Junior D Football Championship Semi-Final
Dohenys: 1-8 Carbery Rangers: 1-5
Dynamic Dave does the business for determined Dohenys! With the nationwide pork scare permeating the topical talk prior to this enjoyable South West junior D football penultimate joust between Dohenys and Carbery Rangers at sun –kissed Rosscarbery on Sunday morning last, it was obvious that it would take something special to satisfy a diluted football appetite. It duly arrived in the shape of a virtuoso performance of vintage quality from diminutive Dohenys midfielder Dave Collins who proved master of all he surveyed around the midfield fulcrum, and this vital advantage allied to an upping of the second half tempo from the Dunmanway boys, eventually unhinged a spirited home fifteen in the closing quarter.
Not that this was an easy passage for Dohenys, far from it. For long periods of the match Rangers performed creditably, but the overall fitness of the visitors was crucial and when one considers that home goalie Robbie Aherne brought off some splendid saves, one on each side of the interval from Seán O’Sullivan being particularly spectacular, then, on the balance of play the honours went where they belonged.
It many respects it proved a game of phases with first one side, then the other, having periods of dominance.Dohenys got off to a dream commencement and had two early points on the board, courtesy of the industrious John Healy and the lively Jeremy Moloney, Dave Collins instrumental in setting up both. Then, after Rosscarbery squandered three glorious scoring opportunities, it was a case of fourth time lucky in the 11th minute. Michael Walsh, who worked hard in an often beleaguered home midfield zone parted to eager beaver John Fitzpatrick. A neat delivery to powerful full forward Philip Moore who gave the dependable Brendan Lehane no chance with a deft flick to the roof of the net. Spurred on by this tonic score, John Fitzpatrick added a lovely point in the 13th minute following marvellous defending at the other end by James Cussen who was a tower of strength in the last line of defence.
But in common with most of the match, the pendulum of supremacy quickly swung in the opposite direction. Again Moloney obliged with his second point at the close of the first quarter when he booted first time on the leather, after good work by Martin Collins and Niall Hurley. Then, followed a great solo foray by Dave Collins and when he was hauled down in transit, the accurate John Healy made no mistake from close range. Both sides were inclined to overplay resulting in good moves breaking down. However, a John Fitzpatrick point augmented by a Kieran Fitzpatrick free (who was very impressive in the opening half), had Rangers two to the good again. When Moore added a further score in the 23rd minute, it read 1-4 to 0-4. But the portents indicated that the Dohenys attack always was a threat and this theory was vindicated when they goaled in the 25th minute to level matters again.
John Healy had a bullet of a drive saved by Robbie Aherne and when the ball rebounded outfield it was returned with interest by Alan Ring in a crowded goalmouth. John Healy added a free and the town lads were ahead again, 1-5 to 1-4.Just prior to the break Aherne made a fabulous save to deny Seán O’Sullivan.Dohenys made two switches at the interval introducing Seán Sheehan and Brian Collins into the full forward line where they were joined by Martin Collins after the resumption. It was the turn of Brian Lehane to earn his spurs in the 31st minute as Kieran and John Fitzpatrick combined for the latter to really test the Dohenys custodian who was equal to the challenge. Philip Moore did point a free in the 37th minute but it proved the Rangers scoring swansong, as they failed to bisect the opposition posts again for the remainder of the game.Dohenys finished on a high with a neat point by Dave Collins and two excellent scores by substitute Brian Collins. In fact, the home side were forced to play out the last five minutes with fourteen men, Killian O’Riordan sidelined after picking up a second yellow card. At the long blast on able match official Kevin O’Donovan from Kilmeen’s whistle, Dohenys had emerged deserving victors, albeit by a narrow margin.
Our verdict: Dohenys now meet Bantry in the decider and if they show the positive and precision football they exhibited for much of this spirited encounter, they will push their opponents to the limit. However, one area of concern could be the full forward line as they got little scoring reward during the course of the match in this department. Rangers, shorn of the services of some key players gave it their all. But in the closing half while the spirit was willing and the flesh far from weak, they seemed to run out of steam somewhat as a more cohesive and co-ordinated Dohenys wore them down and picked off the winning points. This scoring ability allied to the magnificence of Dave Collins at midfield and fine defending in the closing stages by veteran John Galvin, James McCarthy and Diarmuid Crowley in the full-back division, proved the slight difference between two sporting teams on a perfect morning for football.
Man of the match, Dave Collins, Dohenys.
Scorers-Dohenys: Alan Ring 1-0, John Healy 0-3, 0-2 from frees, Jeremy Moloney 0-2, Brian Collins 0-2, Dave Collins 0-1.
Carbery Rangers: Philip Moore 1-2, 0-1 from free, John Fitzpatrick 0-2, Kevin Fitzpatrick 0-1 from free.
Dohenys: Brendan Lehane, James McCarthy, John Galvin, Diarmuid Crowley, Stephen Cronin, William O’Brien, Alan Ring, Dave Collins, Niall Hurley, John Healy, Jeremy Moloney, Seán O’Sullivan, John Lynch, Martin Collins, James Collins.
Subs, Brian Collins for James Collins, Seán Sheehan for John Lynch.
Carbery Rangers: Robbie Aherne, Michael Cussen, Liam McCarthy, Donal Santry, Paudie O’Donovan, Killian O’Riordan, Dan Harte, Michael Walsh, Seán McCarthy, Kieran Fitzpatrick, Denis Calnan, Barry O’Hea, Mark Tobin, Philip Moore, John Fitzpatrick.
Subs, Niall Fitzpatrick for Donal Santry, Shane Fitzpatrick for Denis Calnan.
‘West Cork Gael’