Vaughan inspires Iveleary to bridge 30 year gap
THE famine is over for Iveleary on regaining a hold of the Ross Oil Mid Cork JAFC title at the expense of a gallant Inniscarra in the presence of a large attendance at Cill na Martra last Sunday.
Their previous title dated back to 1985 and during the intervening years, they were so many disappointments and false dawns thus on this occasion, the Inchigeela based side had clearly the hunger and desire to land Muskerry’s biggest prize.
The difference between the sides was Iveleary’s main talisman, Cathal Vaughan, his predatory instincts came to prominence on offering a lesson in amassing a 0-9 tally from play, frees and sideline balls.
Nobody could question Inniscarra’s workrate, resolve or resilience yet a younger side found it difficult to dislodge the driving force of Iveleary and particularly the match the scoring exploits of Vaughan. Despite incessant rain prior to the start of the proceedings, the ground held up remarkably well and contributed to entertaining passages of football.
Inniscarra had opened brightly, Tomás O’Connor pointing inside 30 seconds. A breeze assisted Iveleary settled and carved out the openings for Brian Cronin and Vaughan to register points.
Inniscarra answered and received a tonic boost in the 8th min., the enterprising O’Connor showed pace and centred for full forward Dan O’Connell to flick home the game’s lone goal and a brief lead. Iveleary recovered from the setback, denied by the upright, Finbarr McSweeney did point to force parity.
The initiative remained with Iveleary, operating with a higher rate of intensity from the commanding presence of Barry Murphy, Cal McCarthy and Ger O’Riordan in defence, the grafting play of Seán and Barry O’Leary at midfield.
Upfront, Brian Cronin and Chris Óg Jones maintained a high work ethic, Vaughan ever accurate from placed balls. Inniscarra did attempt to react, wing back Paul Farmer pointed yet Vaughan showed his class to despatch might efforts from the left sideline between the uprights for Iveleary enjoy as 0-10 to 1-2 advantage at the break.
Inniscarra resumed with the backing of the breeze and offered more urgency from the encouraging forays of Farmer, John O’Callaghan, Alan Sheehan and Liam Collins.
A pair of pointed frees from O’Connor and Seán O’Donoughue offered signs of an improvement only for Vaughan to answer for Iveleary. Inniscarra lost midfielder Conor Buckley to a black card as the scoring dried up, Iveleary ahead, 0-11 to 1-4 at the 3/4 mark. With both sides missing a series of opportunities, Iveleary ended a baren run, Brian Cronin picked up possession from a Vaughan 45 to split the posts.
Again Inniscarra attempted to haul themselves back into the hunt, O’Connor pointed a free. Still Iveleary held the better staying power, Vaughan added to his tally though the man of match did blot his copy with the last kick of the game, Jones grounded only for Vaughan to shoot the resultant penalty wide of the mark.
The full-time whistle sounded, the red and white brigade of faithful Iveleary supporters stormed onto the Pairc Uí Chauna pitch to salute the worthy 2015 Muskerry champions.