St Colman’s: 1-17
Inniscarra: 1-16
Adam Lee was the hero for St Colman’s as his last-gasp goal from a free gave his team a one-point victory over Inniscarra in the Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC contest at Cloyne on Wednesday evening.
Inniscarra had looked likely winners for the majority of the game in truth, up four points at half-time and led by two points in added time, but with time up, Lee showed nerves of steel to bury a close range free to keep his side’s chances of qualifying alive.
Inniscarra did finish with 14 players following a second yellow card for Jack Shine in added time, as they will be very frustrated that they didn’t come away with the victory.
St Colman’s, a Cloyne/Russell Rovers combination, had lost the opening game in this Section 1, while Inniscarra won, so it’s now finely poised going into the last round of group games in a couple of weeks’ time.
As a result of Midleton’s win over Youghal, the Magpies are top with four points, as they meet Inniscarra next, with St Colman’s taking on pointless Youghal.
Liam Fitzgerald, St Colman’s, looking to tackle his opposite number Jack Shine of Inniscarra. Picture: Dan Linehan
It was a right ding-dong battle in the early stages between two excellent hurling sides. The first four points were shared evenly before points from Lee and Daniel Walsh gave St Colman’s a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after seven minutes.
The lead wouldn’t last long with Inniscarra, under the guidance of Paul McCarthy, son of Cork hurling legend Gerald McCarthy, just about shading it, three unanswered white flags nudged them ahead with the outstanding James O’Sullivan converting a difficult free, which was the pick of the scores.
A Lee free tied up matters as the game tipped along. Inniscarra held a slender 0-9 to 0-8 advantage before they goaled seven minutes to the break.
Donagh Holland was quickest to react to the dropping ball to fire the ball to the net.
Darragh O’Shea pushed the Muskerry team 1-10 to 0-8 ahead, but St Colman’s would land two of the last three points of the half to trail by four points at the interval. A Lee free and Shane Murtagh with the scores for their team. 1-11 to 0-10 at half-time.
St Colman’s, coached by former Cork hurling goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack, made a fantastic start to the new half. In fact, they dominated the third quarter. In what was a real team effort, the aerial dominance of Tom Cronin and Darragh Cahill in defence also proved key. They hit six of the seven points in the first 15 minutes of the second half to lead 0-16 to 1-12.
St Colman’s coach Donal Óg Cusack shouting on his team against Inniscarra. Picture: Dan Linehan
Darragh Heavin also had a great goal opportunity during that scoring spree, but his low shot was saved smartly by Inniscarra goalkeeper Paddy O’Mahony.
The momentum was with the home side even if the team in blue and white put together three points on the trot from Jack O’Mahony and a pair of O’Sullivan efforts, one coming from a free.
A Daniel Sheehan effort reduced his side’s deficit to a point with a white flag with eight minutes remaining. There would be a lull in the scoring as the game entered a scrappy period. O’Sullivan gave Inniscarra a two-point buffer with a sublime point and it did look like the insurance score a minute into added time.
Jack Shine then picked up a second yellow card as Inniscarra were reduced to 14 players before the majestic Lee stood over a free just outside the 20-metre line after 62 minutes. He drilled it low and hard and somehow the ball managed to sneak into the bottom corner of the net.
There would still be another two minutes of action, but St Colman’s hung on to prevail by a point.
Everything that you want in a championship hurling match, this one delivered it.
Scorers for St Colman’s: A Lee 1-7 (1-5 f), D Walsh 0-3, D Sheehan, S Murtagh, D Heavin 0-2 each, D Cahill 0-1 (65).
Inniscarra: J O’Sullivan 0-9 (0-3 f, 0-1 65), Jack O’Mahony 0-4, D Holland 1-0, James O’Mahony 0-2, D O’Shea 0-1.
ST COLMAN’S: C Williams; C Heavin, T Cronin, C Gleeson; D Cahill, R O’Connell, E Millerick; L Fitzgerald, D Cummins; D Sheehan, S Murtagh, A Noble; D Walsh, A Lee, D Heavin.
INNISCARRA: P O’Mahony; J Dineen, C Herlihy, S Óg Holland; S Brislane, A Heelan, K Keohane; J Shine, C Costelloe; Jack O’Mahony, D Enright, James O’Mahony; D Holland, D O’Shea, J O’Sullivan.
Subs: C Lyons for D O’Shea (39), S O’Leary for C Costelloe (56).
Referee: Tadhg O’Connor (Killeagh).