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Cloyne 1-12 UCC 0-13
By Brendan Larkin
THE desire to win the Cork SHC title for the first
time still burns for Cloyne following this two-point victory over UCC in the
first of the semi-finals at Pairc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
It’s a tribute to the
east Cork side that they have made it to their second final in a row, but
there was no huge jubilation at the final whistle, because they were
extremely fortunate to come away with the win after the students hit the
massive total of 19 wides to their five.
Diarmuid O’Sullivan
has made many an important contribution to Cloyne’s cause over the years but
yesterday’s was surely the most significant to date. Operating from his
customary right half back position, the Cork All-Ireland full back scored
1-3, all from frees, to keep his side on course for that much coveted first
title.
 Given
the talent that was on view, there were a number of eagerly anticipated
clashes, particularly between the Kilkenny contingent, but they never
materialised. Tommy Walsh never got into the game, being well policed by the
Cloyne defence; James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatick got no change off Killian Cronin and
his main contribution was six points from frees; Michael Rice could make no
headway on Maurice Cahill and was eventually withdrawn.
John Tennyson and Donncha Cody did well in defence for the students while Tom
Kenny, who had played with his club the previous day in a divisional
championship, and Shane O’Neill, who was similarly involved, ran out of steam
after a bright start.Cloyne served notice of their intentions straight from
the throw in. Despite playing into the strong wind, they stormed into an 0-5
to 0-1 lead inside the opening 11 minutes and it would have been more had
Paudie O’Sullivan not delayed his shot when he broke through and had only the
goalkeeper to beat.
The university side had no answer to the pacy Cloyne forwards but after
Victor Cusack edged his side further ahead, they completely lost their shape
as the students finally began to string some good moves together.
Tom Kenny, along with the industrious Kevin Hartnett gave the students a grip
on midfield, and for 15 minutes, the pinned Cloyne in their own half, but
there was no excuses for some of the wides they hit from scoreable positions.
For all their supremacy outfield, the scores were slow in coming for the
students as Cloyne defended stoutly, and at the break, the East Cork did well
to be 0-7 to 0-6 in front after the students had hit 13 wides in that opening
half.
UCC introduced former Cork senior Eamon Collins for the second half, but they
continued to rack up the wides that were to eventually cost them dearly. Two
excellent long range points by Diarmuid O’Sullivan, minutes after the
resumption, stretched the Cloyne lead before Tom Kenny was guilty of an
appalling wide after Eamon Collins put him through.
However despite their dreadful finishing, UCC managed to draw level by the
end of the third quarter, principally due to the excellent free taking of
James Fitzpatrick. In such a tight game a goal was always going to be the
deciding factor, and it fell to Cloyne in the 50th minute.
Awarded a free inside his own 65, Diarmuid O’Sullivan’s superbly struck
effort went all the way to the UCC net, and the relief among their followers
was palpable. To their credit the students refused to roll over and the
excellence of Fitzpatrick’s free taking had the deficit down to the minimum
with a minute remaining.
When the fourth official indicated three minutes of additional time, it
looked odds on a draw. However the UCC defence which had been very
disciplined all through, conceded a needless free 20 metres out which Paudie
O’Sullivan duly converted.
Cloyne were safely through to their second final in a row and a mouth-watering
clash with Newtownshandrum, while the students were left to rue those
enormous amount of wides.
Scorers: Cloyne: D. O'Sullivan 1-3; I. Quinlan, V.
Cusack, P. O'Sullivan, 0-2 each; P. Cahill, C. O'Sullivan, M. Cahill 0-1
each.
UCC: J. Fitzpatrick 0-7; S. O'Neill,
K. Hartnett, T. Kenny, E. Hanley, T. Walsh, E. Collins 0-1 each.
CLOYNE: D. Cusack; E. O'Sullivan, K., Cronin, D. Motherway;
M. Naughton, M. Cahill, Diarmuid O'Sullivan; Donal O'Sullivan, J. Cotter; C.
O'Sullivan, V. Cusack, I. Quinlan; P. O'Sullivan, P. Cahill, C. Cusack. Subs.
J. Nyhan for Cotter; L. O'Driscoll for M. Cahill.
UCC: R. O'Neill; C. Hickey, D. McSweeney, J. Tennyson; S.
O'Neill, T. Lordan, S. Cronin; T. Kenny, K. Hartnett; T. Walsh, M. Rice, E.
Hanley; R. O'Brien, J. Fitzpatrick, P. O'Brien. Subs. D. Cody for Hickey; E.
Collins for R. O'Brien; B. Beckett for P. O'Brien; R. O'Doherty for Rice.
Referee: J. Sexton (Ballyhea
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