Kanturk snatch draw as Cian Clernon kicks late leveller against Dohenys in SAFC
RISING HIGH: Alan Walsh, Kanturk, reaches for the ball to stop it going over the side line under pressure from Adam O'Donovan, Dohenys. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
As enthralling as it was intense, and the teams finished all square in Kilmurry. A let off for Kanturk. Delight and disappointment for Dohenys. But both remain firmly in the hunt for a quarter-final place.
Kanturk’s highest lead of the game was four. So too was Dohenys’. On the hour mark, goalkeeper Stephen Daly kicked his second two-point free to leave the Dunmanway men four ahead. Within three minutes, parity would be restored for the sixth and final time on Sunday.
A goal from Paul Walsh preceded the heroic point of substitute Cian Clernon – set up by another sub Lorcán McLoughlin – snatched a draw at the death for Kanturk, mere minutes after Daly looked to have won it for Dohenys.
Now, with one round of group fixtures left to go, two points separate first from last in Group 1 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A Football Championship.
A goal from Kanturk’s Grantas Bucinskas shortly before interval put them three up, and when Colin Walsh tacked on the first score of the second half, it looked as though Kanturk may live up to the pre-match billing and power ahead. But Dohenys’ efforts ensured they did anything but. Their opponents would raise only one white flag until added time.
Dohenys had already put up a good fight, but in the latter period they were far more competitive. Keith McCarthy zipped around everywhere, one of several players to put in a superb shift. It was he who assisted Seán Murphy for a low palmed finish to leave a point in it after 36 minutes.
Keith White got them on level terms again, before Cork footballer Paul Walsh nudged Kanturk ahead with 15 to go. They could have added another goal when Alan Walsh was fed at the back post by Daniel O’Connell, and while he stretched to get a leg on it, his effort nipped wide.
A let off for Dohenys, who continued to probe but couldn’t find a way through the Kanturk defence. Until the 54th minute.
Daly kicked an excellent two-point free to take Dohenys from one behind to one ahead. From the next kickout, Rhys Coakley and McCarthy forced a turnover, and Donal Rice fed Murphy, who split the posts.
Then, on the hour mark, Daly roamed forward once more for another long distance free. And he made no mistake again from downtown.
With all the momentum and a four-point buffer, Dohenys only needed to survive in added time. And before the end of the first additional minute, Paul Walsh had dashed those hopes as he rifled the net. Then, up stepped Clernon for the leveller, sending both camps home with mixed emotions.
The north Cork men had started better in the first half, kicking the first three points, but Dohenys would be level at 0-4 apiece after 15. By the half hour mark they would remain deadlocked – 0-7 each – until one sweeping team move gave Kanturk the first green flag.
Brian O’Sullivan, Liam O’Keeffe, Paul Walsh and Alan Walsh were all involved, as the latter handpassed to the back post for Bucinskas to palm home.
There would be further twists to come, though.
G Bucinskas 1-4 (0-2 f), P Walsh 1-2, C Clernon, C Walsh, L O’Keeffe, T Walsh 0-1 each.
S Murphy 1-2, S Daly 0-4 (2 tpf), K White 0-3, G Farr 0-2 (1 tp), F Herlihy, K McCarthy 0-1 each.
R Cashman; J McLoughlin, D Browne, C Mullane; M Healy, T Walsh, J Fitzpatrick; P Walsh, R Walsh; B O’Sullivan, C Walsh, D O’Connell; G Bucinskas, A Walsh, L O’Keeffe.
C Clernon for Fitzpatrick, L O’Neill for Mullane (both 40), I Walsh for O’Keeffe, B Healy for Browne (both 46), L McLoughlin for Healy (55).
S Daly; E Farrell, E Lavers, J Farrell; D Rice, J Collins, S Barry; A O’Donovan, R Coakley; I Bryan, F Herlihy, G Farr; S Murphy, K White, K McCarthy.
B O’Donovan for Lavers (30+2 inj), C Daly for Farr (41), P Crowley for Herlihy (46), E Lehane for Murphy (57 inj).
P O’Leary (Kilmurry)
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