Dohenys edge victory in Crowley Cup final
Dohenys 3-7 O’Donovan Rossa 2-9
With thirteen minutes remaining in this very competitive Tadhgo Crowley Cup senior football final in Clonakilty on Sunday last one wouldn’t have given tuppence for Dohenys’ chances of lifting the trophy. Rossa’s were a point in front after a fine comeback, Dohenys were down to fourteen men and the cup was definitely heading for Skibbereen. However, when your luck is out, it is very hard to win and such was the case with Rossa’s all this season. Battling for survival in senior football with a vital play-off game this weekend, they were again down on their luck last Sunday as Dohenys, sitting safely in the county semi-final, certainly used up a great deal of theirs.
When Rossa’s stretched the lead to two points with a Jurgen Werner free, immediately after the sending off of impressive Doheny midfielder, Sean Farr, the die seemed well and truly cast but as so often happens in fifteen against fourteen, it was the numerically advantaged side which lost its way in the closing stages. Dohenys were thrown a lifeline eight minutes from time when Stephen Collins was foot-blocked in the area and up stepped Ger McCarthy to blast the penalty shot to the Skibb net. Dohenys a point in front but plenty of drama left yet as both sides definitely got the work-out they needed for their next championship outings.
It was backs to the wall stuff for the winners in the closing minutes and when Paul Kearney kicked a fine equaliser in the 55th minute Rossa’s again looked destined to lift the trophy. But this Doheny side doesn’t like to lose and in a rare breakaway Ger McCarthy put them back in front in the 57th minute. It was thrill a minute stuff now and all Rossa’s. A minute from time the inevitable happened and they were awarded a free 35m out from goal. Dissent and the ball was moved ten metres closer, just to the left of goal. Extra time loomed as Jurgen Werner, so often the kicker of some great scores for Rossa’s, stood over the free. Amazingly, he kicked wide and Dohenys breathed a sigh of relief. It still wasn’t over as Rossa’s won the kickout and a free was awarded 50m out in front of goal. Again Werner took the responsibility but this time the ball was skewed way to the right and that was that as the final whistle signalled a great win for the Dunmanway men.
Not to play well and win is a good sign of any team and that about summed up Dohenys’ day. They got a glorious start with a goal after twenty seconds from the hard-working Denis Healy and it was tit for tat after that as Seán Farr swapped points, from two fine frees, with Rob long, free, Paul Kearney and Colin Crowley. Just when Rossa’s, slightly aided by the diagonal breeze, seemed to be getting on top, especially at midfield where Seán Carmody and Niall McCarthy, senior, were much the stronger pair, Dohenys struck for their second goal in the 14th minute. It was the lively Ger McCarthy who set it up with a defence-splitting pass to strong full forward, Daniel O’Donovan, who finished expertly to the net.
Full credit to Rossa’s who immediately set about a recovery. Using midfield as a base and with the Nealons, Kevin Cotter and Flor Crowley doing well in defence, they forced a great save from Doheny keeper Darragh Farr before Jurgen Werner kicked a point and , in the 17th minute, came the goal they richly deserved when Niall McCarthy fielded a great ball and the ensuing move was finished off by Colin Crowley. A Sean Carmody point tied the scores and wing back, Paddy Nealon, had the reds in front for the first time in the 25th minute. It was tough, hard competitive fare as Dohenys regained the initiative before the break and points from a Ger McCarthy free and impressive wing back, John Collins, put them in front again, 2-4 to 1-6, at the interval.
Scoring slowed in the third quarter as both sets of backs got well on top but the crowd was getting value for its money. Ger McCarthy stretched the lead from a free but Jurgen Werner answered for Rossa’s. Again McCarthy pointed a free but the vital score came in the 44th minute when veteran, Frankie McCarthy, was upended in the Doheny square and Rob Long buried the penalty. Rossa’s a point in front entering the last quarter, 2-7 to 2-6.
Dohenys were getting rattled now and their indiscipline was a problem which nearly cost them dearly in the 47th minute when Seán Farr received his marching orders. With both sides anxious to get their hands on the prestigious trophy which honours Clon’s great captain of the Forties, and which was awarded this season for a new-style round robin competition between the senior teams in West Cork, plus Ballincollig, there was a championship fervour about the closing stages with Dohenys surviving and Rossa’s literally kicking it away, as already described.
Paul Deane had a fine outing at full back for Dohenys while the half back line of Mícheál and Timmie O’Donovan and John Collins was their steadiest line. Sean Farr did well at midfield until walking the plank while up front, Ger McCarthy was the scoring ace and Denis Healy did some great ball winning in the vital closing minutes. Patrick McCarthy also worked very hard.
Rossa’s really left this one behind, as their confidence is low at the moment but they had fine performances from Carmody and McCarthy at midfield with the Nealons, Kevin Cotter, Flor Crowley and John O’Sullivan doing well in defence. Up front Rob long threatened at full forward with Rory O’Donovan covering a lot of ground and both Paul Kearney and Colin Crowley showing nice touches.
After the game the Tadhgo Crowley Cup was presented to winning captain, Conor Collins, by Donncha Ó Liatháin, Oifigeach Cultúra, Coiste Chonntae. The teams were later entertained by sponsors, Mick Finn’s Bar, Clonakilty.
Scorers; Dohenys – Ger McCarthy 1-4, 1-0 penalty, 0-3 frees, Daniel O’Donovan, Denis Healy, Seán Farr 0-2, John Collins 0-1. O’Donovan Rossa – Colin Crowley 1-1, Rob Long 1-1, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 free, Jurgen Werner 0-3, 0-1 free, Paul Kearney 0-2, Seán Carmody 0-1, Paddy Nealon 0-1.
Dohenys – Darragh Farr, Conor Collins, Paul Deane, Paudie Murray, John Collins, Mícheál O’Donovan, Timmie O’Donovan, Seán Farr, Pat Collins, Stephen Collins, Patrick McCarthy, Denis Healy, Ger McCarthy, Daniel O’Donovan, Jerry McCarthy. Subs, Noel Collins, Seán Hayes.
O’Donovan Rossa – James McCarthy, Martin Bohane, Kevin Cotter, Eddie Nealon, Niall McCarthy, John O’Sullivan, Flor Crowley, Seán Carmody, Niall McCarthy, Snr., Paul Kearney, Frank McCarthy, Jurgen Werner, Colin Crowley, Rob Long, Rory O’Donovan. Subs, Paddy Nealon, Shane O’Neill, Michael McCarthy.
“Cois Farraige”