(JJ Hurley)
Carrigaline claimed a place in the McCarthy Group Insurance Senior A Football Final following a dramatic penalty shootout against Kanturk in Pairc Ui Caoimh on Saturday night.
The hero for the Carrigdhoun outfit was Ryan Delaney, who took up the goalkeeper’s duties for the drama that unfolded for the penalty kicks.
With the hurlers over coming Ballincollig in the Co Op Superstore PIHA by a single point last week, Saturday’s victory further tested the supporters’ nerves and blood pressure in what was a dramatic night at Cork GAA HQ.
This game had the entire stadium on the edge of their seats over the length of the game as the match ebbed and flowed between the sides.
Even at the end of normal time, the six added minutes proved fruitless for both sides as they couldn’t find the all-important winner.
The opening minutes had seen Carrig trail until Niall Coakley had tied up the score on 26 minutes at 0-6 to 0-6.
Before that Carrig had to chase their opponents as Enna Desmond, Coakley and Kieran McCarthy were all on target.
While Carrig did secure the lead, it was short-lived as the sides were all tied at 0-7 to 0-7 at the break.
The opening minutes of the second thirty, Carrig got their noses in front, thanks to points from Desmond and Coakley as the village led by 0-10 to 0-7 on 41 minutes.
While Kanturk pulled two back, Carrigaline sub, Sheerin had restored the two-point lead.
Unable to see out the game, Carrig surrendered their two-point cushion as the game eventually finished in stalemate at 0-11 to 0-11.
There was no separating the teams at the first period of extra time as Kevin O’Reilly and Coakley hit the target, finishing the first period of extra time at 0-14 to 0-14.
Ten minutes into the final period of extra time, Brian O’Driscoll looked like he had sent Carrig on their way with a fisted pass, as his side were leading by 0-17 to 0-15.
However, Kanturk refused to give up and they forced the tie into spotters.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, as Ryan Delaney was almost unbeatable in the Carrig net, but he also dispatched a penalty along with Niall Coakley to take Carrigaline one step closer to returning to Premier Senior football.
Scorers
Carrigaline: E Desmond 0-5 (0-4 f), K O’Reilly 0-4 (0-1 m), N Coakley 0-3 (0-2 f), B Coakley 0-2 (0-1 45), B O’Driscoll, K McCarthy, I Sheerin 0-1 each.
Kanturk: G Bucinskas 0-8 (0-5 f, 0-1 45), T Walsh, I Walsh (f), Aidan Walsh 0-2 each, R Walsh, J Fitzpatrick, P Walsh 0-1 each.
CARRIGALINE:
C Dungan; C O’Herlihy, N Quirke, K McCarthy; J McCarthy (c), D Griffin, K Kavanagh; B O’Driscoll, C Barry; D Greene, B Coakley, E Ryle; E Landers, N Coakley, E Desmond.
Subs: L Pope for D Greene (h-t), K O’Reilly for E Landers (39), R Delaney for B Coakley (45), C Barrett for E Ryle (47), I Sheerin for K Kavanagh (52, inj), A Cohalen for C Barrett (65), E Ryle for K McCarthy (73), N O’Keeffe for E Desmond (78).
KANTURK:
J Fullerton; J McLoughlin, R Walsh, L O’Neill; M Healy, T Walsh, B O’Sullivan; P Walsh, Aidan Walsh (c); Alan Walsh, C Clernon, D O’Connell; G Bucinskas, C Walsh, L McLoughlin.
Subs: I Walsh for C Clernon (h-t), J Fitzpatrick for L O’Neill (62), L O’Keeffe for C Walsh (69, inj).
Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).
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