Glanworth and Kildorrery will meet again after extra-time draw in IAFC relegation playoff
Kildorrery's John Hunter is held by Glanworth's Sean Finn during their Intermediate AFC relegation play-off match at Shanballymore. Picture: David Keane.
A monstrous levelling point from Darragh O’Brien deep into extra time was enough to send an absolutely thrilling McCarthy Insurance IFC relegation final at Shanballymore on Sunday to a replay.
The massive crowd that was expected for this derby certainly turned up in their hundreds at this splendid venue in what was a dogged contest.
Glanworth probably felt they left the game behind them in normal time, where some crucial turnovers proved to be their downfall. However, Kildorrery led by four at the break in extra time.
The opening exchanges were frantic with Kildorrery playing against the wind looked lively, but it was Glanworth’s Darragh O’Brien who found space to split the posts with a monstrous two-pointer in the fifth minute.
The pressure continued on Kildorrery as they found possession impossible to get. In the next two minutes, Dave Pyne kicked a score and a two-pointer, both from frees, to surge Glanworth into a five-point lead.
Backed by their fanatical fans, Glanworth pressed on and Pyne brought his tally to four points when raising a white flag in the ninth minute.
There is little doubt Kildorrery were on the ropes and former Cork U20 panelist Darragh O’Brien fumbled a great Glanworth goal opportunity midway through the half when failing to pass the ball to an unmarked forward.
Finally, the drought ended in the 13th minute for Kildorrery when Shane Fitzgerald kicked an opportunist point following sloppy Glanworth defending.
Despite their slow start, Kildorrery gradually came into the game and two late points from John Hunter and Andrew Crowley reduced the deficit to three points.
Kildorrery had a chance to level proceedings but a thundering Pierce Piggott shot was somehow parried to safety by the Glanworth keeper Sean Cunningham.
Trailing 0-7 to 0-4 at the break, Kildorrery were expected to take over but the battling qualities of their opponents kept them at bay.
Indeed, with two minutes remaining they still trailed by two points but a dreadful Glanworth turnover saved their bacon. The result was that full-forward Kieran Hurley was brought down inside the square with Luke Keating slotting the resultant penalty to the net.
It could have been a match-winning goal but as the seconds ticking down a late Darragh O’Brien free ensured this game went to extra time.
In the first period, a second Luke Keating goal helped Kildorrery take a four-point lead into the second period.
The majority of sides would have caved in but a couple of Dave Pyne two-pointers and that sensational leveler from Darragh O’Brien ensured these sides must meet again to decide who will face the dreaded drop from this championship.
L Keating 2-0 (1-0 pen), K Hurley 1-0, J Keating 0-3 (1 2pt), A Crowley 0-3 (1 2pt f), J Hunter 0-2, S Fitzgerald, T Murphy 0-1 each.
D Pyne 0-12 (4 2pt f), D O’Brien 0-5 (1 2pt), G O’Neill, S O’Riordan 0-1 each.
A Crowley; C O’Sullivan, D Hunter, J McCarthy; W Fuohy, L Keating, C Coughlan; S Fitzgerald, D Kent; J Hunter, J Keating, P O’Brien; P Pigott, K Hurley, T O’Sullivan.
T Murphy for T O’Sullivan (42).
S Cunningham; M Moloney, J Coughlan, N Fogarty; G O’Neill, J Fogarty, M Blackburne; D Pyne, R Murray; D O’Brien, J O’Sullivan; T Linehan, S Finn, S Condon.
G O’Neill for T Linehan (h-t), S O’Riordan for M Moloney (43), P Hannon for G O’Neill (52), J Walsh for M Blackburne (68).
Jerry O’Neill (St John’s).
App?
