A disappointing conclusion to our East Cork Championship ambitions for 2014, as Cobh advanced to the final in monsoon like conditions in Carrigtwohill on Saturday 9th August.
Carraig started the game well, with early points from Cian Dorgan and John Forde giving us an early lead. A dominance of possession was not being reflected fully on the scoreboard however and a number of poor wides were to prove costly later on. Cobh got their challenge back on track with an early goal, their full forward allowed too much room to advance along the end line and bury to the net after 8 minutes. Worse was to follow just 5 minutes later, as a long range free was dropped and pounced on to give Cobh their second major and a 2-01 to 0-02 lead, as conditions began to deteriorate. Carraig replied with another brace of points, but scores were proving hard to come by for both teams,as Cobh hit their first point from play after 20 minutes. Carraig continued to dominate the possession, a great move down the right wing lead to Martin Hickey unleashing a powerful shot which rattled the crossbar and bounced 20 yards clear. At the other end, another goal arrived for Cobh, a partially blocked shot fell to their corner forward and he made no mistake. Timmy Geaney added a 65 just before the break, but having made most of the running, Carraig trailed 3-02 to 0-05 at the interval.
The second half began in heavier rain and both sides battled hard in difficult conditions. Scores were at a premium, three wides in the first 10 minutes before Colm O’Reilly had Carraigs opening score of the half. The floodlights were switched on and both defences began to dominate. Another 10 minutes passed before the next score, a crucial one for Carraig, as Con Burns long delivery slipped into the net, 3-02 to 1-07, game on. A point followed and the gap was down to the minimum. Cobh responded in great fashion, getting their first score of the half, before John Forde hit an excellent free for Carraig to reduce the margin again to a single point once again. Cobh worked another well taken point and again John Forde was on target, but this was to be Carraigs last point. As time ran out, Cobh added two late frees and defended brilliantly, while Carraig struggled to get the scores required to turn the game around in the dying moments.
Final score Cobh 2-05 Carraig na bhFear 1-08. Credit to both teams for a fine game in difficult conditions. Carraig will look bag on a number of missed chances and wonder what might have been, but Cobh deservedly advanced to the final having bagged three crucial goals in the first half and for their excellent defending throughout the game. They’ll face Castlemartyr or Sarsfields in the final and we wish them the best of luck.
Team:
C. Hegarty
D.Coleman, S.Horgan, James Forde;
P.Geaney, T.Geaney, B.Hegarty;
A.Hegarty, C.Burns;
P.O’Keeffe, M.Hickey, C.Dorgan;
P.Murphy, A.Dorgan, John Forde
Subs Used:
C.O’Reilly for P.O’Keeffe (HT)
J.Meehan for A.Dorgan (inj)