No separating Castleisland and Clonakilty after entertaining draw
Olan O'Donovan in action on the forward line for Clonakilty Community College. Pic Larry Cummins
St Patrick’s Castleisland and Clonakilty Community College’s entertaining draw on Wednesday afternoon ultimately meant that Abbey CBS were the only winners from their clash in Banteer as they progressed to the knockout stages of the Corn Uí Mhuirí without kicking a ball.
Castleisland’s two-point defeat to Abbey on the opening day of Group 5, which only consists of the three aforementioned sides, meant the pressure was on them to get the victory against a Clon side finally making their first outing in this season’s competition.
As the rain pelted down in the opening 10 minutes, the two sides couldn’t be separated as they both hit two wides while Olan O’Donovan’s excellent point also cancelled out a well-taken free from St Pats’ Jack O’Donoghue.
They still remained level by the 20th minute, this time at 0-3 apiece, but Castleisland soon raced clear as Shane Gilroy found the top right corner with a sensational strike moments before Evan Brennan split the uprights following a surging run, 1-4 to 0-3.
Gilroy’s finish was all that separated the teams by the interval – 1-6 to 0-6 – but two superb 45s from the lively Timmy Cullinane – his third and fourth points of the first period - ensured the momentum was with Clon heading into the second period.
Cullinane continued to cause his opponents problems and shortly after the restart he broke clear of his marker and expertly drilled the ball into the roof of the net to draw Clon level.
And just a few minutes later the Cork school raised their second green flag through Olan O’Donovan, who blasted the ball home following a clever pass from Darragh Gough for the lead, 1-8 to 0-8.
But St Pats, with their hopes of reaching the next round hanging by a thread, refused to give up and they would notch the next five points to reclaim the initiative with just a few minutes remaining.
But unfortunately, the final quarter may be best remembered for a couple moments of controversy as Clon felt they had a perfectly good goal disallowed while Castleisland believed their rivals' levelling score in injury time from substitute Matt Murphy had gone wide with the officials failing to agree on the decision.
Clonakilty now just need to avoid defeat against Abbey, although a one-point loss would still be enough on score difference, to join them in the next stage.
J O’Donoghue (0-7, 6fs), S Gilroy (1-0), R Bourke and R Brosnan (0-2 each), E Brennan, K Dennehy and L McShane (0-1 each).
T Cullinane (1-4, 2 45s), O O’Donovan (1-2, 1f), C Twohig (0-2), S Whelton, D Gough (1f), M Murphy (0-1 each).
: L Nolan (Castleisland Desmonds); P O’Shea (Castleisland Desmonds), E Brennan (Castleisland Desmonds), S Kelliher (Cordal); R Brosnan (Currow), O O’Connor (Currow), T Jones (Cordal); K Dennehy (Cordal), S Gilroy (Ballymacelligott); J Brosnan (Knocknagoshel), R Bourke (Castleisland Desmonds), C Sheehan (Currow); D Healy (Currow), L McShane (Scartaglen), J O’Donoghue (Scartaglen).
Subs: C Mangan (Knocknagoshel) for Jones (35), F Nolan (Knocknagoshel) for Sheehan (46), J Bell (Castleisland Desmonds) for Brosnan (55).
: D Walsh (Clonakilty); O Harrington (Kilmeen and Kilbree), S Bailey (Kilmeen and Kilbree), S Maguire (Castlehaven); D Maloney (Ibane Gaels), D Harrington (Clonakilty), M O’Donovan (Bandon); C Twohig (Kilmeen and Kilbree), E Cullinane (St Marys); T Cullinane (Ballinascarthy), D Gough (Clonakilty) L Murphy (Ibane Gaels); D Kenneally (Clonakilty), O O’Donovan (Barryroe), S Whelton (St James).
Subs: M Murphy (Clonakilty) for Whelton (46), K Hennessy (Ibane Gaels) for Maguire (55).
: Denis Hickey (Millstreet).
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