Early lead stands Kildorrery in good stead against Clonakilty

IT seemed as if this county IFC Round 1 tie at Brian Dillons Grounds last Sunday was destined to proceed along anticipated lines after Kildorrery burst from the traps to cruise into a five-point lead during the opening seven minutes.

Warmly fancied to make light work of dispatching a Clonakilty side that had struggled at junior level in the Carbery division last season, Kildorrery’s early flourish appeared to confirm the prematch perception that the extent of their winning margin was the only issue to be resolved.

By the end of the first half, however, Kildorrery were fully aware they had a fight on their hands, as Clonakilty showed they were by no means mere lambs for the slaughter once they settled in the second quarter.

Maybe it was a case of Kildorrery resting on their laurels, and it was to appreciate why a certain amount of complacency might have set in following their whirlwind start.

On top in all sectors, they carved out the openings with consummate ease, with James McEniry, Stephen Coughlan, Peter O’Brien (2) and Dave Kelly on target before Jonathan Leahy opened Clonakilty’s account from a free in the 10th minute.

Impressive full forward McEniry quickly restored Kildorrery’s five-point lead, but the trend of the play changed dramatically for the rest of the first half, so much so that the North-Cork men registered just one more score before the break, which came courtesy of midfielder Will Fuohy in the 24th minute.

Clonakilty had cut the gap to two points prior to that, and then they reeled off five on the trot, three of which came from flying corner forward Sean O’Donoghue, to go in at half-time leading by 0-9 to 0-7.

Along with O’Donoghue, Jonathan Leahy, Jack Cowhig and Graham Murray were others to pose problems for the Kildorrery rearguard in the second quarter when Pat O’Sullivan did much to inspire Clonakilty’s resurgence from midfield.

Due to resume with the aid of a strong breeze, Kildorrery would have been expected to regain the initiative on the resumption, and they almost bagged a goal in the 37th minute when Will Fuohy brought the best out of Clonakilty custodian Ritchie Scally.

Shortly afterwards, Jonathan Leahy struck the side-netting with a goal-chance at the other end, and the resultant kick-out led to a snappy Kildorrery raid involving Eamonn O’Connor, James O’Sullivan and Dave Kelly before James McEniry knocked the ball over the line from closerange.

Kildorrery received another let-off in the 40th minute when Jack Cowhig shaved the butt of the upright with a golden opportunity for Clonakilty, but their prospects took on a very rosy hue a minute later, with Peter O’Brien’s probing delivery breaking kindly for Dave Kelly, who sent Tom Monaghan through for their second goal.

Leading by 2-7 to 0-9, Kildorrery were clearly back in the driving seat at that juncture, but, credit to Clonakilty, they refused to throw in the towel having shipped a crippling brace of body-blows in the third quarter.

It would be fair to say the losers competed well for most of the second half, and, on the evidence of this display overall, the club’s decision to move up a grade with their second team has been vindicated.

They certainly gave Kildorrery more than they bargained for, and it wasn’t until the last five minutes that the Avondhu side regained complete control, with Shane Fitzgerald, Michael Walsh, substitute Shane O’Neill and Peter O’Brien slotting over four scores on the trot to put a rather deceptive appearance on the scoreboard at the finish.

Fitzgerald was very much to the fore at midfield in the last quarter, Walsh stood out, particularly in the first half, on the right flank of a defence that seldom inspired complete confidence, while O’Brien, James McEniry and Tom Monaghan made the most telling contributions in a potent attack.