KILMACABEA 3-8

BARRYROE 0-9

TOM LYONS REPORTS

REIGNING champions Kilmacabea hit early and hard in the Bandon Co-op Junior A Football Championship quarter-final in Rosscarbery on Sunday to scupper the chances of Barryroe, who had beaten them in the final two years ago.

Goals win games (just ask Castlehaven seniors against the Barrs, also on Sunday), and it was two goals in the opening ten minutes that created the platform for Kilmacs to drive on to victory.

In general play there was nothing between the sides and Barryroe were left to rue a succession of wides, especially in the second half, which blighted their efforts to draw level on the scoreboard.

‘That was a battle, but exactly what we expected from Barryroe,’ said Kilmacabea manager Donie O’Donovan. 

‘The scoreline flattered us a small bit. The early goals gave us a cushion. Barryroe missed a good bit, a lot of chances which would have made it a lot closer.’

Impressive midfielder Ian Jennings was first on the scoreboard for Kilmacabea but he was answered by Ryan O’Donovan at the other end. The O’Donovans, Ryan and Olan, were Barryroe’s main source of attack but, unfortunately, they just could not get their radar working properly.

Kilmacs struck the first serious blow in the sixth minute when the ageless Donncha McCarthy broke through the centre to finish to the Barryroe net. Olan O’Donovan answered with a point before the lively Keith Whelton, who had a fine first half, split the posts for Kilmacs.

When Liam McCarthy broke through for a second Kilmac goal in the 10th minute, the champions were six points in front and playing confidently. A good point from Tomás Ó Buachalla ended the first quarter scoring, leaving it 2-2 to 0-3.

Ryan O’Donovan, always involved, looked to have found his scoring boots when he pointed twice in the second quarter, but they were the only Barryroe scores as the Kilmac defence did some fine covering. At the other end, a quiet Damien Gore kicked his first point and Ian Jennings added another to leave Kilmacs leading by four at the break, 2-4 to 0-6.

Barryroe’s Conn Dineen and Sean O’Riordan combine to take on Kilmacabea’s Liam McCarthy.

The third quarter was even more defence dominated, both sides being confined to a single point. Eamonn Shanahan scored for Kilmacs, with the hard-working Luke Murphy fisting one over for Barryroe.

There was still a gap of four points between the sides entering the final quarter, the game very much up for grabs, but Damien Gore, much more involved now, delivered the vital blow in the 48th minute as Ian Jennings tore through the centre on a great solo run and passed to the aforementioned Gore, who rifled a shot to the roof of the net. When he followed with a point a minute later, Kilmac supporters in the large crowd were cheering a lead that was now a daunting eight points.

Barryroe weren’t done yet and kept pressing forward in search of scores, but again their shooting was off; nine wides in all in the second half tells its own story. Olan O’Donovan finally landed a two-pointer from a free in the 54th minute, but Kilmacs weren’t going to be caught now and Gore (free) and Eamonn Shanahan landed points.

The Kilmac goal did lead a charmed life in the dying minutes, with Barryroe sub Seán Holland forcing a great save from goalkeeper Colin McCarthy and then hitting the post.

In the end, Kilmacs had a comfortable eight points to spare, but it was the goals that made the real difference in a game that finished 3-8 to 0-9.

‘We’re trying to get as much as we can from this team but despite what people think, Kilmacabea are picking from a very small bunch of players. Our experienced players are delivering for us,' concluded the manager.

Scorers

Kilmacabea: Damien Gore 1-3 (2f), Donncha McCarthy and Liam McCarthy 1-0 each, Eamonn Shanahan and Ian Jennings 0-2 each, Keith Whelton 0-1.

Barryroe: Ryan O’Donovan 0-4 (1 2pt) , Olan O’Donovan 0-3 (1 2ptf), Tomás Ó Buachalla and Luke Murphy 0-1 each.

Kilmacabea: Colin McCarthy; Liam Tobin, Darren Whooley, Dara Tobin; Owen Tobin, Martin Collins, Diarmuid O’Callaghan; Odhran Kerrisk, Ian Jennings; Donncha McCarthy, Damien Gore, Keith Whelton; Eamonn Shanahan, Joe Collins, Liam McCarthy.

Subs: Ray Shanahan for J. Collins (44), Joe Collins for K. Whelton (55), Cillian Whelton for E. Shanahan (61).

Barryroe: Conor Madden; Michael Walsh, Seán O’Riordan, Jerome O’Brien; Daniel Moloney, Conn Dineen, James Moloney; Dermot Dineen, Diarmuid McCarthy; Brian O’Donovan, Olan O’Donovan, Tomás Ó Buachalla; Luke Murphy, Ryan O’Donovan, Adam McSweeney.

Subs: Seán Holland for A. McSweeney (40), Dónal Ó Buachalla for B O’Donovan (48), Cathal Sheehy for J. Moloney (50), Aaron Fleming for D. Dineen (62).

Referee: Liam O’Shea.