Ruthless Naomh Abán hit Macroom for six goals in PIFC quarter-final

Naomh Abán 6-10 (6-1-8) Macroom 0-14 (0-2-10) 

This Muskerry derby clash saw Naomh Abán grab a McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship semi-final.

Goals proved to be decisive for Naomh Abán in the end during this 14-point victory, with a hotly-tipped Uibh Laoire side now awaiting in another all-Muskerry showdown.

Naomh Abán came roaring out of the traps with Dermot Ó Ceallaigh keeping his composure to slot over impressively for the opening score of the game.

Things were to get even better for the men from Ballyvourney shortly afterwards, as their sharpshooter Ed Ó Mír found the back of the net, with his effort managing somehow to evade the grasp of Macroom goalkeeper Declan Kiely.

Naomh Abán then landed a second goal on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, with Aodhán Ó Luasa clinical finishing from close range, as they now led 2-2 to 0-1.

Macroom gradually kicked into gear, with Alan Quinn and a neat two-pointer by Sean Kiely reducing the deficit.

Goals were proving crucial in the opening half for Naomh Abán, who landed a third goal on 23 minutes as Dónal Ó Ceallaigh planted the ball home.

At the end of the opening half Naomh Abán held the advantage at 3-4 to 0-7.

Things got off to the most ideal of starts for Naomh Abán in the second half, with Seán Ó Ríordáin reacting quickest from a loose ball to pounce with a close-range strike.

Aodhán Ó Luasa subsequently got another point, with Naomh Abán now well on top and leading 4-5 to 0-7 on 35 minutes.

With Alan Quinn influential, Macroom to their credit were refusing to throw in the towel. They got the next five scores in a row to reduce the deficit to five, 4-5 to 0-12.

Once again though conceding goals was killing Macroom, as Naomh Abán landed a fifth goal of the contest on 48 minutes, with Dónal Ó Ceallaigh dashing through to finish neatly to the net, to now lead 5-8 to 0-13.

Naomh Abán then put this game to bed, as Dónal Ó Ceallaigh completed his hat trick, by dashing through the Macroom defence and finishing astutely with a low effort.

Scorers for Naomh Abán: Donal Ó Ceallaigh 3-3, A Ó Luasa, S Ó Riordáin 1-1 each, E Ó Mír 1-0, Dermot Ó Ceallaigh 0-3, D Ó Laoire (1 2pt) 0-2.

Macroom: A Quinn 0-6 (1 2ptf), E O’Leary 0-3, S Kiely (2pt), T Dineen 0-2 each, D Creedon 0-1.

NAOMH ABÁN: G Ó Luasa; S Tinsley, C de Róiste, É Ó Críodáin; S Ó Loingsigh, D M Ó Loingsigh, S Hendy; S Ó Riordáin, C Ó Donnchú; A Ó Luasa, E Ó Mír, P Ó Liatháin; Dermot Ó Ceallaigh, D Ó Laoire, Dónal Ó Ceallaigh.

Subs: C Ó Deasúna for Ó Mír (26, inj), C Ó Críodáin for S Ó Loingsigh (44), C Ó Luasa for Tinsley (47), W Mac Cárthaigh for Ó Liatháin (51), D Ó Ceocháin for A Ó Luasa (56).

MACROOM: D Kiely; J Murphy, R Buckley, R Sabas; M Cronin, M Corrigan, C Bourke; C Dineen; T Dineen; A Quinn, S Kiely, E O’Leary; D Horgan, D Twomey, O O’Sullivan.

Subs: D Creedon for Twomey (25, inj), J Sexton for O’Sullivan (52), M Condon for C Dineen (53).

Referee: Niall Hayes (Carbery Rangers).