Barryroe prevail after epic extra-time tussle with Aghinagh

Barryroe: 2-15 (2-1-13) 

Aghinagh: 0-11 (0-1-9) 

(AET) 

After an intense and gruelling battle between two evenly matched sides, it was Barryroe who had enough to defeat Aghinagh after extra time in the McCarthy Insurance Group County JAFC semi-final at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday evening.

A decider meeting with Douglas’ second team is now on the horizon for the Carbery outfit following this triumph.

The game was watched by a sizeable crowd, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and swung back and forth throughout normal time. 

However, inspired by a superb Ryan O'Donovan display that yielded 1-9, Barryroe found another gear once the contest entered extra time, outscoring Aghinagh 2-5 to 0-1 over the additional 20 minutes to secure their place in the county final.

They showed tremendous character throughout. Barryroe appeared to have done enough to win in normal time, only for Aghinagh marksman Liam Twohig to land a dramatic two-pointer deep into stoppage time that forced the game into extra time.

Barryroe were far more economical with the chances they created despite seeing less possession for significant periods. 

A third successive weekend of championship action did little to deter them, while Aghinagh’s wide count will be a source of huge regret in the aftermath.

It was a slow burner. Ryan O’Donovan landed a mark for Barryroe after two minutes, but Aghinagh largely dominated the early exchanges without making it count on the scoreboard.

Shane Corkery pointed for the Muskerry side, but four wides and another effort that dropped short were a source of frustration.

In only their second meaningful attack, Barryroe regained the lead when talented Cork U20 player Luke Murphy clipped over an effort to make it 0-2 to 0-1 after 13 minutes.

The sides traded points in a game that lacked a little quality at times, but Aghinagh came close to a goal following a flowing move only for Con Buckley's effort to be smartly saved by Barryroe goalkeeper Liam Colbert.

TJ Buckley levelled matters before William Coakley edged Aghinagh in front for the first time, 0-4 to 0-3 with five minutes remaining in the half.

It was an encounter waiting to ignite and Murphy was doing his best to provide the spark. His second white flag levelled proceedings, but Aghinagh led at the short whistle when Twohig converted a relatively straightforward free to leave it 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

A Ryan O’Donovan free ensured the teams were level again three minutes into the second half before Olan O’Donovan nudged the West Cork men in front, even if they had to work hard for the score.

Barryroe were playing the better football despite facing into the wind, showing patience in possession. Another Ryan O’Donovan free stretched their advantage to 0-7 to 0-5 after 40 minutes.

Aghinagh’s Darragh O’Shea fisted over for his side’s first score of the half 17 minutes from time after good work from William Coakley.

However, Aghinagh remained under pressure and Luke O’Leary denied Ryan O’Donovan what looked a certain goal with a remarkable goal-line clearance.

The sides exchanged points, with Barryroe maintaining a 0-8 to 0-7 lead.

Ryan O’Donovan extended the advantage to two before Aghinagh substitute Seán Cummins reduced the deficit to a single point after 56 minutes.

Murphy restored Barryroe’s two-point cushion, but Twohig struck an orange flag a minute into added time to level matters and force a grandstand finish.

Aghinagh then had a late opportunity to win it from a 45, but Twohig was unable to convert.

Ryan O’Donovan was the standout performer and immediately showed his class in extra time, landing a brilliant two-pointer.

Olan O’Donovan was then fouled and a penalty awarded, with Ryan O’Donovan blasting the ball to the net to leave Barryroe 1-12 to 0-10 ahead at the interval in extra time.

All the momentum was with Barryroe and they struck for a second goal two minutes into the second period when Olan O’Donovan finished to the net after being assisted by Mike Collins.

Barryroe continued to dominate thereafter, outscoring Aghinagh, landing three of the last four points.

Scorers for Barryroe: R O’Donovan 1-9 (1-0 pen, 1 2pt, 0-2 f, 0-1 45, 0-1 m), O O’Donovan 1-2, L Murphy 0-3, T Ó Buachalla 0-1.

Aghinagh: L Twohig 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), S Corkery, T Morgans, W Coakley, D O’Shea, S Cummins, D McCarthy (0-1 f), TJ Buckley 0-1 each.

BARRYROE: L Colbert; M Walsh, S O’Riordan, J Moloney; C Dineen, D McCarthy, D Moloney; D Dineen, T Ó Buachalla; O O’Donovan, L Murphy, A McSweeney; M Collins, J Collins, R O’Donovan.

Subs: D O’Sullivan for A McSweeney (53), A Fleming for C Dineen (60), J O’Brien for L Murphy, G Holland for J Collins (both 75), C O’Regan for T Ó Buachalla (79).

AGHINAGH: C Lucey; Dylan O’Riordan, Donagh O’Riordan, TJ Buckley; D Ambrose, T Buckley, L O’Leary; M McCarthy, T Morgans; D O’Shea, C Buckley, S O’Riordan; W Coakley, L Twohig, S Corkery.

Subs: N O’Leary for T Buckley (47), S Cummins for W Coakley (53), A Twomey for C Buckley (57), J Lynch for Dylan O’Riordan, M Horgan for S O’Riordan (both 59), C Buckley for S Corkery (60), L Ring for D O’Shea (70), D McCarthy for T Morgans (79).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).