Charleville edged out Fr O’Neills in County Hurling Championship

THEY were winners by 20 points when the sides clashed in the intermediate semi-final two years ago, but Charleville were put to the pin of their collar to prevail in last Sunday’s PIHC encounter with Fr O’Neills at Pairc Uí Rinn.

While it was always on the cards that Fr O’Neills, buoyed up by their intermediate triumph in 2016, were likely to give a better account of themselves this time, developments in the first half suggested they would again find Charleville much too hot to handle.

The North-Cork side appeared to hold most of the aces as they eased into an 0-7 to 0-2 lead during the opening quarter, with Cork senior Darragh Fitzgibbon sparkling at wing-forward.

Danny O’Flynn showed up well too on the ‘40, while Charleville looked very solid at the back where Jack Buckley manned the pivotal berth with assurance, and Alan Dennehy kept a tight rein on Fr O’Neills talismanic full-forward Declan Dalton.

Dennehy was ably assisted by his flankers Darren Butler and Finbarr Cagney, as Fr O’Neills’ decision to operate with just two inside forwards – Dalton and Billy Dunne – threatened to backfire badly.

With 20 minutes gone, Charleville were 0-9 to 0-3 to the good after Darragh Fitzgibbon, displaying remarkable ball-control to make headway up the left wing, posted a spectacular point, and everything appeared to be shaping up nicely for the 2015 intermediate champions at that juncture.

Two minutes later, however, Fr O’Neills received a badly-needed boost when wing forward Cillian Broderick, who filled the role of a third midfielder, ghosted behind the Charleville cover to take a pass from Declan Dalton and shoot a stunning goal.

It was 0-10 to 1-4 after Dalton and Charleville’s Mark Kavanagh exchanged points from frees before half time, and Fr O’Neills ‘keeper Paudie Higgins was called upon to make a fine save from Andrew Cagney shortly after the restart.

Aided by scores from Danny O’Flynn and Cagney, Charleville remained three points in front before they squandered a golden opportunity to deliver a crippling blow to Fr O’Neills’ prospects when O’Flynn failed to connect on a ground ball with a goal at his mercy nearing the three-quarter mark.

Although Fr O’Neills wing back Daniel Harrington fared out better on Darragh Fitzgibbon in the second half, the latter showed his class to slot over a couple of excellent points, which allowed Charleville to lead by 0-14 to 1-7 after 44 minutes.

At that stage, however, the tide was clearly flowing against Charleville, and, in truth, Fr O’Neills looked by far the more convincing side in the last quarter.

Their defence established firm control, while Cillian Broderick exerted a major influence around the middle, leading to a generous service to an attack in which Declan Dalton, Eoin Conway, Kevin O’Sullivan and especially Billy Dunne worked tirelessly to nullify Charleville’s numerical advantage at the back.

While much of Fr O’Neills’ good work went unrewarded due to faulty finishing, which saw them accumulate seven wides, six more than Charleville, in the second half, they still managed to erase the deficit after Kevin O’Sullivan landed an inspirational point from a sideline ball in the 54th minute

They looked well-equipped to drive on to victory on the run-in, but the game’s turning-point arrived a minute later when Billy Dunne’s effort to nudge them ahead with an easy chance dropped short, and the resultant counter-attack yielded a Charleville goal from Andrew Cagney after Gavin Kelleher and James Kennedy had combined to create the opening.

That Cagney’s strike came against the run of the play is beyond dispute, and, taking everything into account, perhaps it wouldn’t be too wide of the mark to suggest that Charleville were allowed off the hook on this occasion.

Even after Cagney quickly added a point to make 1-15 to 1-11, Charleville couldn’t afford to breathe easily, and the issue would have been back in the melting-pot if Declan Dalton’s cracking drive from a close-in free wasn’t deflected outside the posts in the closing minutes.

Kevin O’Sullivan converted the ensuing ‘65 before Danny O’Flynn popped over what amounted to the insurance score for Charleville, who were obviously relieved to hear the final whistle after a Declan Dalton goal left Fr O’Neills snapping at their heels deep in stoppage time.

Dalton was on hand to apply the finish after Charleville ‘keeper Cian Collins proved equal to a rasper from Cillian Broderick, but it was a case of too little too late for the gallant Ladysbridge / Ballymacoda outfit.