IAFC: Two-point drama late on as Bandon snatch a draw against Kildorrery

Bandon 0-11 (0-2-7) Kildorrery 1-8 (1-1-6) 

Bandon rescued their championship with a late two-point free against Kildorrery in the McCarthy Group Insurance Intermediate Football Championship at Ballyanly on Sunday.

A game that saw either side dominate for long periods of the first half ultimately ended in a fair result, with both sides level.

It did come with some drama attached, as a late free outside the arc from the Kildorrery keeper, Anthony Crowley, looked to have stolen the show. Bandon gained a reprieve as Mark Sugrue made no mistake with a two-point free of his own, with the final kick of the contest. 

They will be greatly relieved by the result, having wasted three goal opportunities.

Bandon opened brighter, Sugrue scoring from a Conor Callan pass. A minute later, they had doubled their advantage from Callan. In that period, they kicked a number of wides.

William Fouhy opened the North Cork side's account. Four minutes later, Cian Coughlan set up Kieran Hurley for a goal, before Peter O'Brien stretched the lead to 1-2 to 0-2.

The next score arrived on 23 minutes, as Calnan sent over a sublime score, before Mike Cahalane converted a free for Bandon's first score in 21 minutes.

An injury to Brian Crowley delayed the game and, on the resumption, Bandon took the contest to their opponents with frees from Cahalane and Sugrue. Sugrue had a goal effort just wide soon after. 

Deep into injury time, a two-point effort from Jack Cullinane tied up the contest at 0-6 to 1-3.

The second half saw Kildorrery hit three unanswered points from Shane O’Neill (2) and Fouhy, as Jack Cullinane saw his goal effort blocked.

With sets of defences watertight, Bandon tied it up on 55 minutes at 0-9 to 1-6.

Then came the late two-point drama.

Scorers for Bandon: M Sugrue 0-5 (0-2 f, 1 2pt f), J Cullinane 0-3 (1 2pt), M Cahalane (f), J Calnan, C Calnan 0-1 each.

Kildorrery: K Hurley 1-0, S O’Neill, W Fouhy 0-2 each, A Crowley 0-2 (1 2pt f), P O’Brien, C Coughlan 0-1 each.

BANDON: C McCarthy; C Twomey, B Crowley, E Mac Suibhne; C Lynch, T Twohig, P Murphy; R Long, D O'Mahony; B Twohig, J Cullinane, C Long; M Cahalane, M Sugrue, C Calnan. 

Subs: D O’Donovan for E Mac Suibhne (h-t), J Calnan and P Callanan for R Long and B Twohig (48).

KILDORRERY: A Crowley; C O'Sullivan, C Kent, J McCarthy; W Fouhy, L Keating, S O'Neill; S Fitzgerald, D Kent; J Hunter, P O'Brien, K Hurley; T Murphy, P Pigott, C Coughlan. 

Subs: D Hunter for J McCarthy, F Stapleton for W Fouhy (46, inj), D Kelly for J Hunter (58).

Referee: Peter Finnegan, Douglas.