No separating these two outfits
COUNTY SFC SEMI-FINAL (replay)
Duhallow 2-15 Castlehaven 1-18 AET
FOR sheer excitement and energy sapping drama, this County SFC semi-final replay was hard to beat between two committed sides in Duhallow and Castlehaven that finished deadlocked after extra time at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday night.
Both sides gave it everything for more 80 minutes, no quarter asked or given, the intensity on display made this a confrontation to savour and a much needed welcome boost for Cork football.
Rarely in recent seasons has there been such a competitive contest, the welcome sight of playing bright attacking football gripped the large attendance. During the latter stages near the end of the hour and late in extra time, Castlehaven looked the more probable winners.
Crucially, Duhallow having passed up chances, held their nerve, initially, falling five points adrift, they availed of an opportunist goal from substitute Daire Moynihan before Michael Vaughan angled over an equalising point to take the game into extra time.
With scores becoming more difficult to claim, the closing minutes could scarcely be more dramatic. Again Castlehaven looked comfortable, the power pendulum leaned in their favour on leading by two points yet a slip up in defence saw Aidan Walsh and Donncha O’Connor set up Duhallow team captain Anthony O’Connor to finish off with the easiest of tasks.
Now trailing by a single point, the ‘Haven’s fighting spirit never waned, a do or die foray was required and it surfaced on Conor Cahalane punching over the crossbar to force a second replay.
At the end of a marathon, yes there were errors yet the pace of the game, the skill, scores, saves and most of all, the total commitment all combined to produce a cracking contest.
From a fast paced tussle, Duhallow started with the accelerator pressed to the floor, Michael Vaughan pointed inside 30 seconds prior to Donncha O’Connor doubling the advantage. However, Castlehaven were clearly up for a battle, a much more driven approach than the previous week, confirmed on Michael Hurley and Damien Cahalane on target.
Still Duhallow’s game carried a greater threat , shining facets in defence saw Bart Daly, Kealan Buckley, Lorcán McLoughlin and Lorcan O’Neill assertive with Aidan and Paul Walsh enjoying a grip in the centre. And up front, Vaughan remained a tour de force, pointing as did Donncha O’Connor only for the ‘Haven to reply at the opposite end in the gripping fare.
Indeed Duhallow might well had goaled in the 24th min., Eoghan McSweeney turned over the ball, raiding down the centre of the ‘Haven rearguard, a blaster thundered off the crossbar, Vaughan snapped up the rebound to point, Duhallow
ahead 0-7 to 0-4.
Crucially for Castlehaven, they snapped out of their lethargy, Conor Cahalane pointing in quick succession as did Mark Collins for parity. However, a productive spell allowed Duhallow regain the initiative, good work by Vaughan and O’Connor allowed Aidan Walsh bisect the uprights, Anthony O’Connor repeated the dose, Duhallow enjoying a 0-9 to 0-7 grip at the break.
Again, the second half began at a rip roaring pace, a goal right out of the top drawer , Brian Hurley found his brother Michael to show a turn of pace in along the end line and fire home a lead goal for Castlehaven. Though Conor Cahalane added a ‘Haven point, Duhallow fought back with points from Seamus Hickey and Vaughan to point for more stalemate.
For the next 15 minutes, Duhallow enjoyed possession but failed to exploit it due to a combination of poor shooting and wrong decision making. That contrasted to the hungry forays of the men in blue and white, Damien Cahalane, Collins, Hurley and Conor Cahalane mapping out what was good in Castlehaven’s game.
Growing in belief, the ‘Haven outscored Duhallow 0-6 to 0-1, thanks mainly to scoring prowess of the Cahalanes’ and Hurley, Duhallow thankful to ‘keeper Doyle on a brilliant stop to deny David McCarthy.
In fairness, Duhallow’s response to a predicament was impressive, Hickey pointed, at times, some moves had failed to harvest a return yet the game was in the melting pot, a lapse in the Castlehaven rearguard saw alert substitute Darragh Moynihan capitalise for an important goal.
That left a point it, fairly inevitable that Duhallow held the facility to square the issue, doing so on Vaughan obliging to take the game into extra time , the sides finishing at 1-14 apiece after a compelling hour’s football.
Needless to say that both sets of players had expended every ounce of energy, the two teams were out on their feet. Still there was 20 minutes to play, plenty of character and resilience surfacing as the sides traded points to Conor Cahalane and Donncha O’Connor with Duhallow custodian Doyle coming to Duhallow’s rescue with a pair of brilliant save from Hurley.
And into the second period, the ‘ Haven appeared to hold the upperhand after Duhallow indiscretions allowed Collins point back to back frees. Not for the first time, Duhallow weren’t prepared to bow without an impact, wayward shooting created an impact with ‘Haven ‘keper Anthony Seymour dealing capably with Jerry O’Connor’s snap effort.
With scores at a premium, Castlehaven attempted to hold what they had in terms of lead and possession. That backfired after Aidan Walsh turned over the ball for Donncha O’Connor to feed Anthony O’Connor for the easiest of goals.
Now Duhallow were ahead by a single point, play remained in injury time for one last ditch effort. And where there is life, there is hope, Castlehaven moved the ball swiftly to the opposite end, Conor Cahalane performed the business to take the game to a second replay.
Thanks to Castlehaven and Duhallow, rarely has there been a better game.
DUHALLOW: P Doyle (Knocknagree), B Daly (Newmarket), J McLoughlin (Kanturk), K Crowley (Millstreet), L O’Neill (Kanturk), K Buckley (Knocknagree), L McLoughlin (Kanturk), P Walsh (Kanturk), A Walsh (Kanturk) 0-1, F O’Connor (Knocknagree) 0-1, D O’Connor (Ballydesmond) 0-5 (3f), E McSweeney (Knocknagree), A O’Connor (Knocknagree) 1-1, S Hickey (Rockchapel) 0-2, M Vaughan (Millstreet) 0-5 Subs: D Moynihan (Ballydesmond) 1-0 for A O’Connor (39), J O’Connor (Boherbue) for F O’Connor (55), K Cremin (Boherbue) for Vaughan (67 inj), A O’Connor (Knocknagree) for Moynihan (70)
CASTLEHAVEN: A Seymour, R Walsh, D Limrick, C O’Sullivan, J Davis, Damien Cahalane, S Collins, M Collins 0-4f, S Dineen, S Hurley, R Whelton, Darragh Cahalane, C Cahalane 0-4, B Hurley, M Hurley 1-7 Subs: C O’Driscoll 0-2 for S Dineen (h/t), D McCarthy for R Whelton (h/t), C Maguire 0-1 for S Hurley (41), J Walsh for J Davis (53), R Whelton for S Collins (61), J O’Regan for Whelton (66), S Cahalane for O’Driscoll (70), S Nolan for M Hurley (76 inj)
REFEREE: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers)