O'Donoghue the hero as Inniscarra crowned Cork Junior A champions
Scenes: O'callaghan Win The Ballygarvan Aloft Their John Linehan After Joyous Pic: Holding Over Trophy Captain Inniscarra Dan
A second-half stoppage time goal in a packed goalmouth from captain and corner-back John O’Callaghan in the 62nd minute, followed by an outrageous point from a free by Cork hurler Seán O’Donoghue four minutes later snatched victory for Inniscarra from the jaws of defeat in the Cork JAFC final in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.
A first title too for the mid-Cork side appearing in their first final, who it must be said looked to be heading for defeat.
At this point, we must spare a thought for Ballygarvan - also seeking an inaugural title - who led this contest all the way to those incredible closing moments.
The victory completes three-in-a-row victories for Muskerry teams.
Ballygarvan started much brighter with Seán Brady and Daniel Mackey combining to yield a goal after a mere 14 seconds. The green flag came straight from the throw-in with Brady both the instigator and finisher.
Brady’s influence was a telling factor as the South-east champions continued on the front foot.
While it took 11 minutes for their next score, Evan O’Connor showed his skill twice to give his side a 1-2 to nil lead after a quarter of an hour.
As well, Seán O’Donovan’s timely block was vital as Inniscarra went looking for an opening score.
With the wind behind them, it might have taken a while but when they did find their scoring touch they grabbed a brace through Liam O’Connor (free) and Shay Dineen in the 21st and 22nd minutes.
Ballygarvan pressed ahead again with Brady pushing the lead to four.
In the five minutes before half-time, Seán O’Donoghue and Ray O’Halloran exchanged points to leave it 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.
David O’Keeffe clearance to safety from the Inniscarra danger area was needed too.
The second half got underway with a Seán O’Donoghue point.
But Inniscarra, desperately looking for a way back into the contest, gave away a free to Evan O’Connor in the 35th minute.
There was no score for the next 15 minutes, crucially when it did arrive it went the way of Ballygarvan’s Dylan O’Connor, 1-6 to 0-4.
In the 10 minutes of regulation that remained, Inniscarra’s number five David O’Keeffe reduced the gap to three points.
That gap remained right up to the end of normal time. The rest is history.
Thirty-six-year-old captain John O’Callaghan, who survived a concussion protocol last weekend, accepted the Donal O’Sullivan Cup amid huge scenes of jubilation.
J O’Callaghan (1-0), S O’Donoghue (0-3, 0-1 free), D O’Keeffe (0-2), S Dineen and L O’Connor (free) (0-1 each).
S Brady (1-1), E O’Connor (0-3 frees), R O’Halloran and D O’Connor (0-1 each).
D Kelleher; J O’Callaghan (Capt), L Ryan, C Dineen; D O’Keeffe, T Lyons, D Keane; S Sheehan, D Coughlan; F Horgan, S O’Donoghue, J O’Dwyer; S Dineen, D O’Connell, L O’Connor.
M McLoughlin for S Sheehan (42), D O’Sullivan for S Dineen (46), C Lynch for D O’Connell (55), J Hayes for J O’Dwyer (58), T Murphy for D Coughlan (60).
G White; P Ryan, R O’Leary, Z Davidson; S Fenton, M O’Mahony, S O’Donovan; S Brady, P O’Halloran; D O’Mahony, C O’Regan, N Dowd; E O’Connor, R O’Halloran (Capt), D Mackey.
J Fenton for Z Davidson (39 inj), K Lyons for D Mackey (43), D O’Connor for N Dowd (44), C Mackey for C O’Regan (55).
Peter Finnegan (Douglas).