Division 1 FL: Cill na Marta take down 14-man Newcestown with Seán Ó Foirréidh on form
Danny Ó Conaill tries to dispossess Paul Kelly for Newcestown during their McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 football league clash at Newcestown. Picture Denis Boyle
Cill na Martra produced a dramatic second-half comeback to edge past Newcestown in Sunday morning’s McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League tie.
With the summer holidays in full swing and several regulars absent on both sides, it was Newcestown who took control early on, establishing a comfortable seven-point lead by half-time. But when the Gaeltacht side had the wind advantage, they fought back in the second period.
Newcestown were in front 0-13 to 1-5, but as the tackles from both teams got harder – it eventually reached boiling point. A melee broke out just before the end of the third quarter in Newcestown, with Carthach Keane sent off and Micheál Ó Deasúna booked in the aftermath.
The hosts held them at arm’s length for a period – but the turning point arrived in the 51 minute. That’s when Ciarán Ó Duinnín struck a pivotal blow. Dispossessing Niall Kelly right in front of goal, he blasted home Cill na Martra’s second major to level the game for the first time.
The momentum had fully shifted. Substitute Maidhcí Ó Duinnín clipped over a superb two-pointer to put the visitors in front. Richard O’Sullivan briefly answered for Newcestown, but Cill na Martra wouldn’t be denied.
Ó Duinnín turned provider for Seán Ó Fóirréidh, who notched another point, before Daniel Ó Duinnín added their fifth orange flag. A final point from Ciarán Ó Duinnín pushed the gap out to five.
Micheál McSweeney got one back for the hosts but they couldn’t overcome the four-point deficit, even with six minutes additional time. The result means Newcestown can’t make the league final.
Still, they’ll take positives from the outing. For long spells, their defence was solid, marshalled well by McSweeney at centre-back. They countered with pace, and David Buckley was excellent from placed balls, striking two orange flags and seven points in total to help open up their first-half lead.
But two costly lapses for the goals — and Keane’s red card — left them with too much ground to make up.
Cill na Martra’s first goal came from nowhere. Trailing 0-6 to 0-1, Ciarán Ó Foirréidh played a clever line ball to Seán Ó Fóirréidh, who set up Shane Ó Duinnín for the finish. Though they added just one more score before the break, their second-half transformation was remarkable.
Seán Ó Foirréidh was outstanding, but it was the five second half two-pointers from five different scorers that truly flipped the game. The visitors took the lead in the 53rd minute and never looked back.
D Buckley 0-7 (2 tpf, 0-3 f), R O’Sullivan, N Kelly (2 f) 0-2 each, C Keane, O Walsh, T Twomey, D McAree, E Collins, M McSweeney 0-1 each.
C Ó Fóirréidh 1-2, J Mac Cárthaigh 0-4 (tpf, 0-2 f), S Ó Duinnín 1-0, S Ó Fóirréidh 0-3 (tp), D Ó Duinnín (tp), A Ó Loingsigh (tp), M Ó Duinnín (tp) 0-2 each.
E McSweeney; N Murray, J Kelleher, P Kelly; D McAree, M McSweeney, C O’Sullivan; F Keane, E Collins; O Walsh, T Twomey, D Buckley; N Kelly, R O’Sullivan, C Keane.
D McSweeney for Twomey (60+2).
D Mac Cárthaigh; F Ó Faoláin, M Ó Cathasaigh, C Ó Meachair; D Ó Conaill, S Ó Fóirréidh, C Ó Fóirréidh; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goillidhe; C Ó Duinnín, D Ó Duinnín, J Mac Cárthaigh; A Ó Loingsigh, M Ó Deasúna, S Ó Duinnín.
M Ó Duinnín for Ó Deasúna (47), D Ó hUrdail for C Ó Fóirréidh (50), E Ó Conaill for A Ó Loingsigh (55), D Ó Buachalla for Ó Cathasaigh (60), J Ó Loingsigh for S Ó Duinnín (60+4).
Andrew Whelton (Clonakilty)
App?
