Dano is the man as Cill na Martra make history with U21A triumph

New Muskerry champs win title for the first time in club’s history

Cill na Martra 3-16   

Kilmurry 2-15

 (aet)

B KENNEALLY REPORTS

CILL na Martra created Muskerry football history in Macroom last Saturday evening.

It took a replay and extra time but they finally got the better of Kilmurry in the Macroom Motors Mid Cork U21 A football championship final.

Like the drawn decider this was another tremendously exciting contest and it took extra time to decide an outcome that meant that Cill na Martra take the divisional U21A championship for the very first time.  

In the past four years in sequence, Cill na Martra have won the C, then the B crown, then contested the A final and now take the ultimate prize, a first-ever A title. 

It was a game full of quality football, sportingly but fiercely contested and adorned with magnificent scores. Both teams had many outstanding performers but pride of place has to go to Daniel (Dano) Ó Duinnín who scored all three goals for Cill na Martra, and four points also, all from play and all wonderful scores.   

Mike Ó Deasúna, despite playing with 13 stitches in his leg after a work accident, contributed a massive 0-9, six from frees, and the performances of both men will go done in folklore in the West Muskerry Gaeltacht.  

Kilmurry had possibly the better balanced team but were on average a year younger than their opponents and this was vital in the end when strength and stamina became a factor in extra time.

Injuries forced both sides to readjust their line outs with Liam Wall – injured on Muskerry duty – moving back from midfield for Kilmurry and Mike Ó Deasúna going forward into attack for the winners. 

Kilmurry started well and led by 0-3 to 0-1 early on but by the end of the first quarter it was level, John Mullane, Sean Warren and Oghan Clifford scoring for Kilmurry, Tadgh Ó Corcora and Ó Deasúna for the Gaeltacht side.  

Sean Warren edged Kilmurry back in front and then in the 20th minute Ó Deasúna parted to Dan Ó Duinnín in full flight and the roof of the Kilmurry net was shaking.  

Ciarán Ó Duinnín added a point but back came Kilmurry with points from Warren and Sean Curzon and they were in front 1-6 to 1-4 when John O’Mullane forced the ball home from close range in the 28th minute.  

A minute later Cill na Martra replied with a stunning goal, Dan Ó Duinnín again the scorer, Damien Ó hUrdail supplying the final pass. Cill na Martra led by 2-4 to 1-6 at the break after a great opening half.     

The teams were level four times in a second half of tremendous excitement. Tomás Collins levelled matters, Clifford put Kilmurry in front, Mike Ó Deasúna equalised again and then Dan Ó Duinnín struck with his third goal, soloing through the defence from 50 metres out in the 36th minute.  

Back came Kilmurry with points from Liam Wall and Clifford, and an equaliser from Joe Ryan in the 41st minute, and two minutes later a Joe Ryan low cross was met at the far post by James O’Mullane who slid the ball home to put Kilmurry a goal clear.  

Chris Ó Meachair pointed for Cill na Martra, Liam Wall belted over a 45 for Kilmurry, Mike Ó Deasúna’s free was answered by a point from play from Sean Warren to leave Kilmurry three points in front with ten minutes remaining, 2-13 to 3-8.  

Cill na Martra scored three points to draw level, Dan Ó Duinnin on 51, Mike Ó Deasuna from a free which saw Kilmurry lose a defender to a second yellow card and in the 58th minute Ó Deasúna kicked over the equaliser, 3-10 to 2-13, from another free.

For the 20 minutes of extra time the floodlights were called into use and Ó Deasúna and Brian Hinchion had an early exchange of points before Dan Ó Duinnín put Cill na Martra back in front and Ó Deasúna added a point from a free to open up a two-point lead at the interval. Another Ó Deasúna free yielded a point on the restart and Dan Ó added a superb point from play.  

Kilmurry were clearly tiring but Joe Ryan gave them hope with a point from a free. Dan Ó Duinnín crowned a magnificent display with another point which settled the issue finally.  

Scorers

Cill na Martra: D Ó Duinnín 3-4, M Ó Deasúna 0-9 (6f), T Ó Corcora, C Ó Duinnín, C Ó Meachair 0-1 each.  

Kilmurry: John O’Mullane 1-1, J O’Mullane 1-0, O Clifford, S Warren (1f) 0-4 each, L Wall 0-2 (1 45), J Ryan 0-2 (1f), T Collins, B Hinchion 0-1 each.

Cill na Martra: James Aynsley; Eoghan Ó Ceallachar, Antóin Ó Cúana, Eoin Ó Loinsuigh; Tadgh Ó Corcora, Pádraig Ó Críodáin, Seán Ó Fóirreidh; Gearóid Ó Góilldhe, Dan Ó Duinnín; Seán Ó Cróinín, Gearóid Ó Faóláin, Ciarán Ó Dúinnín; Damien Ó h-Úrdáil, Michéal Ó Deasúna, Dean Mac Cárthaigh.  

Subs: Cristóir Ó Meachair (31), Evan Ó Cathasaigh (76).

Kilmurry: Eoin Curzon; William Ronan, Liam Wall, Pádraig Hinchion; Kyle Kelleher, Liam O’Sullivan, Sean Curzon; Fionn Warren, John O’Mullane; James O’Mullane, Joe Ryan, Tomás Collins; Oghan Clifford, Sean Warren, Brian Hinchion. 

Subs: James Berhanu (56), Greg Fitton (61).

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).