Ibane Gaels 1-13

Kinsale 1-13

(Ibane Gaels win on penalties 6-5)

IBANE Gaels’ Donagh Flynn cracked home a sudden-death penalty to break Kinsale hearts in a pulsating Cork U21A football semi-final that went all the way at Kinsale on Sunday.

Did any side deserve to lose this classic?

The game ebbed and flowed as Kinsale looked to have done enough – leading 1-13 to 1-11 on 78 minutes – before James Crowley sent over an outrageous two-point score to send the extra-time tie to penalties.

The drama didn’t stop here. The teams were deadlocked at 3-3 after five penalties each, so it was on to sudden death. Here, Ibane finally emerged on top, ice-cool Donagh Flynn scoring the match-winning penalty to fire Ibane into their first-ever county U21A football final.

The Carbery champions await the winners of Sunday’s semi-final of Beara and Douglas in Ballinacarriga, with the final scheduled for the following weekend.

Ibane Gaels manager Dan Murphy admitted there was a sense of relief at the end of a contest that had been so finely balanced for long periods.

Kinsale's Conor Fitzpatrick is challenged by Ibane Gaels' Jack Twomey. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

‘1-8 to 1-8 at the end of normal time – look, not particularly high-scoring but very competitive,’ he said. ‘Once you get into the county, the standard is going to be very high on both sides, so maybe we were negating each other.’

Twenty minutes into the game there was no sign of the frenetic finish to come, as Kinsale led 0-2 – Gearoid Kearney and Killian Fitzpatrick on target – to a single Darragh Walsh point.

Donagh Flynn set up sharpshooter Olan O’Donovan for what looked like a certain goal, but Kinsale shot-stopper Séan Byrne produced the first of three brilliant saves in the contest.

A Luke Murphy two-point free on 24 minutes seemed to provide the necessary impetus as Ibane moved 0-6 to 0-2 in front before the break. However, James Murphy kicked over a point on the stroke of half-time, as the visitors led 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.

The early stages of the second half saw Kinsale waste scorable chances, racking up eight wides during normal time. Indeed, Ibane held a healthy 1-7 to 0-4 advantage after 42 minutes, as the impressive O’Donovan pointed twice in response to a James Murphy free.

The large attendance then had to wait 14 minutes before a brace of points from James Murphy for Kinsale left three between the teams, as Ibane lost Diarmuid McCarthy to a black card.

Ibane Gaels' James Crowley breaks past Kinsale's Liam Kirwin. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Second-half Ibane sub Jamie Collins looked to have secured a final spot for his side when he tagged on a point, but Kinsale’s Conal Kingston buried the ball to the Ibane net as time ticked away.

Aaron Keane then produced a superb point deep into injury time to the delight of the home supporters, tying up the contest and sending it to extra time.

With the bit between their teeth, Kinsale outscored Ibane by 0-3 to 0-1 as David Looney put two points between the sides on 69 minutes.

It was three on 72 minutes as Ollie Buckley kicked over a beauty, but Crowley responded with two late scores, including a two-pointer to tie up this nail-biter again, and send it to penalties. Here, Ibane emerged, and now await to see who they will play in their first county U21A football final.

Scorers 

Ibane Gaels: O O’Donovan 1-3; J Crowley 0-5 (2pt); L Murphy (2ptf) 0-2; D Walsh, D Flynn, J Collins 0-1 each.

Kinsale: J Murphy 0-6 (2ptf); C Kingston 1-1; G Kearney, A Keane, C Sheehan, D Looney, O Buckley, C Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

Ibane Gaels: L McCarthy; K Hennessy, J Crowley, D Maloney; M Collins, D McCarthy, J Twomey; T Ó Buachalla, D Dineen; D Walsh, O O’Donovan, C Twomey; L Murphy, J Crowley, D Flynn.

Subs: J Collins for D Walsh (52), D Walsh for D Maloney (67), S Ryan for D Dineen (72).

Kinsale: S Byrne; D O’Leary, K O’Callaghan, C O’Leary; L Kirwin, G Kearney, C Fitzgerald; J Murphy, B Long; S O’Callaghan, C Fitzpatrick, D Looney; R O’Brien, P Graham, A Keane.

Subs: J Byrne for C O’Leary (ht), C Sheehan for C Fitzpatrick (45), C Kingston for B Long (47), G Murphy for L Kirwin (49), O Buckley for R O’Brien (55).

Referee: C Dineen (Douglas).