Éire Óg into Senior A Football decider after sensational comeback against Cill na Martra
Éire Óg’s Darragh Clifford makes a catch against Cill na Martra. Picture: Chani Anderson
Éire Óg are through to the McCarthy Insurance SAFC final after their stunning comeback at Coachford on Saturday.
It took extra time to avenge last year's loss to Cill na Martra, who looked like they had it wrapped up in normal time. That was until late goals from subs Matt Brady and Johnny Galvin forced the additional 20 minutes, as the Ovens side hit 2-2 without reply. They now face Carbery Rangers or Kanturk in the final with real momentum after showing great character.
After a low-scoring first half, Cill na Martra would have been the happier of the two sides to see it level, having played against the strong wind. Éire Óg dropped the ball short on at least four occasions, failing to maximise the gale.
Tadhg Ó Corcora opened the scoring for Cill na Martra in the first minute with Jack Murphy replying. They had a goal chance four minutes in, but Éire Óg’s Cork star Colm O’Callaghan was half blocked and his effort easily saved by Micheal Ó Deasuna.
They took the lead through Jerome Kelleher before they had their second goal chance, this time Oisin O’Shea’s effort coming back off the crossbar, and the danger cleared. Maidhci Ó Duinnin had the sides level after eight minutes before Sean Ó Foirreidh put the Cill na Martra in front, 0-3 to 0-2.
A two-pointer free from Daniel Goulding saw Éire Óg regain the lead, but again it didn’t last long. Dan Ó Duinnin was on target to make it 0-4 after 23 minutes.
Colm Clifford put the Ovens team in front, but with the last shot of the half Shane Ó Duinnin equalised for Cill na Martra to make it 0-5 each at half-time. Clifford put Éire Óg back in front with Ó Duinnin equalising before Cill na Martra enjoyed their best spell of the game. They three two-pointers in a row, as they made full use of the wind, to put them 0-13 to 0-6 in front.
Ó Foirreidh, Maidhci Ó Duinnin and keeper Ó Deasuna put them on the front foot, followed by a Shane Ó Duinnin point.
Goulding hit back with two frees but with 50 minutes gone, Cill na Martra looked like they got the decisive score when Ciarán Ó Duinnin found the back of the net, 1-13 to 0-8.
Brian Thompson and Goulding reduced the deficit, before we had the dramatic finish. Brady, with his first touch after coming on, goaled and in the last minute Johnny Galvin got their second to take it to extra-time at 2-10 to 1-13.
Super sub Galvin grabbed the first two scores on the resumption, followed by Murphy, before Ó Corcora hit back for Cill na Martra.
Ó Deasuna then nailed a two-point free to tie it up once more.
For the last 10 minutes, the Ovens side found another gear with O’Shea putting them in front before Galvin took his tally to 1-3 and Goulding rounded off the scoring.
Cill na Martra, last year's runners-up, were left devastated, Éire Óg one win away from returning to the Premier Senior ranks after dropping down at the end of 2024.
J Galvin 1-3, D Goulding 0-6 (0-4 f, 1 2pt f), M Brady 1-0, J Murphy, C Clifford 0-2 each, J Kelleher, B Thompson, O O’Shea 0-1 each.
M Ó Deasuna 0-4 (2 2pt f), S Ó Foirreadh (1 2pt), M Ó Duinnin (1 2pt) 0-3 each, C Ó Duinnin 1-0, T Ó Corcora, D Ó Duinnin, S Ó Duinnin (f) 0-2 each.
C Kelly; C Murphy, M Corkery, J Mullins; D McCarthy, C McGoldrick, B Thompson; M Griffin, C O’Callaghan; C Clifford, D Clifford, J Kelleher; D Goulding, O O’Shea, J Murphy.
R O’Toole for J Kelleher (43), J Galvin for M Griffin (46), M Brady for D McCarthy (57), E O’Shea snr for M Corkery (70).
M Ó Deanuna; C Ó Croinin, T Ó Corcora; J Ó Loingsigh; D Ó Conaill, S Ó Foirreidh, A Ó Duinnin; D Mac Lochlainn, G Ó Goillidhe; A Ó Cuana C Ó Duinnin, P Ó hEalaithe; M Ó Duinnin, D Ó Duinnin, S Ó Duinnin.
C Ó Foirreidh for A Ó Duinnin (37), D Ó hUrdail for M Ó Duinnin (51), A Ó h-Uidhir for A Ó Cuana (60), E Ó Loingsigh for G Ó Goillidhe (77), A Ó Duinnin for T Ó Corcora (80).
Ciarán Murphy (Glanworth).
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