Grenagh drop to Junior football for 2020 after play-off defeat to Adrigole

Adrigole 0-16 Grenagh 1-8

GRENAGH’S intermediate footballers will look to erase 2019 from their consciousness after the mid-Cork side failed to make a winning showing in the County IFC campaign.

From their opening day loss to Glanmire and on to a hard fought but ultimately disappointing battle with St Finbarr’s, Grenagh have been on the back foot since this season began with last Sunday’s loss to Adrigole the final nail in what has been an impressive stint in Cork intermediate football.

Heading into last weekend all contenders knew that it would be two to go down from Adrigole, Grenagh and Youghal - meaning that only the side that could win both relegation games would survive. It was as simple as that.

Grenagh, as always, were able to call upon the likes of Tom Kenny, DD Dorgan and Paul Barry-Murphy, however yet again last weekend they found the opposition too hot to handle.

From the off Grenagh were up against it here as two points from David Harrington and one from Kevin Jer O’Sullivan had the Beara side three in front with just over five on the clock.

Barry-Murphy hit back for the vanquished side bagging a brace as this one headed into the second quarter too close to call.

Harrington, Kevin Goggin and O’Sullivan all found the posts in the next 10 minutes before Jason and David Harrington pushed them five out as the game headed for the short whistle.

Barry-Murphy again pointed for Grenagh and they went in at the turn down by four, 0-8 to 0-4.

Grenagh needed a good start to the second period if they were going to drag this one from the mire but unfortunately for the men in yellow it was their opponents that would restart best with a quick point.

Credit to Grenagh they didn’t buckle and DD Dorgan’s brace of points by 37 minutes had this one down to three and still well in the melting pot.

Grenagh suffered a blow soon after when defender Liam Walsh was sent for an early shower which turned the game even more in Adrigole’s favour with three points looking to all but end the game as a contest.

Again Grenagh showed their metal with a quick 1-1 cutting the margin down to a much more manageable two points.

Dorgan’s point and Barry-Murphy’s goal meant that Grenagh were still in this one heading into the last 10 minutes but ultimately being short one man at the back would tell for Grenagh who had to accept on the day that the better team won the day.

Adrigole will now face up to Youghal with the losers of that final relegation game joining Grenagh in the drop, while for Grenagh, a winter of contemplation and re-organisation is on the cards as the Muskerry men look to bounce back with a more competitive, and hopefully successful, season in 2020.

ADRIGOLE: W O’Sullivan; C O’Shea, C O’Neill, D Harrington; F Carey, S O’Shea, K O’Sullivan; J Harrington 0-2, N O’Sullivan; AJ O’Sullivan, KJ O’Sullivan 0-6 (4f), S O’Sullivan; K Goggin 0-4, D Harrington 0-4, C Carey. Subs: C O’Shea for AJ O’Sullivan (30), R O’Sullivan for S O’Sullivan (46), D Crowley for D Harrington (50), J O’Sullivan for KJ O’Sullivan (60).

GRENAGH: R Dorgan; A Kiely, P McCarthy, A Duggan; J O’Neill, K O’Neill, L Walsh; C O’Sullivan, G Russell; U Duggan 0-1, T Walsh, S Dorgan; DD Dorgan 0-4 (1f), P Barry-Murphy 1-3 (2f), T Kenny. Subs: S Burke for A Duggan (29)K Cummins for C O’Sullivan (45).

REFEREE: C Egan (Clyda Rovers)