DKIT recover from a sluggish start to book place in the final
HIGHER EDUCATION
DUNDALK IT CORK IT 4-11 2-14
DKIT recoverd from a sluggish start in which Cork IT looked extremely dangerous to book their place in the Senior Division 2 League final last week.
DkIT had to battle back into the game and an excellent goal from Meath man Cathal Finnegan prved crucial in keeping them in the game.
A flowing move started from an impressive diving turnover by Lorcan Smyth in his own full back line cutting out a diagonal ball. The interception set Eoghan Callaghan breaking down the field, flanked by Sam Mulroy and Rian O’Neill who played Finnegan in to finish hard and low past the keeper from 20 yards, giving Oisin McConville’s men the spark they very much needed.
CIT controlled the middle third which caused the DKIT men awful trouble as both sides went score for score up until 10 minutes before half time.
Sloppy play from DKIT led to a killer blow as CIT rattled the net to put three between the teams.
Cork tagged on two more scores before the half time break to go in with a healthy lead of 1-10 to 1-5.
McConville and Shane Lennon had a big job on their hands at half time as their men looked to be struggling to get to grips with CIT, particularly in the middle third.
They looked for a big powerful man from the bench in the shape of ‘The Icon’ Niall Kearns. With a reshuffle around the middle DKIT got a foot hold back in the game which settled them through their rough patch.
Kearns started to control the game winning kickouts, hop balls and anything else CIT threw at him.
DKIT started to claw back a few scores but once again sloppy play allowed CIT to build pressure and tag on scores to move seven points clear.
DKIT still felt they were in the game as they were getting chances but failing to put them away. Until one fell to Toome man James Wilson who breathed life into DKIT when he hit the back of the net. The next five minutes was all DKIT. Turnovers in their own defence as Hugh Osbourne, Kealan O’Neill and Eoghan Callaghan dispossessed CIT to set up attacks that would be the catalyst for a DKIT comeback.
Once again, the stylish 40 yards man from Meath Cathal Finnegan hit the back of the net under ferocious pressure as he stroked the ball to the top corner with the outside of his wand of a left foot to make it a two-point game in DkIT’s favour.
When DKIT had a major loss of a black card to county man Sam Mulroy who was replaced by Sean McAvoy onlookers feared for the worst as CIT hit two scores in quick succession to level the game with normal time up.
Cork then won a free withjust moments left 25 yards out from goal on the wrong side for a right footer which they missed. From the resulting kick out Niall
Kearns caught the ball and DKIT broke in droves typical of their style all year.
Down man Sean McAvoy played a one two with Conor Quigley who returned the hand pass to Sean who looked to be bottled up.
But as the ball dropped he struck it on the half volley hitting the roof of the net to the joy of his team mates with only seconds remaining.
DKIT: Chris McDermott - Clontibret; Mark Byrne - Rathkenny, Hugh Osbourne - Naomh Fionbarra, Conor Magennis - Killeavy; Shane Hamilton - Arva, Eoghan Callaghan - Naomh Martin, Kealan O’Neill - Glen Emmets; Rian O’Neill - Crossmaglen Rangers (0-1), Eunan Walsh - St Marys Aghagallon (0-1); Samuel Mulroy - Naomh Mairtin (0-6), Cathal Finnegan - Seneschalstown (2-1), Lorcan Smyth - Rockcorry; Rory Farrell - Ballieborough, Gary Mohan - Truagh (0-1), James Wilson - Toome (1-1). Subs: Matthew O’Reilly - Naomh Fionbarra, Oisin Martin - Silverbridge, Niall Kearns - Sean McDermott’s, Ross Nally - Newtown Blues, Jamie Campbell King - Corduff, Micheal Begley - Kilkerley Emmets, Ciaran McGlynn - Kilkerley Emmets, Sean McAvoy - Annaclone (1-0), Conor Quigley - Kilkerley Emmets, Gavin Daly - Castlerahan, Darren Luckie - Culloville, Oisin O’Neill - Doohamlet.