Colm O'Driscoll stars for winners who had to line out without Brian O'Driscoll
Colm O’Driscoll stars for winners who had to line out without Brian O’Driscoll
Tadhg MacCárthaigh 1-16
St Mary’s 0-8
JOHN MURPHY REPORTS
THERE were mixed emotions for the O’Driscoll brothers as Tadhg MacCárthaigh advanced to the last eight of the South West JAFC at Dunmanway last Friday night.
While Cork senior Brian was unable to line out because he’s still rehabbing his hamstring injury, his older brother Colm led the show, scoring 1-3 and was the best player on the pitch.
Selector Tony O’Driscoll hailed the impact of Colm as Caheragh set-up a quarter-final against Kilmeen.
‘A major factor in our good form this year is that Colm, having gone off the Cork senior football panel, is doing the strength and conditioning with us – it has made a huge improvement,’ O’Driscoll said.
‘Our job now is to gel in the remaining players who will come back after injury, Brian (O’Driscoll) was also out tonight.
‘Kilmeen will present a major challenge. They are a young, vibrant side full of running. We played them in the league, it was a terrific contest, so we know what to expect.’
Caheragh began like a steam train and with Mark and Colm O’Driscoll leading by example, points from Gavin O’Neill, Micheál O’Donovan and Mark O’Driscoll opened up a four-point gap as Mary’s struggled to find their rhythm.
Somewhat against the run of play Mary’s were back in business at the close of the opening quarter, excellent work by Chris Daly, Michael O’Driscoll and Dylan Scannell levelled the tie, 0-4 apiece.
Then with the Saints’ revival gaining momentum, a wonderful run by Brian Everard produced an equally fine point-blank save by Caheragh goalkeeper Brendan Herlihy.
Relieved by the reprieve and with Colm and Mark O’Driscoll, and the midfield duo of Sean McCarthy and Kevin O’Driscoll on top, the Caheragh advantage was stretched to 0-9 to 0-5 by the interval. Gavin Dineen was introduced at the break for Caheragh and with the attack firing on all cylinders and being defensively compact thanks to fine work by Daniel Kingston, Kevin O’Regan and the outstanding Micheál O’Donovan, Caheragh went from strength to strength. In flying form up front, Killian Murray, Gary O’Driscoll and Gavin O’Neill dovetailed in nicely with their colleagues as the game slipped away from St Mary’s.
Then when the latter sent a high delivery into the danger zone, Colm O’Driscoll hit the deck. Dusting himself down, the former Cork ace converted the 42nd minute penalty.
It signalled lights out for plucky St Mary’s, late points by Chris Daly and Brian Corcoran mere crumbs of solace, as Tadhg McCárthaigh, despite playing the last eight minutes with 14 men, strode confidently past the winning post.
Scorers
Tadhg MacCárthaigh: Colm O’Driscoll 1-3 (1-0 penalty), Gavin O’Neill 0-4 (3f), Micheál O’Donovan, Mark O’Driscoll, Killian Murray 0-2 each, Sean McCarthy, Kevin O’Driscoll, Gavin Dineen 0-1 each.
St Mary’s: Chris Daly 0-3 (2f), Michael O’Driscoll 0-2, Dylan Scannell, Mark O’Driscoll, Brian McCarthy (f) 0-1 each.
Tadhg MacCárthaigh: Brendan Herlihy; Damien Harrington, Daniel Kingston, Kevin O’Regan; Micheál O’Donovan, Shane O’Driscoll, Leon Burke; Sean McCarthy, Kevin O’Driscoll; Eoin O’Donovan, Colm O’Driscoll, Gavin O’Neill; Gary O’Driscoll, Mark O’Driscoll, Killian Murray.Subs: Gavin Dineen for Eoin O’Donovan (ht), John Ryan for Leon Burke (inj,38), Gavin Barnett for Damien Harrington (51), Damien Harrington for Kevin O’Regan (61).
St Mary’s: Brian Corcoran; Brian Brady, Billy O’Brien, Ciarán Everard; Ryan Scannell, Dylan Scannell, Tiernan O’Driscoll; Chris Daly, Barry O’Mahony; Michael O’Driscoll, Brian Everard, Jack Hurley; Mark O’Driscoll, Joe Crowley, Shane O’Driscoll.
Subs: Kevin O’Neill for Billy O’Brien (black card, 16), Brian McCarthy for Shane O’Driscoll (52).
Referee: John Forbes (Dohenys).