’s pace led to a Dohenys free which White converted for his seventh. They might have even moved in front for the first time – first, White was denied by a Buckley save and then sub Gavin Farr’s two-point attempt tailed just wide.

A rare Aghabullogue foray gave them a 45 but Bradley couldn’t profit and Dohenys were finally level as the ball was worked through Lavers, White and Murphy before getting to McCarthy, who slotted over.

There was a chance to go ahead, Farr’s free just wide, but there was still time for one last Aghabullogue attack – superb defending from Lavers ensured the move was stymied. Such was the effort involved, the final whistle brought not a massive outpouring but, instead, bodies dropping to the floor.

It was an outcome that had been difficult to foresee in the opening half as Aghabullogue dominated.

An early 0-3 to 0-1 lead was buttressed as Bradley’s two-point free was followed by a goal that had Cialan O’Sullivan and Corkery as its architects.

Outside of White frees, Dohenys struggled to conjure much, with Breandán O’Sullivan excellent in the Aghabullogue defence.

Paul Ring’s point had stretched the lead to 1-10 to 0-3 by 24 when Cialan O’Sullivan was hauled down for a penalty but Adam Murphy’s effort was kept out by Stephen Daly. Even with that, and another Daly save from Bradley, Coachford side’s flow was scarcely halted and a 1-13 to 0-6 interval lead did not flatter them.

Dohenys dug deep however, to ensure they salvaged something.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: M Bradley 1-5 (1 2ptf 0-2f), C O’Sullivan 0-4, J Corkery (2pt), K Casey 0-2 each, P O’Sullivan, P Ring, A O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Dohenys: K White 0-7 (0-5f), S Barry 1-1, A O’Donovan 1-0, F Herlihy (2pt), K McCarthy 0-2 each, R Coakley 0-1.

AGHABULLOGUE: J Buckley; T Long, D Merrick, P Dilworth; P Ring, S Tarrant, B O’Sullivan; C Gillespie, A Murphy; P O’Sullivan, J Corkery, A O’Sullivan; M Bradley, C O’Sullivan, L Casey.

Subs: O O’Connell for O’Sullivan (37, injured), D Thompson for P O’Sullivan, E O’Sullivan for A O’Sullian (both 57), S O’Sullivan for C O’Sullivan (60+1).

DOHENYS: S Daly; J Farrell, E Lavers, D Rice; O McCarthy, J Collins, B O’Donovan; A O’Donovan, R Coakley; S Barry, F Herlihy, K McCarthy; K White, S Murphy, P Crowley.

Subs: I Bryan for Crowley (38), E Farrell for O’Donovan (49), G Farr for O McCarthy (55).

Ref e ree: C Dineen (Douglas).