Duhallow show resolve to overcome resurgent Carrigdhoun outfit
COUNTY SHC ROUND 1
Duhallow 1-21 Carrigdhoun 1-16
STUNG by the concession of a goal in the 56th minute, Duhallow responded positively to edge out Carrigdhoun in a lively county SHC Round 1 encounter at Coachford last Sunday.
Hauled back to equality after substitute Daniel O’Callaghan rattled the net for the losers, Duhallow did well to keep their composure, given that Carrigdhoun, having erased a five-point deficit, appeared to have the momentum with them at that juncture.
Fittingly, it was impressive wing forward Michael Vaughan who got Duhallow back on course, popping over the next two scores before Gareth Linehan added a goal to finally settle the issue in stoppage time.
With five Cork seniors – Lorcan McLoughlin, Aidan Walsh, William Egan, Mark Ellis and ‘keeper Anthony Nash – in their ranks, Duhallow would have been warmly fancied to prevail and advance to a Round 2A meeting with Blackrock.
But it was Millstreet’s Vaughan who stole the show in the first half, contributing six superb scores, as Duhallow opened up a five-point lead, 0-10 to 0-5, during the opening 20 minutes.
Just when it began to look as if an anticipated comfortable victory for Duhallow was on the cards, Carrigdhoun rallied to trim the deficit to two-points, 0-12 to 0-10, before the break, although it took a splendid save by ‘keeper Martin Coleman to deny Gareth Linehan a goal nearing half-time.
Within ten minutes of the resumption, Carrigdhoun’s prospects took on an even rosier hue, as they gained parity at 0-14 apiece, making it abundantly clear in the process that they were in no mood to go under tamely.
Now fully aware they had a fight on their hands, Duhallow, with Kieran Sheehan leading the charge up front, hit back with five points on the bounce, which brought them within sight of victory approaching the last ten minutes.
In keeping with the fluctuating nature of the contest, Carrigdhoun rallied again in the closing stages, and Daniel O’Callaghan’s equalising goal, resulting from good work by Tony Murphy, meant that Duhallow’s character was really put to the test.
They weren’t found wanting when the crunch came, with Michael Vaughan, having been subdued for much of the second half, thundering back into the picture when the need was greatest.
His last point came about following some slick inter-play with Aidan Walsh, who was always in the thick of the action at midfield where Mark Ellis, having struggled to get into the game in the first half, made a noteworthy impact after the interval.
Vaughan and Sheehan earned the main plaudits in attack, while Lorcan McLoughlin, Darren Browne and Lorcan O’Neill were most effective at the back over the hour.
William Egan got through a lot of good work as well at centre back, as did Brendan Withers on the right wing, which ensured that the input from Carrigdhoun’s two key forwards Fintan O’Leary and Kevin Canty was spasmodic.
O’Leary had been moved from full forward to the ‘40 early in the first half in a switch with Tony Murphy, who certainly paid his way as a target-man at the edge of the square for Carrigdhoun.
It was a bit too close for comfort on the day for Duhallow, and, while they fell behind just once, 0-3 to 0-2, in the 8th minute, team coach Donal Burke was by no means satisfied with their performance overall.
“There were stages of the game
when we threatened to pull away, but we didn’t hold on to our advantage, and I’d be very disappointed with the display from that point of view.
“At the same time, it’s been very difficult to get the players together for training, because, as well as the five senior inter-county guys, we have three lads involved with the Cork Under 21s, so we haven’t a whole lot of work done,” he revealed
“The players are very committed, in fairness, and I know there is a lot of talent there, bearing in mind the success enjoyed by Duhallow at under-age level in recent years.
“It’s time to start delivering in the senior grade now, but I’m convinced there is massive scope for improvement on what we produced today, and, if can get the players to click as a unit, we won’t have any fears of taking on the Rockies in the next round,” said Burke