Share of the spoils for Kilnamartyra and Glanworth

Kilnamartyra 1-8 Glanworth 1-8

IT was hard to envisage anything other than a win for Kilnamartya when they led by six points with three minutes gone in the second half of the County IFC clash with Glanworth at Donoughmore last Saturday evening.

It wasn’t an insurmountable advantage on the face of it, but considering Glanworth had registered just one point at that juncture, it seemed as if the Gaeltacht side had laid solid foundations for victory.

The complexion of the contest changed dramatically over the next seven minutes, however, as Glanworth struck a purple patch that yielded six spectacular points, the first and last of which were outrageous efforts from frees struck from out near the touchline by corner-back Eric O’Donoughue.

Wing-back Philip Blackburn, Pierre O’Driscoll and Shane O’Riordan, who chipped in with a brace, had found the target with equally inspirational scores in between to send Glanworth’s prospects soaring and leave Kilnamartya facing a significant test of character as they attempted to arrest their slide.

The Muskerry men weren’t found wanting, with excellent midfielder Tadgh O’Corcora nudging them ahead again in the 47th minute before creating a golden opportunity for substitute Seanachan O’Loingsigh, whose effort to put some daylight between the sides was foiled by Glanworth custodian Ciaran Cotter with ten minutes remaining.

The scene was set for a nail-biting finale after Robert O’Driscoll pointed for Glanworth in the 53rd minute, but Kilnamartyra appeared to be back on course to prevail after a hat-trick of points shared by effective substitute Damien O’hUrdail, Shane O’Duinnin and Daniel O’Duinnin served to separate the sides heading into stoppage time.

Glanworth refused to give up the ghost, however, and their never-say-die attitude was rewarded when they mounted a last gasp raid which ended with centre-back Brian Gallagher being fouled in the square, allowing David Pyne to earn them a replay with an expertly-converted penalty.

It was a fitting conclusion to a gripping second-half struggle in which the commitment of the combatants and the intensity of the exchanges left nothing to be desired.

It contrasted sharply to developments in the first half, which was largely a pedestrian affair, althought Kilnamartyra did raise the tempo after Tadgh O’Corcora took a return pass from Mairtin O’Conchuir before parting to Danny O’Conaill, who set Daniel O’Duinnin up for a goal in the 21st minute.

Prior to that, Shane O’Duinnin had pointed two frees for Kilnamarrtyra and Shane O’Riordan had converted one for Glanworth, whose leading light in the first half was wing-back Philip Blackburn.

David Pyne had his moments too at midfield, but they appeared to have little or nothing to offer up front, so when Kilnamartyra full-back Antoin O’Cuana began and finished an incisive move, which also involved Nollaig O’Laoire and Danny O’Connaill, with a superb point to make it 1-3 to 0-1 before the break, Glanworth looked in dire trouble.

The sense of inevitability about the outcome grew after Shane O’Duinnin drew first blood for Kilnamartyra from a free on the resumption, but then came the remarkable scoring burst from Glanworth, which turned the game ón its head.

Considering that Kilnamartyra clocked up ten wides, seven more than Glanworth, over the hour, and were only denied the laurels by David Pyne’s penalty goal in stoppage time, they probably had most reason for rueful reflection at the finish.

In view of the admirable resilience displayed by Glanworth at different stages of the contest, it would be churlish to suggest they didn’t deserve another chance to do battle for the right to advance to a quarter-final meeting with Millstreet.

Scorers

KILNAMARTYRA: D O’Duinnin 1-1, S O’Duinnin 0-4 (3f), A O’Cuana, T O’Corcora and D O’Hurdail 0-1 each

GLANWORTH: D Pyne 1-0 (penalty), S O’Riordan 0-3 (1f), E O’Donoghue 0-2 (f), P Blackburn, P O’Driscoll and R O’Driscoll 0-1 each

KILNAMARTYRA: A O’Conaill; D MacLochlainn, A O’Cuana, E O’Loinsigh; G O’Mochain, N O’Laoire, C O’Laoire; T O’Corcora, G O’Goillidhe; S O’Foirreadh, M O’Conchuir, D O’Connaill; C O’Duinnin, D O’Duinnin, S O’Duinnin Subs: S O’Loingsigh for O’Foirreadh, 43, F O’hElaithe for C O’Duinnin, 43, D O’Hurdail for D O’Conaill, 50

GLANWORTH: C Cotter; J Blackburn, T Condon, E O’Donoghue; P Blackburn, B Gallagher, L Blackburn; R O’Driscoll, D Pyne; R Murphy, G O’Neill, S O’Riordan; S Finn, E Sheehan, P O’Driscoll Subs: J O’Sullivan for Sheehan, ht, P Hannon for Murphy, 52, S Sheehan for R O’Driscoll (injured), 55

REFEREE: C Lane (Banteer)