SAHC: Shane Irwin's goal helps Erin's Own to push on past Watergrasshill and into final
Oran O'Regan of Erin's Own and Watergrasshill’s Adam Murphy and battle for possession during Saturday's Co-op SuperStores Cork SAHC semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Noel Sweeney
An immediate return to the premier senior ranks is a game away for Erin’s Own after they eased clear of Watergrasshill in the second half of Saturday’s Co-op SuperStores SAHC semi-final.
Leading by four points, 0-15 to 0-11, early in the second half, Erin’s Own pushed seven ahead when sub Shane Irwin struck for a goal and their progression to a decider with neighbours Carrigtwohill rarely looked in doubt after that.
The crucial score came in the 39th minute and it owed plenty to how Erin’s Own thought their way around what could have become a major problem.
Losing a centre-back to injury, as was the case when Oran O’Regan was forced off, has the potential torpedo the structure of a team. Rather than bring in a defender, the imposing figure of attacker Irwin was summoned from the bench as number 10 Peter O’Shea was repurposed to defence.
His ability to pick up, and then use, loose ball was exemplified as he recycled possession near his own endline, passing to goalkeeper Tom Dillon, who in turn found the ever-industrious midfielder Cormac McDonell on the 45, near the right sideline.
Eschewing the easier option of an aimless delivery, he went up the line to Robbie O’Flynn, who was able to show his vision with a searching pass to Irwin; having shaken free, he drove a blistering shot beyond Aiden Foley.
While points from Brendan Lehane and Shane O’Regan produced the initial Hill response, three on the trot by Erin’s Own – from Irwin, Finn O’Brien and Conor Lenihan – gave real daylight with six minutes left.
Watergrasshill needed a goal by this stage but had got little joy all night from the full-back line of Cian O’Connor, Shane Broderick or Riain O’Regan. The score was 1-20 to 0-14 when Adam Murphy had a 20m free blocked while the game was deep into injury time, with ten between the sides, when Hill goalkeeper Foley drove a dead ball over the bar before Murphy saw another effort repelled.
There will naturally be disappointment for the Hill but a semi-final showing builds on their first year in the second tier, when they were unlucky not to qualify from their group. There can be little doubting Erin’s Own’s superiority, though, as they made it four straight wins in their quest to bounce back to premier senior at the first attempt.
The effects of the four-week lay-off that comes with the bye to the semi-finals might have been a factor in them taking time to assert themselves, with Watergrasshill shading the opening quarter as O’Regan impressed for them. That said, Lenihan might have had a very early goal for Erin’s Own but he was denied by a combination of Dylan McCarthy and Dáire O’Leary.
In his initial posting on the right wing, O’Shea linked very effectively with wing-back Cian Dunphy, who set up O’Flynn and McDonnell for points in quick succession as they moved 0-8 to 0-7 in front before O’Brien, O’Shea and Lenihan extended the lead to four points, the biggest of the game up to then. In the midst of that, O’Flynn tested Foley with a shot from a narrow angle that the goalkeeper kept out.
While O’Regan ended nine scoreless minutes for the Hill and added another free following a boomer from Kevin O’Neill, two long-rangers from Dunphy allowed Erin’s Own to finish the half on a high, 0-13 to 0-10 in front.
Brendan Lehane reduced the arrears within 12 seconds of the second half but the Hill would never get closer.
O’Shea set up O’Flynn for his third and then Lenihan added a free, having been fouled as he picked up possession following another good Foley save, this time from O’Brien.
The goal was in the post though and when it came, Erin’s Own pushed on impressively. A local derby awaits in the final.
C Lenihan 0-7 (0-3f), R O’Flynn 0-4, S Irwin 1-1, F O’Brien 0-3, C Dunphy, C McDonnell 0-2 each, C Dooley, P O’Shea, A O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
S O’Regan 0-7 (0-4f), B Lehane, S Desmond 0-2 each, A Murphy, K O’Neill, D O’Leary, A Foley (0-1f), A Cronin 0-1 each.
T Dillon; C O’Connor, S Broderick, R O’Regan; C Dunphy, O O’Regan, C Dooley; C McDonnell, T Connell; P O’Shea, M O’Carroll, M O’Riordan; F O’Brien, R O’Flynn, C Lenihan.
L Casey for O’Regan (35, injured), J O’Carroll for Connell (38), A O’Sullivan for O’Carroll (44), B Óg Murphy for Dunphy, L Casey for O’Riordan (both 58).
A Foley; S Field, D McCarthy, D Roche; R Loftus, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; C Cronin, P Cronin; C O’Leary, B Lehane, S O’Regan; L Foley, A Murphy, S Desmond.
A Cronin for C Cronin (40), R Murray for L Foley (42), B Ryan for P Cronin (52), P O’Leary for C O’Leary (60+2).
M Maher (St Finbarr’s).
App?
