Division 1 HL: Honours even as Carrigtwohill snatch late draw with Fr O'Neill's
Carrigtwohill's Sean Walsh is challenged by Daniel Harrington and John Millerick of Fr O'Neill's during their SHL clash at Aghavine. Picture: David Keane
A dramatic finish to a nail-biting contest saw Tomás Hogan snatch a draw for Carrigtwohill with the last puck of the game against Fr O’Neill’s in the RedFM Division 1 Hurling League.
Aghavine is a unique venue. The pitch, that’s always in top condition. But there’s a constant, unrelenting wind – seemingly present no matter what the weather is, and it played a key role here on Sunday morning.
Carrig made the most of the crosswind in the first half, building a 0-11 to 0-7 lead by the break. But within five minutes of the restart, O’Neill’s had drawn level. Kevin O’Sullivan worked wonders with the Aghavine gale. From there, the teams remained within two points of each other until the final whistle.
With 55 minutes gone, Carrig led 0-21 to 0-19 following a huge point from Patrick Walsh, set up by James Mulcahy. O’Sullivan cut the gap to one with a well-struck free, and it stayed that way until the final minute – when the game exploded into life.
Jake Shine turned over Seán de Búrca brilliantly and slipped the ball to Hassett. Shane Devlin made a fine close-range save, but the sliotar trickled loose, right into the path of Rob Cullinane. He pulled first time. Goal. O’Neill’s in front.
Roughly 90 seconds remained. Carrig needed all of them.
Within 30 seconds, Mulcahy responded with a point. Up stepped Tomás Hogan from out wide. The final puck of the game – it sailed between the posts.
A draw. And a fair one.
Still, Carrigtwohill will rue not holding out.
At half-time, Ryan Kenneally was replaced by Olan Steele. Billy Dunne moved to centre-forward, with O’Sullivan switching briefly to full-forward—and excelling. He hit the target twice within two minutes of the second half, punishing Carrig’s failure to adjust to the wind from puckouts. He would go on to score four of O’Neill’s first five second-half points.
By the 39th minute, the teams were tied for the fourth time at 0-13 apiece. From there, they traded points relentlessly. O’Neill’s hit two. Carrig replied with two – including a beauty from Seán Walsh out wide, bending the ball into the breeze.
Again, two for O’Neill’s. Again, two for Carrig. Fifty minutes in, 0-18 each. Dunne scored. Walsh answered from a free. Level for the eighth time.
O’Neill’s almost took the lead a minute later – Hassett setting up Shine – but his low shot trickled just wide. Relief for Carrig.
That was short-lived.
Then came a clever piece of improvisation. Seán Walsh shaped to take a free, but instead burst forward as Jay Horgan ran to the ball and flicked it to him. Walsh offloaded to his brother Patrick, who pointed with ease. He added another soon after. Two-point lead to Carrig.
Then, the twist. Cullinane’s goal.
The wind was no less a factor in the first half. O’Neill’s had started better, with points from O’Sullivan and Dunne giving them a 0-2 to 0-0 lead. By the 15th minute, Carrig were level thanks to a Walsh 65 – but it could have been more.
Mulcahy turned over Kenneally and burst in along the wing, finding Liam Gosnell, who offloaded to Seán Walsh. But Mike Millerick made a crucial block, and Carrig failed to convert the ensuing goalmouth scramble.
By the 26th minute, Carrigtwohill had pushed three points clear, a lead they extended to four at the break. O’Sullivan’s consistency had kept O’Neill’s in touch, and his influence would only grow after half-time.
O’Neill’s roared back. Carrig stood firm. In the end, the sides could not be separated.
K O’Sullivan 0-12 (0-7 fs), R Cullinane 1-1, B Dunne, P Hassett 0-3 each, J Shine 0-1.
S Walsh 0-9 (0-7 fs, 0-1 65), P Walsh, J Mulcahy 0-4 each, T Hogan 0-2, L O’Sullivan, J Oke, D Murnane, L Gosnell 0-1 each.
P O’Sullivan; M Millerick, R Kenneally, S O’Riordan; M O’Keeffe, D Harrington, D O’Neill; John Millerick, Joe Millerick (c); R Cullinane, K O’Sullivan, P Hassett; C O’Leary, B Dunne, J Shine.
O Steele for Kenneally (HT).
S Devlin; B Twomey, A Walsh Barry (c), P O’Sullivan; D Murnane, S de Búrca, J Horgan; J Oke, C Barry; P Walsh, S Walsh, T Hogan; L Gosnell, J Mulcahy, L O’Sullivan.
C O’Riordan for P O’Sullivan (15 inj).
Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers)
App?
