IAFC: Boherbue dig deep to see off Dromtarriffe in Duhallow derby

Boherbue: 0-15 (0-1-13) 

Dromtarriffe: 0-12 (0-2-8)

Boherbue edged out Duhallow rivals Dromtarriffe in a riveting McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC quarter-final at Ballydesmond on Friday night.

Boherbue are into the last four, having reached the final in 2024. Their semi-final opponents will be known after the other quarter-final tie between Buttevant and Mitchelstown on Saturday.

It wasn’t a classic in terms of quality, but in terms of passion, pride, graft and determination, there was no shortage of it.

Dromtarriffe, who hit four goals in an eye-catching win over Mitchelstown last time out, didn’t have the same space in this one, largely due to a strong Boherbue defence led by the experienced Kevin Cremin.

The winners conceded the first score but wouldn’t trail again, even if they laboured at times. A four-point buffer halfway through the second half was whittled down to one, but Boherbue saw it out to win by three in the end.

In front of a large and noisy crowd, Dromtarriffe did hit the front through Darren O’Connor, but Boherbue replied with five scores on the trot, including a John Corkery two-point free.

Gerry O’Sullivan also had a wonderful goal opportunity, but his palmed effort couldn’t beat goalkeeper Michael O’Keeffe.

A free from sharpshooter Evan Murphy and an effort from Andrew Healy left Dromtarriffe 0-6 to 0-3 behind after the first quarter.

Boherbue pushed four clear when David O’Connor pointed, but a two-point free from Conor O’Callaghan left Dromtarriffe two behind, 0-7 to 0-5, with nine minutes to the break.

It was a typical derby with no quarter asked or given. Boherbue did shade the final stages of the opening half, kicking three of the five points, Pa Daly doing trojan work around the middle, with Liam Moynihan’s effort the pick of the scores, 0-10 to 0-7 at half-time.

David O’Connor pushed Boherbue four points clear on the restart before the sides swapped points, 0-12 to 0-8 after 43 minutes.

Darren O’Connor was unlucky not to score a goal, but the ball did go out for a 45, which Evan Murphy converted.

David O’Connor pointed a free for Boherbue, but a Conor O’Callaghan two-point effort left Dromtarriffe just 0-13 to 0-11 behind with ten minutes remaining.

David Ward left the bare minimum in it after 58 minutes. Extra time looked a possibility, but Boherbue finished strongly with points from Gerry O’Sullivan and a close-range David O’Connor free.

Scorers for Boherbue: D O’Connor 0-9 (0-5 f), J Corkery 0-3 (1 2pt f), G O’Sullivan 0-2, L Moynihan 0-1.

Dromtarriffe: C O’Callaghan 0-4 (1 2pt f, 1 2pt), E Murphy 0-3 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), A Healy 0-2, D O’Connor, D Ward, D O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

BOHERBUE: Daniel Murphy; M O’Gorman, D Buckley, J Daly; D Moynihan, K Cremin, E Moynihan; L Moynihan, P Daly; B O’Gorman, G O’Sullivan, C Ducey; A O’Connor, J Corkery, D O’Connor.

Subs: Diarmuid Murphy for E Moynihan (49), A Murphy for B O’Gorman (53), CJ O’Sullivan for M O’Gorman (58), D Sheehan for C Ducey (60).

DROMTARRIFFE: M O’Keeffe; J Kelleher, M O’Brien, M Dennehy; D Ward, B Murphy, T Howard; C O’Callaghan, A Buckley; D O’Keeffe, A Healy, M O’Callaghan; E Murphy, D O’Connor, S Howard.

Subs: B O’Keeffe for M O’Callaghan (28), M O’Connor for D O’Connor (53), A Downey for A Buckley (58).

Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).