Substitute O’Brien dashes Ballydesmond hopes with late winner

COUNTY IFC Kinsale 2-9 Ballydesmond 1-9 A VISIT to Carrigadrohid brought disappointment for Ballydesmond on incurring a last gasp concession of a goal to Kinsale in a dramatic conclusion to the opening round to the County Intermediate Football Championship last Sunday.

Indeed it proved a fairytale finish for substitute Seán O’Brien just on the field got the crucial goal with the last action of the game. With extra time looming, Kinsale switched the ball around, Richard O'Sullivan fed Barry Gray whose inviting delivery was met by O'Brien to pounce and goal.

The defeat was cruel luck on Ballydesmond who contributed positively to the contest. Improving on more recent performances, the Duhallow side brought as much energy and enthusiasm to the proceedings as they could muster.

Indeed a brave comeback yielded a scoring burst for Ballydesmond and the keen tussle looked destined for extra time. However, looking ahead to another 20 minutes of action, Ballydesmond’s optimistic hopes turned to despair on O’Brien surfacing to allow Kinsale celebrate a long awaited championship win after losing five games last season culminating on relegation from premier to ordinary intermediate level.

From a panel game, substitutes proved key to Kinsale on amassing a telling 13 tally. Kinsale had got off to a dream start from points to Gearoid Finn and Alan Gould. The Duhallow side settled to harness neat attacking play for Neil O'Sullivan and Donncha O'Connor gather parity.

Those scores encouraged Duhallow to increase the offensive and shade matters on the scoreboard with O'Connor in superb shooting form. Back came Kinsale, their cause boosted by the encouraging play of O'Sullivan and Michael Murphy, well supported by Finn and Brian Coughlan.

Upfront, Kinsale showed predatory instincts, availing of opportunism for Conor O'Brien to goal to enjoy a 16 to 0-6 grip at the break. Ballydesmond attempted a recovery on the change of ends, close to goaling yet they fell further adrift from Kinsale points to Coughlan and Jack Gould. The Duhallow rallied strongly, Jerry Healy, Shaun Murp h y , O'Sullivan and O'Connor shouting ample encouragement.

Their persistency gained reward in the 52nd min on Paudie Breen blasting home an unstoppable effort to the Kinsale net. That confirmed a new determination to Ballydemond's game, substitute Sean O'Sullivan and O'Connor hoisting over delightful points to square the tussle

The momentum appeared to lay with Ballydesmond yet it all changed in those closing minutes, Kinsale substitue O'Brien emerging the hero to win it at the death. KINSALE: C Hackett; N McCarthy, L Kiely; W O’Hea, C Lane,C Quigley; J Wright, R O’Sullivan 0-1; M Cronin, M Coughlan, C O’Brien 1-0, B Gray, D Murphy 0-2, A Gould 0-1, G Finn 0-2 Subs: B Coughlan 0-2 for Finn (ht), M O’Sullivan for Lane (40), J Gould 01 for M Coughlan (40), M Eaton for O’Brien (48), S O’Brien 1-0 for Murphy (57) BALLYDESMOND: F O’Sullivan; T Howard, J Healy, Donal O’Connor; Donal Kelly, Denis Kelly, C Linehan, S Murphy, S Cronin, N O’Leary, R Flynn, Donncha O’Connor 0-5 (0-1f); N Fleming 0-1, N O’Sullivan 0-2, S Kelly Subs: J Kearney for D Kelly b/c 12), P Breen 1-0 for O’Leary (ht), B O’Callaghan for Cronin (38), S O’Sullivan 0-1 for Flynn (53), J Dunlea for D O’Connor (56). REFEREE: JJ Murphy (Kilmurry)