Newcestown 1-13

Clonakilty 1-14

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

CLONAKILTY returned to winning ways with a narrow Division 1 victory away to Newcestown.

Having lost to Knocknagree and drawn with Castlehaven in their previous two league games, Clon picked up two points here, but were pushed all the way by a Newcestown team that were unbeaten before this tie on Saturday.

There was little between the teams in a game where Clon dominated the first half and Newcestown the second. The latter fell short to a Conor Daly injury-time winner and after Richard O’Sullivan’s even later free had trailed inches wide.

As well as a vibrant full-forward line consisting of Conor Daly, Darragh Gough and Sean McEvoy, the tactic of deploying goalkeeper Mark White to midfield for opposing kick-outs also made a difference for Clon, especially during a dominant first-half performance.

Credit to Newcestown, inspired by Cárthach Keane’s second-half introduction, who fought back impressively and could have taken a share of the spoils or even won.

Clonakilty goalkeeper Mark White is tackled by Newcestown's Seamus O'Sullivan. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

‘We showed great character,’ Clonakilty coach Eoin Ryan said.

‘I thought we were very impressive in the first half, but, in the second half, we didn’t start it well. They came back into it and took the lead. We kept at it, and, you know, Newcestown is a tough place to come to. We are delighted with the win.’

Newcestown manager Jim O’Sullivan said: ‘At half time, I didn’t think we had played well in the first half.  Clonakilty taught us a lesson with their movement and their scoring.

‘We stepped it up in the second half. When you look at it, beaten by a point and our second-half performance, we will take something out of it. The first half (performance) let us down.’

Turnovers saw Conor Daly and Micheál McSweeney net goals at either end inside the opening six minutes. Things settled down after that high-octane start. Clon dominated and moved 1-4 to 1-0 ahead via Darragh Gough (two), Dara Ó Sé and Brian White points before James Burrows ended a 16-minute Newcestown scoring drought.

Humphrey Canty and Ó Sé exchanged scores before converted Daly and Ó Sé frees extended Clon’s lead to five. It was 1-7 to 1-3 at the interval after Colm Dineen reduced the deficit.

Clonakilty's Conor Daly cuts inside Newcestown's James Kelleher to score his sides opening goal. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Cárthach Keane’s half-time introduction had an immediate effect on Newcestown’s fortunes. The veteran split the posts before curling over a superb two-pointer. Seán O’Donovan added another two-point score and a rampant Newcestown led 1-8 to 1-7 at the 35-minute mark.

Their opponents steadied the ship when Ross Mannix and Darragh Gough split the posts.

Back came Newcestown with Humphrey Canty and Cárthach Keane (free) scores, the second for a Clonakilty three-up infringement, making it 1-10 to 1-9.

A tough, physical battle never relented into the closing stages and into injury-time.

Mannix and Gough edged Clon back in front only for Daire McAree to level the score for a fifth time. Sean McEvoy and Cárthach Keane (free) swapped points prior to Clon’s Brian White making it 1-13 to 1-12.

Tadhg Twomey’s well-worked point looked to have earned the hosts a draw until Conor Daly’s injury-time winner settled this local encounter.

Scorers 

Newcestown: Cárthach Keane 0-5 (1 2pt, 2f); Micheál McSweeney 1-0; Seán O’Donovan (2pt), Humphrey Canty 0-2 each; James Burrows, Colm Dineen, Daire McAree, Tadhg Twomey 0-1 each.

Clonakilty: Conor Daly 1-2 (1f); Darragh Gough 0-4; Dara Ó Sé 0-3 (1f); Brian White, Ross Mannix 0-2 each; Sean McEvoy 0-1.

Newcestown: Christopher White; James Kelleher, Colm O’Donovan, Gavin Kelleher; James Burrows, Micheál McSweeney (captain), Colm Dineen; Seán O’Donovan, Eoghan Collins; Daire McAree, Richard O’Sullivan, Joe Kenneally; Seamus O’Sullivan, Tadhg Twomey, Humphrey Canty.

Subs: Cárthach Keane for G Kelleher (ht), Ciarán O’Donovan for J Kenneally (40, inj).

Clonakilty: Mark White (captain); Dan Darragh, Dan Peet, David Lowney; Jack O’Mahony, Thomas Clancy, Chris Kenneally; Brian White, Ben Ridgeway; Ross Mannix, Dara Ó Sé, Des Kenneally; Sean McEvoy, Conor Daly, Darragh Gough.

Subs: Cian Ryan for D Kenneally (44), Matt Murphy for T Clancy (57, blood), Tom Clancy for M Murphy (61).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).