Dohenys 0-18

Clyda Rovers 3-10

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

DOHENYS were undone by a last-gasp goal as they lost their first game in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 2 Football League.

Ben O’Connor rattled the net late on for Clyda Rovers for a win that saw them join Dohenys and Carrigaline in joint second on nine points, three off leaders Uibh Laoire.

Dohenys looked the better team for long periods in Dunmanway on Friday, yet Clyda struck late to snatch the win.

‘We fielded our 29th and 30th man in this year’s league tonight,’ Dohenys manager Niall Hurley commented.

‘The lads who came in, every one of them, did their job. We are still in a great position in the league even though we lost for the first time.’

Dohenys' Sean Murphy cuts inside Clyda Rovers' Paudie Kissane. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Dohenys goalkeeper Stephen Daly converted a two-point free before Cian O’Sullivan and Fionn Herlihy exchanged scores inside the opening five minutes. Herlihy then capitalised on a poor kick-out and Euan Lehane converted a free to make it 0-5 to 0-1.

Clyda’s attempts to mount a response were thwarted by a point-blank Daly save. But Clyda’s goal wasn’t far away, and arrived after 17 minutes. Patient build-up play involving David Cooney and Aidan Kelly released Clyda forward Kevin Graham who netted from the edge of the square.

Eoin Lavers burst clear and split the posts in response but Dohenys lost their centre-back to injury shortly after. The Carbery side would also have to replace injured Daniel McSweeney and Adam O’Donovan before the evening was out.

The closing stages of the first half delivered a flurry of scores. Two David Cooney efforts matched Sean Murphy and Euan Lehane (free) scores before the latter was denied a goal by a Kevin Coffey stop.

Trailing 0-8 to 1-3 at the break, Clyda blitzed their opponents at the start of the second period. Ben Nyhan raised a white flag and Kevin Graham palmed into the net to hand Clyda their first lead, 2-4 to 0-8.

It was Dohenys who hit back in the third quarter, as scores from Euan Lehane (free), Keith White and Stephen Daly (2-point free) made it 0-12 to 2-4 at the 40-minute mark.

Dohenys' Shane Barry breaks past Cian Cooney of Clyda Rovers. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Clyda responded with a brace of Cian Walsh points but, again, Dohenys produced another scoring burst. Two Lehane frees and a Nathan McCarthy effort edged Niall Murray’s team 0-15 to 2-6 clear heading into the closing stages.

Kevin Coffey produced an excellent stop before a Dohenys breakaway ended with Fionn Herlihy fisting over.

Kevin Graham’s converted free was Clyda’s first score in over 13 minutes but Euan Lehane replied, making it 0-17 to 2-7 heading into a frantic ending.

Clyda surged forward but were denied goals by Stephen Daly’s heroics and a disallowed effort for a square infringement. David Cooney’s free was cancelled out by substitute Keith McCarthy and Dohenys looked set for victory, leading 0-18 to 2-8 three minutes into injury-time.

But Clyda dug deep with Cian O’Sullivan brilliantly converting a two-point free.

There was more drama. A free lofted towards Dohenys’ square was the game’s final attack. Sub Ben O’Connor rose highest, flicked the ball to the net and the referee blew for full-time immediately after.

Elation for Clyda Rovers. Heartbreak for Dohenys.

Scorers 

Dohenys: Euan Lehane 0-6 (5f); Stephen Daly 0-4 (2 2ptf); Fionn Herlihy 0-3; Eoin Lavers, Sean Murphy, Keith White, Nathan McCarthy, Keith McCarthy 0-1 each.

Clyda Rovers: Kevin Graham 2-1 (1f); Cian O’Sullivan (2pt), David Cooney (2f) 0-3 each; Ben O’Connor 1-0; Cian Walsh 0-2; Ben Nyhan 0-1.

Dohenys: Stephen Daly; Barry O’Donovan, Jerry Farrell, Ronan White; Jamie Dullea, Eoin Lavers, Daniel McSweeney; Nathan McCarthy, Rhys Coakley; Shane Barry, Fionn Herlihy (captain), Adam O’Donovan; Euan Lehane, Sean Murphy, Paudie Crowley.

Subs: Keith White for E Lavers (24, inj), Padraig Crowley for D McSweeney (ht, inj), Ian Bryan for A O’Donovan (33, inj), Keith McCarthy for P Crowley (62).

Clyda Rovers: Kevin Coffey; Cian Cooney, Aidan Walsh, Niall Burke; Aidan Kelly, Gary Deane, Colin Kelly; Ben Nyhan, David Walsh (captain); Kevin Graham, Paudie Kissane, Cian Walsh; Patrick Ryan, David Cooney, Cian O’Sullivan.

Subs: Darragh Buckley for G Deane (20, inj), Cathal Corbett for P Ryan (49), Ben O’Connor for B Nyhan (57, inj).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).