Buckley feels for Carbery players after exit

Carbery boss laments divisions have no second chance

CIT 0-19

Carbery 2-11

DESPITE twice managing to overhaul second-half deficits at Brinny on Monday, Carbery exited the divisions and colleges section of the county SFC as CIT scored a pair of injury-time points to take victory.

Having trailed by a point at half-time, 0-7 to 1-3, the West Cork divisional side conceded the first five points of the second half to seemingly make the outcome inevitable. However, a spirited fight-back saw them draw level and though CIT replied with three points as the 60-minute mark passed, Brian O’Driscoll’s second goal off the game seemed to suggest that extra time was required.

Unfortunately for Carbery, five minutes of injury time remained and they were unable to find a lead score while the college side took the victory thanks to points from Seán Walsh and Donnchadh O’Sulllivan. 

Nevertheless, Carbery manager Tim Buckley was proud of the effort shown by his charges.

‘I thought we showed great purpose in the last ten or 15 minutes,’ he said.

‘We lost Dan [O’Donovan], he was a huge target inside for us. Having him go off was a blow but the lads still did well.

‘You look at the chances, we hit the crossbar, that would have put us ahead, and we had one come back off the post. They’re the chances that you rue, but that’s championship football.’

Carbery had had a dream start as O’Driscoll netted in the opening 30 seconds, taking a pass from his brother Kevin and driving forward before slotting home. While a pair of Kevin Keohane points left them 1-2 to 0-2 ahead after nine minutes, Peter Murphy dropping deep to allow Brian O’Driscoll make forward forays, Carbery found themselves on the back foot in the middle period of the half.

‘Sometimes, the goals can come too early,’ Buckley said, ‘you think, “We’re here now,” and you sit back a bit.

‘Still, the lads showed huge desire, it’s lovely to see that. The conditions here in Brinny are excel-lent for the time of year, I don’t know if you’d get better in the county, and you won’t see the stand-ard of football played like that for the summer.

‘It’s just a shame that one of the two teams was going to be out.’

With Cork’s Killian O’Hanlon to the fore for CIT and Dan Dineen playmaking at centre-forward, they clawed their way back, with Kilmacabea’s Damien Gore among the scorers, and they led by 0-6 to 1-2 following a fine individual effort from O’Hanlon.

While a long-range Daniel O’Donovan free ended Carbery’s 18-minute drought, O’Hanlon scored again to give CIT the half-time lead. That was extended further on the resumption as Dineen (two), Gore, Donnchadh O’Sullivan and Ben Hyland all scored, but Carbery continued to battle.

Colm O’Driscoll made an impact while his brother Brian was influential from centre-forward and almost had another goal, Chris Kelly saving while Arthur Coakley’s rebound hit the crossbar. Soon after that, Ogie Scannell might have goaled but his effort hit the post and went wide.

For both of those passages of play, Carbery had been awarded advantage and O’Donovan slotted over frees as the margin was reduced. When he was forced off injured, Cillian Cullinane took over the dead-ball duties and he made it 1-10 to 0-13 on 55.

Though CIT replied through sub Evan Murphy, Cullinane levelled again but CIT pushed on again, through Dineen, Joseph Ryan and Murphy’s second. That looked to be enough but Brian O’Driscoll’s run and shot opened up space for him and his shot found the net, 61 minutes after his first goal.

However, it was not to be for Carbery. Seán Walsh put CIT in front again and when he was fouled in the 66th minute, O’Sullivan converted the free. O’Hanlon took a black card at the death, rugby-tackling Kevin O’Driscoll as he sought to create something for Carbery. Brian O’Driscoll’s goal effort from the free was blocked and Carbery were out.

‘I feel for the players,’ Buckley said.

‘They’re willing to travel all over Cork in all types of weather. It’s unfortunate that they have to train in November, December and January to be where they are today. They’re never found wanting when we come calling.

‘It’s just a pity that it’s played at this time of the year. I feel that it can be put right, that the divisions can be involved throughout the summer.

‘We’ve shown that we can gel the club activity with the divisional and it’s a pity that the divisions are forced to play now. But, look, it’s a rite of passage too, we’re willing to accept that as a chal-lenge, all the eight teams have to.’

Scorers

Cork IT: Dan Dineen, Donnchadh O’Sullivan (f) 0-4 each, Joseph Ryan, Damien Gore, Killian O’Hanlon, Evan Murphy 0-2 each, Seán Walsh, Matthew Bradley, Ben Hyland 0-1 each.

Carbery: Brian O’Driscoll 2-0, Daniel O’Donovan 0-4f, Cillian Cullinane 0-3f, Kevin Keohane, Colm O’Driscoll 0-2 each.

Cork IT: Chris Kelly (Éire Óg); Niall Donohue (Firies, Kerry), Aidan Browne (Newmarket), Eddie Browne (Listowel Emmets, Kerry); Mike Lordan (Ballinora), Aaron Spriggs (Delany Rovers), Adam Finnegan (Ballyclough); Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig), Ben Hyland (Fr Sheehys, Tipperary); Dan Dinnen (Cill na Martra), Matthew Bradley (Aghabullogue), Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown); Donnchadh O’Sullivan (Firies, Kerry), Joseph Ryan (Kilmurry), Damien Gore (Kilmacabea). 

Subs: Gearóid Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys) for Bradley (17, injured), Evan Murphy (Dromtarriffe) for Finnegan (53).

Carbery: Pat Prendergast (Bandon); Brian Keohane (Kilmeen), Seán Crowley (Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas), Brian Crowley (Bandon); Kevin O’Leary (St James’), Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh), Jeremy Ryan (Ballinascarthy); Seán Ryan (Ballinascarthy), Kevin O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh); Cillian Cullinane (Ballinascarthy), Peter Murphy (Bandon), Kevin Keohane (Kilmeen); Dave McCarthy (Ballinascarthy), Daniel O’Donovan (Kilmacabea), Colm O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh). 

Subs: Ronan O’Mahony (Bantry Blues) for O’Leary (13-17, blood), Arthur Coakley (Bantry Blues) for Jeremy Ryan (25, injured), O’Mahony for O’Leary, Ogie Scannell (Kilmeen) for McCarthy (both 38), Eddie Goggin (Gabriel Rangers) for O’Donovan (52, injured).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).