A tense and thrilling battle throughout – it could have gone either way.
In the end the Jim Ryan Cup is headed to Castlemartyr, but in the closing stages it was anyone’s game in Rostellan on Saturday.
After Jamie Stack’s goal had nudged Castlemaryr four points in front with 13 minutes to go, Carrigtwohill fought back brilliantly.
Two points in two minutes from Mark O’Connor and Daniel Murnane. That cut the Castlemartyr gap to two in their East Cork Junior A FC decider, with seven minutes remaining.
But despite raising the tempo and improving with the ball – they failed to score until Murnane added a free in the 60th minute.
Then Carrigtwohill won another free, with just a minute of injury time left. Castlemartyr protests ensured the distance to goal was shortened.
Murnane, who had made all five of his previous frees, had a chance to secure a replay. But his effort was wide. Carrig reset and regained possession, but time ran out. Their pleas to the referee were fruitless – Castlemartyr were champions for the first time since 1991.
Despite the low-scoring nature, it was a gripping final from start to finish.
Never separated by more than three points in the first half, it was level at 0-2 apiece after 10 minutes. Tied again by the 19th minute, as two scores from Castlemartyr drew parity.
Those two were followed by three more – with all five coming from play. Led by Mike Kelly, who kicked three outstanding efforts as Castlemartyr flourished in their purple patch.
Carrigtwohill got the deficit back to two points by the interval, and by the 37th minute, Castlemartyr’s first-half supremacy had been overturned. After a score each we were level for the fourth time, four minutes later.
That would be it though, as Castlemartyr struck for the game’s only goal.
The ever-present Ciarán Joyce at centre-back intercepted a Carrigtwohill pass. He thundered forward.
Joyce got the pass off to Jack McGann moments before being halted. McGann teed up Barry Lawton.
He sent a ball in across goal – and Jamie Stack was there to get it beyond Trevor English, 1-10 to 0-9. Largest lead of the game, 47 minutes elapsed.
Carrig’s fightback ensured the minimum was all that separated the teams in added time, but they couldn’t get over the line and Castlemartyr prevailed.
J McGann (0-2 f), M Kelly 0-3 each, J Stack 1-0, L Martin 0-2, J Lawton, E Martin 0-1 each.
D Murnane 0-6 (0-5 f), M O’Connor 0-2, S de Búrca, A Rooney, J Horgan, C Barry 0-1 each.
C Whyte; C Martin, E Ronayne, N O’Donovan; B Ó Tuama, C Joyce, J Lawton; D Joyce, D Coughlan; M Kelly, J McGann, L Martin; E Martin, J Stack, B McGann.
Brian Lawton for L Martin, Barry Lawton for Coughlan (both 41), C O’Neill for E Martin, R Black for Stack (both 57).
T English; S Brennan, T Hogan, S Ahern; A Rooney, P Hogan, P O’Sullivan; A Walsh Barry, S de Búrca; C O’Riordan, D Murnane, B Twomey; J Horgan, L O’Sullivan M O’Connor.
C Barry for Twomey (HT), J Oke for O’Riordan (48), P Walsh for L O’Sullivan (51), D Nolan for P O’Sullivan (57), L Kelly O’Regan for O’Connor (60+2).
Willie Wallis (Aghada)
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