Cill na Martra lay foundation for victory over Carbery Rangers with strong first half
Cill na Martra's Shane Ó Duinnín slots the ball past Carbery Rangers keeper Aaron O'Brien for the opening goal at Dunmanway. Picture: David Creedon
A pair of first-half goals from Shane Ó Duinnín were the ultimate difference as Cill na Martra opened their McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC campaign with victory over Carbery Rangers on Sunday evening.
On the day that the Sam Maguire Cup found a new home, it was the pitch named after him in Dunmanway that served as the site for the clash of last year’s beaten finalists and the side relegated from premier senior.
It was the Gaeltacht side, beaten in that decider by Knocknagree, who had the benefit of the wind in the first half and they made it count with a 2-11 to 0-7 half-time lead. While much of the second half was spent on the back foot as orange flags helped to reduce Carbery Rangers’ arrears, Cill na Martra ensured no goals were conceded while goalkeeper Micheál Ó Deasúna sent over two important two-points free to ensure that they stayed on top.
The second of those, his third score in total, put them 2-18 to 0-16 in front with 55 minutes on the clock, though there would be 12 more minutes of playing time. A pair of super two-pointers from Daragh Hayes left four in it as the clock moved red and they were in a good position for another when a vital intervention from inspirational Cill na Martra midfielder Gearóid Ó Goillidhe led to Ciarán Ó Duinnín and Eoin Ó Conaill combining for Dan Ó Duinnín to get his sixth point from play.
It was their last score but the defence, where Seán Ó Forréidh was immense, held out in injury time and while John O’Rourke did get Carbery Rangers’ seventh two-pointer, it was the last action and Cill na Martra took the points.
With players to come back before they face Newmarket in a game that will almost certainly serve as a play-off for a quarter-final spot, the Muskerry outfit will take of a satisfaction from how they clicked in the first half, making use of the elements from the off.
After the second of Ciarán Ó Duinnín’s early points to put them 0-2 to 0-0 ahead, a turnover on the kickout led to Jason Mac Cárthaigh feeding Shane Ó Duinnín for a good finish to the net. Ross’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of goalkeeper Aaron O’Brien to injury soon after and his opposite number Ó Deasúna joined the Cill na Martra attack to stroke over a huge effort to make it 1-4 to 0-1.
Moments after, Ó Deasúna was alert to carry out his primary duties, denying Paul Hodnett after a good run, and the importance of that save was shown on 17 minutes as Ó Forréidh’s driving run gave him an opening before unselfishly squaring to Shane Ó Duinnín for his second goal.
While Paul Hodnett’s kicking did help Carbery Rangers to belatedly build their tally, Cill na Martra continued to keep the scoreboard ticking and shortly before half-time a nine-point lead could have become 12 but Ross backup goalkeeper Paul Shanahan denied Eoin Ó Conaill.
Even so, a ten-point half-time advantage was extended as Dan Ó Duinnín pointed on the restart but thereafter the lead contracted.
Two Paul Hodnett two-pointers were almost followed by a goal from Hayes, with Ó Deasúna tipping the ball over, and when sub Mark Hodnett and Dylan O’Neill – who didn’t score but was heavily involved – linked to set up Timmy Cullinane for an orange flag, it was 2-15 to 0-15 on 47 minutes.
Ross did come closer than that in the closing stages, but not by enough to take something from the contest.
D Ó Duinnín, M Ó Deasúna (2 2ptf, 1 2pt) 0-6 each, S Ó Duinnín 2-1, C Ó Duinnín 0-5, A Ó Cuana 0-1.
P Hodnett 0-9 (2 2pt, 1 2ptf, 0-2 f), D Hayes 0-6 (2 2pt), T Cullinane (2pt), J O’Rourke (2pt), B Hodnett 0-2 each, P O’Rourke 0-1.
M Ó Deasúna; D Mac Lochlainn, F Ó Faoláinm D Ó Conaill; C Ó Forréidh, S Ó Forréidh, C Ó Cróinín; A Ó Duinnín, G Ó Goillidhe; C Ó Duinnín, J Mac Cárthaigh, A Ó Cuana; E Ó Conaill D Ó Duinnín, S Ó Duinnín.
P Ó hÉalaithe for C Ó Forrréidh, D Mac Cárthaigh for S Ó Duinnín (both 55), A Ó Loingsigh for Ó Cuana (60+3).
A O’Brien; J Kevane, J O’Riordan, P Óg Hill; J O’Rourke, J O’Riordan, B Hodnett; K Scannell, P Hodnett; P Hurley, B Kerr, J Hodnett; T Cullinane, D Hayes, D O’Neill.
P Shanahan for O’Brien (12, injured), M Hodnett for J Hodnett (41), J O’Regan for P Hodnett, P O’Rourke for Hurley (both 50).
A O’Connor (Ballygarvan).
App?
