Dohenys deliver in style
By West Cork Gael Saturday September 27th, 2008
Dohenys joint captains Tom Collins and Darragh Hennessy receive the cup from Teresa Cadogan of Clona Milk, sponsors, following their victory in the SW under-21 B?hurling final. At left is Ogie Crowley. (Photo: Denis Boyle)
Dohenys ............................. 3-10
Ballinascarthy....................2-9
Dohenys delight as they deliver in style, while thirteen proves a lucky number after all!
Way back in 1995, Dohenys were crowned South West Cork under-21 B hurling champions. They tell us that all good things come to those who wait. While thirteen years is a considerable time period, certainly the elation and delight on the faces of the players and mentors at the conclusion of this most enjoyable affair, following their deserved victory over Ballinascarthy in a match played on the superb surface of the Enniskeane auditorium on Sunday evening last, more than compensated for all the heartbreaks in the intervening years.
This game flowed as swiftly from one end of the pitch to the other, as the deep and swollen waters of the picturesque Bandon River nearby and while both teams had their periods of dominance over the hour, goals were a vital factor in the destination of the cup.
Dohenys got three majors, albeit two were of an extremely fortuitous nature, but they do win matches and ultimately they won this lively and entertaining South West final. Not that the Dunmanway lads needed the complete help of Lady Luck to pass the finishing line, far from it. For some eighteen minutes of the opening half, they outclassed, outplayed but most importantly outmanoeuvred a listless, lifeless and extremely lacklustre Ballinascarthy side.
With a solid core of strength and guile up the middle, from sound full backs Tadhg O’Leary, Conor Cronin and Daniel McCarthy, a dominant half back division of Finbarr Cronin, Keith Sheehan and Cian Lynch as the midfield duo of Tom Collins and Jerry McCarthy held sway, Dohenys called all the opening shots.
The points flowed with rare abandon and clockwork regularity. A Jerry McCarthy free, a fine Denis Cronin point from play, another McCarthy free as the Bal defence resorted to fouling. Even better was to come as brother Patrick McCarthy had two peaches of scores in the 11th and 17th minutes respectively, Bal reeling under the Dohenys attacking broadside.
However, the class of Denis O’Sullivan employed as a first half ‘sweeper’ in front of the half back line against the wind, augmented by the pace of Pádraig Dineen and James Deasy saw Bal open their account when the latter pointed a free in the 18th minute and repeated the dose in the 24th minute after Paddy Ryan was fouled. But with Denis Cronin and Alan Sheehan highly effective on the flanks, Cronin stretched the winners lead just before the break.
A somewhat rejuvenated Bal with Ryan O’Flynn in particular working hard saw a 65 by the latter rebound off and upright. With the ball only partly cleared from the danger zone, Pádraig Dineen swept it over the bar. Half-time, Dohenys 0-6, Bal 0-3.
Before the interval full forward Patrick McCarthy, one of the Dohenys danger men, had moved out to lead the attack and he was instrumental in setting up Alan Sheehan for a superb point in the 33rd minute. Bal had now lost Joe Ryan with a hamstring injury, but his replacement John McCarthy was more than adequate. However, in the 36th minute, we arrived at a crucial stage of the game. A magnificent defensive clearance by Cian Lynch saw Patrick McCarthy embark on an electrifying solo dash up the right flank. Drawing a defender with a neat shimmy, he unleashed a pile-driver to the Bal rigging.
Now in arrears by 1-7 to 0-3, Bal looked to be dead and the undertaker about to enact a removal for burial and signal their obituary. Amazingly, inside the next seven minutes they turned a deficit of seven points into a solitary point advantage, 1-8 to 1-7, scoring a goal and five points without reply as they rose, Phoenix-like from the probable hurling ashes.
outstanding
One of the main factors in their revival was the nullification of the threat posed by Patrick McCarthy by the outstanding Denis O’Sullivan operating at centre back, while James Fitzpatrick, Darragh Hennessy, Daniel Crowley, Brendan Murphy and James Deasy all upped the ante. John McCarthy began the revival, Paddy Ryan continued it and when James Deasy got the final touch to the Dohenys net after Dineen and Ryan were both involved, the wheels were in danger of coming off the Dohenys wagon.
Deasy added a pointed free as, seconds later his drive went inches wide of the intended target. When Ryan O’Flynn pointed a mammoth free to put the Reds ahead for the very first time, it was the turn of the Dunmanway lads to bite the bullet.
However, within the space of a few minutes, the title hopes of Ballinascarthy took a major nose dive. Two errors of a calumnious nature by their defence, albeit one was a bit unlucky, cost them so dearly. A speculative free by Jerry McCarthy looked like dropping over the bar, then seemed to slide off the stick of the normally so dependable Pa O’Sullivan and into the net. James Deasy did restore flagging hopes as he touched over a Ryan O’Flynn free in the next attack, but then more disaster for Bal. An innocuous looking ball saw goalie and backs get their signals crossed, Conor Hurley getting the final touch as it rolled over the line.
Now under intense pressure, Bal had to go for broke. Firstly a rocket-like drive by James Deasy was wonderfully saved by Colm Lynch. Then, with Dohenys reasserting themselves, Denis Cronin and Conor Hurley looked to have applied the coup-de-grace as they fired over two gems of points. Two clear goals now separated the teams, 3-9 to 1-9.
But to their unending credit, Bal refused to bow the knee. It was a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, as the brilliant Denis O’Sullivan, now operating on the ‘mark’ smashed a Ryan O’Flynn free to the net in the 58th minute. Now we saw the true mettle of Dohenys, as the McCarthy brothers, Conor Hurley, the Sheehan duo and the entire defence defended like terriers. In a breakaway, a delightful Alan Sheehan point sealed Bal’s fate.
VERDICT
Our verdict: Games are all about creativity, commitment, combination and execution of vital scores, allied to passion, panache and power in attack. While Dohenys would be the first to admit that two of their three goals were of the extremely fortuitous nature, they were of paramount importance to the end result. Allied to tremendous harrying, hassling and fighting for every ball as if their lives depended on the result, they all combined to carry the Dunmanway lads through turbulent waters at times in this spirited encounter.
Ultimately, they had the composure to reassert themselves and pick off the vital scores towards the end. Bal for their part had a disastrous opening twenty minutes, but staged a tremendous revival. However, a total of sixteen wides over the hour tell a tale of missed opportunities.
In a joint presentation ceremony, captains Diarmuid Crowley and Denis Cronin received the cup from Ogie Crowley, PRO South West Board, and Ms. Teresa Cadogan, Clona Milk.
Referee: Dave Whyte, St. Mary’s.
Man of the match: Patrick McCarthy, Dohenys.
Scorers – Dohenys: Jerry McCarthy 1-2, frees, Patrick McCarthy 1-2, Conor Hurley 1-1, Denis Cronin 0-3, Alan Sheehan 0-2. Ballinascarthy: James Deasy 1-5, 0-4, frees, Denis O’Sullivan 1-0, Paddy Ryan 0-1, John McCarthy 0-1, Pádraig Dineen 0-1, Ryan O’Flynn 0-1, free.
Dohenys: Colm Lynch, Conor Cronin, Tadhg O’Leary, Daniel McCarthy, Finbarr Cronin, Keith Sheehan, Cian Lynch, Tom Collins, Jerry McCarthy, Denis Cronin, Paul McLaughlin, Alan Sheehan, Brian O’Sullivan, Patrick McCarthy, Conor Hurley. Subs: Darren Kelly and Joe O’Sullivan.
Ballinascarthy: Eoin Walsh, Cian O’Regan, Pa O’Sullivan, Brendan Murphy, Vinny O’Flynn, Ryan O’Flynn, J.C. O’Flynn, Daniel Crowley, Darragh Hennessy, Pádraig Dineen, James Fitzpatrick, Denis O’Sullivan, Joe Ryan, Paddy Ryan, James Deasy. Subs: John McCarthy and Cathal Cullinane.