Premier SFC: 14-man Clonakilty hold off Newcestown fightback to reach last four

Clonakilty: 1-17 (1-1-15) 

Newcestown: 2-13 (2-1-11) 

A massive win for Clonakilty in so many ways as they held off a late Newcestown comeback in a gripping McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC quarter-final at Sam Maguire Park in Dunmanway on Saturday evening.

The Brewery Town side will face St Finbarr’s or Carbery in the semi-finals after this heroic second-half display.

It is the first time since 2021 that Clonakilty have reached the last four.

Tensions did boil over, and Clonakilty had to play the entire second half with 14 players after Dan Darragh received a red card during the interval.

It made the success all the sweeter for them, and the celebrations afterwards said it all.

They did make hard work of it in the closing stages. Having led by seven points, Clonakilty saw their advantage reduced to just one, but they held on and now move into the semi-finals.

They showed character in abundance too. As well as the red card, they conceded a sucker-punch goal just before half-time to trail by two points at the break.

This was a performance of maturity and steel, qualities that had been labelled as Clonakilty’s weak point in recent years.

Martin O’Brien’s troops started brightly with scores from Chris Kenneally and Conor Daly.

Seán O’Donovan pointed for Newcestown before the sides exchanged white flags.

A David Buckley two-pointer from long range gave Newcestown a 0-4 to 0-3 advantage after nine minutes.

A bit of composure did the trick for Clonakilty as they landed three of the next four points, with Seán White producing a fine effort.

Newcestown were winning the midfield battle, with Seán O’Donovan and Eoghan Collins lording it.

A Buckley free briefly tied up matters before a wonderful two-point free from Clonakilty goalkeeper Mark White made it 0-8 to 0-6 after 25 minutes.

Newcestown kicked two of the next three points, but it looked like Clonakilty would have their noses in front at the break.

Not so, as a sweeping Newcestown move resulted in Colm Dinneen setting up Collins for a simple finish to the net, leaving it 1-8 to 0-9 at half-time.

A brawl after the whistle resulted in David Buckley of Newcestown receiving a black card, while Dan Darragh of Clonakilty was shown a straight red card.

Clonakilty came out strongly for the second half, with Daly and Chris Kenneally levelling matters.

Darragh Gough nudged the Brewery Town side ahead four minutes into the new half.

Seán White popped up with his third point and a Dara Ó Sé effort gave Clonakilty a 0-14 to 1-8 advantage.

Buckley returned from his black-card suspension as Newcestown struggled to create chances.

They finally got their first score of the second half after 49 minutes when Séamus O’Sullivan fisted over.

But two minutes later, Clonakilty struck for goal after David Lowney set up substitute Dylan Harrington for a tidy finish.

The sides traded points as Clonakilty led 1-15 to 1-10 after 55 minutes.

The Brewery Town side hit two of the next three white flags until Séamus O’Sullivan rattled the back of the Clonakilty net after 59 minutes.

The team in red and gold finished strongly, and a point from the goalscorer along with a neat effort from substitute Humphrey Canty left the bare minimum between the sides.

There would be no further drama as Clon stood tall and marched on to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Scorers for Clonakilty: S White, D Ó Sé (0-1 f), C Kenneally 0-3 each, D Harrington 1-0, C Daly, M White (1 2pt f), T Clancy 0-2 each, D Gough, S McEvoy 0-1 each.

Newcestown: S O’Sullivan 1-4, D Buckley 0-5 (0-3 f, 1 2pt), E Collins 1-1, S O’Donovan, L Meade, H Canty 0-1 each.

CLONAKILTY: M White; D Darragh, D Peet, D Lowney; C Kenneally, T Clancy, J O’Mahony; B Ridgeway, M Shanley; D Kenneally, D Ó Sé, S White; D Gough, C Daly, S McEvoy.

Subs: D Harrington for B Ridgeway (37), E Deasy for S White (53).

NEWCESTOWN: C White; J Kelleher, C O’Donovan, G O’Donovan; R O’Sullivan, M McSweeney, C Dinneen; S O’Donovan, E Collins; L Meade, T Twomey, D Buckley; D McAree, J Meade, S O’Sullivan.

Subs: H Canty for J Meade (16, inj), C Keane for T Twomey (47), J Burrows for D McAree, J Kenneally for R O’Sullivan (both 54).

Referee: Ciarán Murphy (Glanworth).