Mid Cork Under 21 Football Championship 2016-03-08 11:27:00

Reports from www.macroom.ie/news

Macroom Motor Services Mid Cork Under 21 Football Championship

A Football Championship

First Round: Cill na Martra 1-9 Inniscarra 0-10
Ballincollig 1-14 Macroom 0-14
2nd (Losers) Round Inniscarra 1-16 Macroom 2 - 9
Semi final: Inniscarra v Ballincollig
Final: Cill na Martra v Inniscarra or Ballincollig

Cill na Martra 1 – 9 Inniscarra 0 – 10
Cill na Marta, county and divisional B champions in 2015, met last year's Muskerry A champions, Inniscarra at the Castle Grounds Macroom in the opening round of this year's Macroom Motors Ltd. Mid Cork U21 A football championship and the Gaeltacht side continued on a winning run which now extends back to 2014 when they annexed the 'C' championship with more or less this same fifteen. Cill na Martra were short their intercounty midfielder Mike Desmond for this contest and another top performer in Gearóid Golden but their overall work rate allied to their basic footballing skills and know-how were altogether too much for the defending champions who however would have a second chance of remaining in the competition. Cill na Martra had outstanding performers in goalkeeper James Aynsley and midfielders Daniel ('Dano') Dineen and Tadgh Corkery, but many others were not far behind them in skill and effort.
The only goal of the game came in the 18th minute, was beautifully created and was vital to the result. Cill na Martra, despite playing with the very strong wind, were behind on a 0-2 to 0-3 scoreline at the time. Seán O'Donoghue had opened the scoring with an Inniscarra point after less than two minutes, Dano Dineen had levelled from a '45' soon after. The accurate Seán Furey then put Cill na Martra in front in the 10th minute, Tomás O'Connor equalised for 'Scarra five minutes later and Jack Hayes put the reigning champions in front from a free. The Cill na Martra goal followed when Dano Dineen won possession, fed out to John Cronin who then put Damian Harrington clean through with a defence splitting pass and the centre forward buried the ball in the bottom corner of the net to give the winners an advantage they never subsequently lost. Inniscarra replied with an instant point from Jack Hayes but Cill na Martra were buoyant and finished the half with four unanswered points, two from Dano Dineen following one each from Seán Furey and Dean McCarthy. They led by 1-6 to 0-4 at the break and despite now having to face the very strong wind had a reasonable chance of hanging on at this stage so well were they playing.
The opening ten minutes of the second half were very hard fought with both sides twice exchanging points, Seán O'Donoghue with Dano Dineen, Dineen and Tomás O'Connor before Seán O'Donoghue and Tomás O'Connor for 'Scarra had further points to reduce the gap to a single goal, 1-8 to 0-8 at the three quarter stage. Inniscarra now lost a great opportunity of drawing level when Stephen Dornan was fouled, an undisputed penalty was awarded but goalkeeper James Aynsley denied Seán O'Donoghue with a superb save. Two minutes later Aynsley saved a point blank blast from Inniscarra full forward Adam O'Connell and the scene was set for a thrilling finale to a fine game. Damian Harrington pointed for Cill na Martra after a patient build up, Seán O'Donoghue reduced the margin to a single goal again in the 57th minute from a free. Deep in injury time O'Donoghue pointed another free but the Cill na Martra defence, playing 'keep ball' and defending bravely, was not to be breached for the goal that Inniscarra needed to save the day.
Scorers: Cill na Martra: D Ó hUrdail 1-1, D Ó Duinnín 0-5 (0-1 '45'), S Ó Faireidh 0-2, D MacCarthaigh 0-1. Inniscarra: S O'Donoghue 0-6 (0-2f), T O'Connor 0-2, J Hayes 0-2 (0-1f).
Cill na Martra: James Aynsley: Eoin Ó Ceilleachair, Antóin Ó Cuana, Donagh Ó Riordáin: Pádraig Ó Críodáin, Eoin Ó Loinsuigh, Finín Ó Faoláin: Tadgh Ó Corcora, Dan Ó Duinnín: Ciarán Ó Duinnín, Damian Ó hUrdail, Seán Ó Croinín: Seán Ó Faireidh, Gearóid Ó Faoláin, Dean MacCarthaigh. Sub: Miceál Ó Deasúna (58).
Inniscarra: Lorcan Geaney: Cathal Griffin, Kevin O'Herlihy, David O'Carroll: John Stanton, Mark McCarthy, Jack O'Dwyer: Gerry Roche, Stephen Dornan: Liam Collins, Tomás O'Connor, David Barry; Jack Hayes, Adam O'Connell, Seán O'Donoghue. Subs: Aaron O'Raw (h/t), Declan Hyland 37, Dylan O'Sullivan 45, David Twomey 53, James Walsh 55. Referee: Mr David Murnane, Macroom.

Second Round – Knock Out. Inniscarra 1 – 16 Macroom 2 – 9
The two first round losers, Inniscarra and Macroom, met in the 'last chance saloon' at Kilmichael and reigning champions Inniscarra had a clear cut win over last year's beaten finalists. Inniscarra got off to a perfect start when in the third minute a harmless enough ball from Seán O'Donoghue was brought under control and Inniscarra full forward Adam O'Connell had the simple task of reaching high and tapping it in past the goalkeeper. Ethan O'Gorman had a Macroom point in reply but Seán O'Donoghue did likewise for 'Scarra in the fifth minute and added another from a free in the ninth minute. Macroom were full of fight at this stage and three points in a row from Don Creedon, Alan Quinn and Creedon again left only a point between the sides by the 16th minute, 1-2 to 0-4 now. Declan Kiely in the Macroom goal made a brilliant save from Stephen Dornan at the expense of a '45' which was sent over by Seán O'Donoghue but Alan Quinn pointed a Macroom free to leave only a point still between the teams in the 22nd minute. Declan Kiely made another outstanding save, this time from Seán O'Donoghue, but Inniscarra finished the half well with points from Adam O'Connell, Tomás O'Connor and O'Connell again to lead by 1-6 to 0-5 at the break and in a strong position.
Jack Hayes and Alan Quinn exchanged points from frees on the restart, Seán O'Donoghue and Don Creedon did likewise and then Don Creedon pointed another free to bring Macroom within a goal of the winners, 1-8 to 0-8 after 46 minutes. Inniscarra dominated the final quarter with Seán O'Donoghue punishing Macroom fouls with a brace of points to give his side a five point lead with ten minutes remaining. Liam Collins for 'Scarra and Paul O'Farrell exchanged points before Inniscarra fired over five points in a row to lead by 1-16 to 0-9 with the game going into added time. Macroom had a late shock for Inniscarra when Robert Downey found the net in goalmouth scramble and from the kick out Macroom worked a second goal, John Murphy the finisher with a superb dipping shot form fifteen metres.
Inniscarra: Lorcan Geaney: Mark McCarthy, Cathal Griffin, David O'Carroll: Kevin O'Herlihy, Jack O'Dwyer, Stephen Dornan: Gerry Roche, Stephen O'Brien: David Barry, Tomás O'Connor,Seán O'Donoghue: Liam Collins, Adaqm O'Connell, Jack Hayes. Subs: John Stanton 46, Aaron O'Raw 52, Sean Lynch 56.
Macroom: Declan Kiely: Ryan Creed, Paul O'Farrell, Jack Cronin: Kevin O'Dwyer, Cillian O'Mahony, Olan O'Mahony: Michael Cronin, Robert Downey: Alan Quinn, Don Creedon, Brendan O'Sullivan: Mark Corrigan, John Murphy, Ethan O'Gorman. Subs; Alex Ryan 48, Cathal O'Riordan 50 and Shane Creedon 56. Referee: Mr Ted Hayes, Éire Óg.

 




Back to top