Barryroe GAA

11 June, 2024

Match Report by Denis Hurley of Echo 11/06/2024

Carbery bounce back well to see off Duhallow but victory may not be enough

If it was to be their last outing in the divisions and colleges section of the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC, Carbery at least ensured that they went out with a win at Coachford on Tuesday evening. Beaten by nine point by Muskerry a week ago, the south-western side responded superbly as they had 15 to spare on a Duhallow playing their first game. While the beaten outfit were lacking manpower, Carbery also had noticeable changes from their opener but they put together a fine display. However, a scoring difference of six after this means that Carbery still trail Muskerry and would need a favour from Duhallow in a fortnight to go through to the second stage if the three sides were level on points. The situation is clearer for Muskerry as the avoidance of defeat, or even a narrow loss, would be enough. Benefiting from whatever advantage was provided by the breeze in the opening half – and having a game under their belts – Carbery had amassed a seven-point lead by half-time, 1-11 to 0-7.

They will probably feel that such a margin could even have been greater as they retired having registered ten wides and one of those could easily have been a goal, Shane Murnane with a batted effort off-target following Gearóid O’Donovan’s driving run at the Duhallow defence. That was in the ninth minute with the score at 0-2 each but, though Luke Philpott put Duhallow in front for the first time after that, Carbery roared back with an unanswered 1-5. Brian O’Donovan and Eoghan Ferguson were especially dangerous in attack - they would finish with 2-7 and 0-5 respectively - as they moved 0-6 to 0-3 in front, though they were fortunate as Cian Murphy did well to keep out a low Philpott effort from a free. In the 19th minute, Carbery moved six in front as Pádraig O’Sullivan linked with Shane Murnane, whose high delivery was well-claimed by O’Donovan before he turned and shot to the net. Ferguson’s second point made it 1-7 to 0-3 before Philipott ended ten scoreless minutes for Duhallow.

Even so, the north-western side couldn’t sufficiently eat into the deficit before half-time and, though Carbery were less than ruthlessly efficient, two good Ferguson points and one from Conall Cullinane sent them in in a commanding position. While Duhallow’s Rory King had the first score of the second half, it was not the signal for a fightback and instead Carbery further strengthened their dominance. They had a second goal on 33 minutes as Ferguson’s low diagonal ball allowed Brian O’Donovan to fire home again, with Gearóid O’Donovan following with a point for a 2-12 to 0-8 lead. Ferguson continued to present a threat inside, adding a point and twice going close to a goal, denied by a James McAuliffe block and then shooting wide after doing brilliantly to create an opening. Duhallow had a half-chance of a goal on 49, Carbery goalkeeper Michael Whelton saving from Philpott, but any lingering doubts about the outcome were extinguished as Cullinane, who had hit two lovely second-half points, crashed home a third goal. That left it 3-16 to 0-12 and they pushed on further in the latter stages to leave themselves with a glimmer of a chance of advancing to the second phase.

Scorers for Carbery: B O’Donovan 2-7 (0-4f), C Cullinane 1-3, E Ferguson 0-5 G O’Donovan 0-3, J Lucey 0-2.

Duhallow: L Philpott 0-5 (0-4f), J O’Callaghan 0-3, R King, B Murphy 0-2 each, H O’Connor, E Murphy 0-1 each.

CARBERY: M Whelton (Barryroe); R Scanlon (St Mary’s), S O’Riordan (Barryroe), C Murphy (Kilbree); D Collins (Randal Óg), P Collins (Randal Óg), N Hilliard (Diarmuid Ó Mathúna); E Ryan (Clonakilty), S Murnane (St Colum’s); P O’Sullivan (Randal Óg), G O’Donovan (Diarmuid Ó Mathúna), C Cullinane (Ballinascarthy); B O’Donovan (Ballinascarthy), E Ferguson (Ballinascarthy), J Lucey (Diarmuid Ó Mathúna). Subs: R Lucey (Diarmuid Ó Mathúna) for Hilliard (37), C O’Neill (Randal Óg) for Ferguson (47-49, temporary), O’Neill for Scanlon (50), E Galvin (Kilbrittain) for Ferugson (60, injured).

DUHALLOW: S McAuliffe (Newmarket); J McAuliffe (Banteer), M O’Keeffe (Meelin), C Murphy (Castlemagner); A Coughlan (Banteer), C O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), C King (Kilbrin); T Sheehan (Millstreet), H O’Connor (Newmarket); J O’Callaghan (Meelin), L Philpott (Banteer), E Murphy (Dromtarriffe); R King (Kilbrin), B Murphy (Dromtarriffe), D O’Keeffe (Newmarket).

Sub: J Harrington (Kilbrin) for C Murphy (39).

Referee: B Barry-Murphy (Aghabullogue).