St Finbarr's survive against Newcestown after huge test
Ben Cunningham, St Finbarr's, taking on Sean O'Donovan and Luke Meade, Newcestown. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
It finished honours even between St Finbarr’s and Newcestown in Group 3 of the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC at Enniskeane.
On the weekend Irish boxing legend Katie Taylor bowed out, this Group 3 Premier SHC encounter had a big fight feel long before throw-in.
In the red corner stood Newcestown who, having lost their first two group fixtures, required victory to avert a potential relegation play-off. In the blue corner was a St Finbarr’s team searching for a second consecutive championship win to rubber-stamp their ticket to the quarter-finals.
Staged in West Cork, each club’s necessity to deliver a knockout blow generated a cracking game that was level on nine occasions before the final whistle heralded a draw. A fair outcome considering the even nature of the contest.
Midleton’s win over Bride Rovers, along with a point garnered from this final group game, was enough to send St Finbarr’s into the knockout stages. The result was also enough for Newcestown to retain their Premier Senior status, albeit not sufficient to move the Carbery club beyond the group phase.
Disappointingly, early morning rain made for slippery underfoot conditions which affected attacking endeavours. As a result, Newcestown fired 13 wides and the Barrs twelve.
Shorn of the injured Brian Hayes and Jack Cahalane, the Togher side needed a Ricky Barrett goal, setup by Ben Cunningham, to be within three points, 0-11 to 1-5, of Newcestown at the break.
Jack Meade, James Kelleher David Buckley and Richard O’Sullivan accounted for the bulk of the Carbery side’s scoring during a scrappy opening half.
The second period was much improved with the teams exchanging long-range points throughout a quality third quarter.
Ethan Twomey, Conor Cahalane and Ben Cunningham fired over some sublime efforts at one end. Goalkeeper Cathal Wilson and Richard O’Sullivan did likewise for their opponents.
Consecutive Ciarán Doolan and Eoghan Finn scores handed St Finbarr’s their first lead, 1-13 to 0-15, after 49 minutes.
Luke Meade responded before Sean Daly and Conor Cahalane quickly made it a two-point game. That was substitute Niall Kelly’s (twice) and O’Sullivan’s cue to fire over and level matters, 0-18 to 1-15, for a sixth time.
O’Sullivan (two frees) and Cunningham swapped points before Barrs goalkeeper Shane Hurley raced from his goalmouth and walloped over yet another equaliser.
Tension was high during the closing exchanges and the scores tied for a ninth time at 0-21 to 1-18.
Unable to provide a knockout punch, Newcestown’s Richard O’Sullivan twice went close to netting what would have been a match-winning goal. Yet, both teams squandered plenty of late opportunities to grab a desperately needed win.
A draw saw both sets of players and mentors retreat to their respective dugouts until news of Midleton’s victory confirmed the Barrs’ progression and Newcestown’s retention of Premier senior hurling for another year.
W Buckley 0-4, B Cunningham (0-2 f), C Cahalane 0-3 each, R Barrett 1-0, D Cahalane, J Murray, E Twomey, S Cunningham, C Doolan, E Finn, S Daly, S Hurley 0-1 each.
R O’Sullivan 0-6 f, J Meade, N Kelly 0-3 each, C Wilson (f), D Buckley, J Kelleher 0-2 each, C Dineen, E Wilson, L Meade 0-1 each.
S Hurley; C Walsh, J Burns, S Daly; C Cahalane (c), D Cahalane, C Doolan; E Twomey, J Murray; J O’Kelly, W Buckley, C McCarthy; R Barrett, B Cunningham, J Wiggington Barrett.
S Cunningham for C McCarthy (ht), E Finn for J O’Kelly (41), A Barry for J Murray (56).
C Wilson (c); J Kelleher, E Collins, M McSweeney; J Burrows, Colm O’Donovan, L Meade; D McAree, J Meade; R O’Sullivan, J Kenneally, G O’Donovan; D Buckley, S O’Donovan, C Dineen.
Ciarán O’Donovan for Kenneally (20, inj), C Hurley for D McAree (41), N Kelly for C Dineen (41), E Kenneally for R O’Sullivan (43, blood), R O’Sullivan for E Kenneally (47).
Cathal McAllister (Aghada).
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