St Finbarr’s 1-13 (1-0-13)
Clonakilty 1-12 (1-1-10)
St Finbarr’s eked out a hard-earned victory over Clonakilty for the second time in three weeks in an entertaining McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC encounter at Charlie Hurley Park in Bandon on Saturday evening.
After winning the Division 1 league trophy at the start of the month against the Brewery Town, the city outfit navigated another battle, but this was the real stuff in the opening game in Group 2.
Brian Roche’s charges recovered from a slow start to prevail here in what was a team performance that underlined St Finbarr’s quality.
Star man Steven Sherlock did kick 0-6 (0-4 f, 0-1 45), but he was overall well marshalled by Maurice Shanley. William Buckley popped up with three sweet points while there were also big displays from the likes of Billy Hennessy, Alan O’Connor and Jamie Burns in defence.
Cork hurlers Brian Hayes and Ethan Twomey both started here having been named as subs on the programme.
Steven Sherlock of St Finbarr’s kicks a free against Clonakilty. Picture: Jim Coughlan
It’s another case of fine margins going against Clonakilty in Bandon, as they now have to regroup.
Twomey was involved from the off when he was involved in a great Barrs move that also involved Conor Dennehy and Ian Maguire, but the latter’s well struck effort from close range was expertly saved by Clonakilty goalkeeper Mark White.
The stop proved crucial, as the Brewery Town pointed from an acute angle through Ross Mannix and goaled after three minutes when Conor Daly finished to the net after St Finbarr’s failed to clear their lines.
St Finbarr’s had the lion’s share of possession, but were struggling to penetrate a resolute Clon defence.
Buckley did fist over a point after five minutes, but it was a frustrating opening for them. A pair of frees through Conor Dennehy and Sherlock did leave a point in it after 12 minutes, as they were slowly finding their feet.
Hayes could only find the side netting in what was a great opportunity for the Barrs of a goal, but they did draw parity when Buckley landed his second, 0-4 to 1-1 after the first quarter.
A trademark Sherlock 45 handed his team the advantage for the first time, but it was short lived. In a game that ebbed and flowed, three successive white flags from the Brewery Town gave them a two-point buffer. David Lowney, Seán White and Darragh Gough with the scores.
Tom Clancy of Clonakilty wins the ball against St Finbarr’s. Picture: Jim Coughlan
Daly could and should have scored Clonakilty’s second goal after 28 minutes, but it was a nice height for the St Finbarr’s netminder Darragh Newman. A minute later, the Barrs got the green flag they were craving when Conor Dennehy finished smartly into the bottom corner of the net, the Togher outfit back ahead, 1-5 to 1-4.
In keeping with an opening 30 minutes where both defences were on top, Daly did draw Clon level, 1-5 each at half-time.
On the resumption, it was a case of wayward shooting on both sides, until Seán White nudged the West Cork team in front five minutes into the new half.
The sides then traded points with the game firmly on a knife-edge with Clon having their noses in front by the bare minimum.
St Finbarr’s did land two of the next three points with Sherlock kicking two frees to draw level at 1-8 apiece after 43 minutes.
William Buckley of St Finbarr’s goes past Chris Kenneally and Ross Mannix of Clonakilty. Picture: Jim Coughlan
A Buckley effort and another Sherlock free opened up a two-point lead for the Barrs as they were now very much enjoying a purple patch. Further points from sub Fionn Crowley and Sherlock from play gave their side their biggest advantage so far, 1-12 to 1-8 after 52 minutes.
A Gough free and a two-point free from Dara Ó Sé left Clonakilty just a point adrift with five minutes to go.
A couple of Sherlock two-point efforts from frees drifted wide, as their opposition remained in the game going into added time.
The sides traded points with the Barrs 1-13 to 1-12 ahead. Luke Griffin did have a chance to level it, but it dropped short.
Scorers for St Finbarr’s: S Sherlock 0-6 (0-4 f, 0-1 45), C Dennehy 1-1, W Buckley 0-3, J Wigginton-Barrett 0-2, F Crowley 0-1.
Clonakilty: C Daly 1-1, D Gough 0-4 (0-1 f), D Ó Sé (1 2pt f), S White 0-2 each, R Mannix, S McEvoy, D Lowney 0-1 each.
ST FINBARR’S: D Newman; B Hennessy, A O’Connor, S Ryan; B O’Connell, J Burns, E Dennehy; I Maguire, E Twomey; W Buckley, C Doolan, C Dennehy; J Wigginton-Barrett, S Sherlock, B Hayes.
Subs: F Crowley for B O’Connell (45), R Barrett for C Dennehy (50), L Hannigan for B Hayes (53), C Barrett for W Buckley (56).
CLONAKILTY: M White; C Kenneally, D Darragh, D Lowney; M Shanley, T Clancy, J O’Mahony; B Ridgeway, D Ó Sé; S McEvoy, S White, R Mannix; D Gough, C Daly, L Griffin.
Subs: –
Referee: Conor Lane (Banteer).