Extra-time swings U-21 tussle in favour of Duarigle Gaels

Duarigle Gaels 1-14 O’Donovan Rossa 1-12

DUARIGLE Gaels held out in a nail-biting finish to shade a gritty O’Donovan Rossa in a cracking County U-21 ‘B’ Football Championship semi final in Macroom.

A competitive contest was deadlocked at the end of the hour, tight games come down to small margins and with the pressure at its most intense in extra time, Duarigle Gaels possessed the composure to grab a two point triumph. The Millstreet and Cullen made the brighter beginning on lead points from Cathal Crowley, Padraig Moynihan and Thomas Walsh.

However Rossa managed to find their footing, a physically stronger side lifted their game considerably through the efforts of Eoin Fitzgerald, Jamie Shanahan, Rory Byrne, Dylan Hourihane and Eoghan O’Connell.

Indeed a rejuvenated Rossa buzzed, landing six points without reply from O’Connell, Elliot Connolly, James Shanahan and Kevin Hurley to forge a lead.

Back came Duarigle to break a barren 14 minute run, the industrious Moynihan, Crowley and Colin Walsh on target to ensure stalemate at the break on a 0-8 apiece scoreline. Rossa took up the running upon the restart with points to O’Connell and Hourihane.

However Duarigle’s game took on a new lease of life, greatly encouraged by the play of Tim Healy, Shane Hickey and Darren Kiely in defence with Walsh and Patrick Dineen winning decent ball at midfield. That allowed offensive attacks for Colm O’Leary, Walsh and Crowley point.

Though the scoring dried up during closing 10 minutes, it remained highly competitive, Rossa relying on a Seán Fitzgerald point to tie up the game at 0-11 apiece. And the excitement grew on the restart, a terrific Duarigle move yielded a goal from Neil Flahive.

Back came Rossa, a foul on O’Connell yielded a penalty that Hourihane tucked away neatly for a 1-12 to 1-11 advantage by the end of the first period. A quick turn around, Duarigle gained a new lease of life to dominate, Crowley, Colin O’Leary and Flahive landed the points to secure a passage to the decider against Charleville.

DUARIGLE GAELS: D O’Leary; T Healy, C Hickey, F Cronin; Colm O’Leary 0-1, S Hickey, D Kiely; P Dineen, C Walsh 0-2; T Walsh 0-1, M Twomey, P Moynihan 0-3; J Linehan, C Crowley 0-5f, N Flahive 1-1. Subs: S Fleming for F Cronin, Colin O’Leary 0-1 for T Walsh.

O’DONOVAN ROSSA: P Minihane; P O’Neill, E Fitzgerald, S O’Driscoll; J Shanahan 0-2, D O’Donovan, J Cowap; R Byrne, S Fitzgerald 0-1; D Daly 0-1, K Hurley 0-1, B Crowley; E Connolly 0-1, D Hourihane 1-1 (1-0pen), E O’Connell 0-5 (4f). Subs: A Nott for B Crowley, M O’Sullivan for R Byrne, J Lynch for K Hurley.

REFEREE: K Fury (Cill na Martra)