Donoughmore 2-15

Aghinagh 2-14

BRENDAN KENNEALLY REPORTS

THE never-say-die spirit of Donoughmore was rewarded in spectacular fashion in the Ross Oil Mid Cork Junior Football Championship final replay at Macroom on Saturday afternoon.

They came from seven points down in the 56th minute to score 2-2 without reply in a sensational finish to take the title for the fifth-time ever and the first since 2011.

The Donoughmore team and supporters were delirious at the final whistle, Aghinagh in shock, as victory was snatched from the latter’s grasp in the cruellest of fashion.

The final stages were incredibly exciting. After Aghinagh had led by 1-9 to 0-8 at half time, Donoughmore managed to cut the deficit to two points, 1-12 to 0-13, by the three-quarter stage. Liam Twohig pointed a free for Aghinagh on 51 and two minutes later substitute Seán Cummins increased their advantage to four points. When Cummins took a pass from Aodh Twomey on 55 and fired home a goal to give Aghinagh a 2-14 to 0-13 lead it seemed that the destination of the title had been decided.

‘Keep going lads,’ was the Donoughmore mantra and the team dug deep and produced a stunning response.

Declan Keating pointed a free in the 58th minute. Immediately after, only a superb double save by the Aghinagh goalkeeper Jason McCarthy denied Gavin O’Sullivan, and then Kevin O’Connell, of a goal.

Donoughmore kept up their offensive, and a high ball into the crowded Aghinagh goalmouth was punched to the net by midfielder Seán O’Hanlon. It was 2-14 to 1-14 now with the clock almost at the end of regulation time.

Donoughmore needed a goal to survive and were almost in again when a close-range ground shot went across the Aghinagh goal before going just inches wide.

But Donoughmore were not to be denied. In the next attack, in a situation identical to the circumstances of the previous goal, Daniel Forde kicked another high ball into the Aghinagh goalmouth. Incredibly it was Seán O’Hanlon who again rose highest and punched the ball to the net to level the scores.

Donoughmore were in raptures at the change in fortunes and went in search of a winner, urged on by their supporters in full cry.

Centre forward Gavin O’Sullivan, later named man-of-the-match, delivered the knock-out blow for Donoughmore from a 45, sent confidently over the bar despite the pressure.

When Aghinagh failed to capitalise on one last opportunity, the final whistle blew and the extreme contrasts in the emotions of the respective camps was so telling.

Back to the start, Aghinagh, playing into the town goal, opened the scoring with a Seán O’Riordan point. Scott Barrett equalised for the eventual winners and Declan Keating put them in front.

As Donoughmore continued to force the pace, Gavin O’Sullivan kicked over a two-pointer free to make it 0-4 to 0-1 after eight minutes. Aghinagh began to get to grips with matters and in the 12th minute Con Buckley kicked a two-pointer from play. The excellent Liam Twohig had Aghinagh in front from another two-pointer from play. Twohig then added two more points from play.

In the 21st minute Aghinagh struck for the opening goal. Luke O’Leary’s long delivery was collected by Gearóid O’Sullivan who in turn put Twohig clear, and the Aghinagh sharpshooter finished sublimely to put Aghinagh in control, leading 1-9 to 0-4.

In the three minutes before the break, Donoughmore broke the seven-score sequence of Aghinagh with a Seán O’Hanlon point, a two-pointer free from Gavin O’Sullivan, and a Declan Keating free, which left them four points adrift at the break, 1-9 to 0-8, but with wind to favour them in the second half.

On the resumption, Aghinagh consolidated their position with three points in a row, which opened the gap to seven points by the 39th minute. Back came Donoughmore with a point from a Gavin O’Sullivan free followed by a two-pointer from another free. It was a four-point gap again at the three-quarter mark.

Aghinagh were to restore their dominance before being hit by the late Donoughmore tsunami which few could have foreseen.

Scorers: 

Donoughmore: S O’Hanlon 2-1; G O’Sullivan 0-7 (2 2ptf; 2f, 1 45); D Keating 0-5 (1 2ptf, 1f); S Barrett, K O’Connell 0-1 each.

Aghinagh: L Twohig 1-8 (2pt, 4f); S Cummins 1-1; C Buckley 0-3 (2pt); S Corkery, S O’Riordan 0-1 each.

Donoughmore: Kevin O’Riordan; Frankie Honohan, Mark Foley, Seán Broderick; Rory Honohan, Josh Crowley, Kevin O’Connell; Seán O’Hanlon, Mark Lucey; Adam Dinan, Gavin O’Sullivan, Daniel Holland; Declan Keating, Jack McCarthy, Scott Barrett.

Subs: David McDonnell for Barrett (inj, 24), Donnacha Morrissey for McCarthy (39), Liam O’Sullivan for Honohan (43), Jack Murphy for Dinan (51), Daniel Forde for Foley (58).

Aghinagh: Jason McCarthy; Tom Buckley, Donagh O’Riordan, Dermot O’Callaghan; Declan Ambrose, Luke O’Leary, TJ Buckley; Shane Corkery, Thomas Morgans; Seán O’Riordan, Con Buckley, Mathew McCarthy; William Coakley, Liam Twohig, Gearóid O’Sullivan.

Subs: Seán Cummins for G O’Sullivan, Tadhg Sheehan for S O’Riordan (both 43), Jack Kearney for T Buckley (52), Aodh Twomey for W Coakley (53).

Referee: Pat O’Leary (Kilmurry).