The junior footballers made their exit from the championship on Friday evening last in Ballinacarriga when they were comprehensively defeated by St. Mary’s on a score of 1-13 to 0-3. Their defeat was not surprising or unexpected as the team was short 8 players who would be regarded as regulars as well as the 4 players who were promoted to the senior team since the Mathunas game. Indeed, in our many years following Doheny teams we have never seen a championship team going out short so many players. Whatever about league games a championship fixture was always regarded as sacrosanct and it would take a major catastrophe for a player to go missing. But I suppose we are living in different time when priorities have changed and commitment and loyalty are transient. But whether society is richer or poorer as a consequence remains to be seen.
Well done to the players who turned out to make up the team even if they were never in the hunt against a very fit and well-organised Mary’s side. Indeed, to have won under such circumstances would have been a poor reflection of this championship as little or no preparation had been put in. Contrast this to the late 80’s and early 90’s when Dohenys’ first team were competing in this grade. They trained as hard as they have ever done at senior level but it took them 5 years before winning the West Cork and another year before winning the County!
As for the game there isn’t a lot to report on. St. Mary’s dominated from the start, moved the ball faster and picked up most of the breaks around the middle of the field. They were helped by some slack marking by Dohenys who never managed to get a grip on the game. The Ballineen side led by 0-9 to 0-1 at the break with the point coming from Cathal Crowley. The trend continued in the second half with Marys rarely under pressure. Cathal Crowley and Brian Mc Carthy kicked a point each while Marys added on 1-4, the goal coming in the final minute.
While beaten well it would be remiss not to mention the display of Fachtna Mc Carthy, Paudie Murray ( who put off travelling to Spain for a holiday to make the game) and Clement Deane in the fullback line who fought for every ball but their task was made difficult by the ease with which the ball was coming in from outside. The main threat up front came from the veteran, Cathal Crowley. Minors, Aidan Hurley and Alan Sheehan, can also be satisfied with their performances as they played a lot of ball but have a lot of learning to do. Well done also to Cathal Kelleher who made his debut in goal and acquitted himself well being unlucky at the end to concede a goal when blinded by the sun.
The club owes a debt of gratitude to all the players who turned out as it was saved the embarrassment of conceding a walkover which at one stage looked on the cards.
TEAM; Cathal Kelleher, Fachtna Mc Carthy, Paudie Murray, Clement Deane, Fachtna Collins, Noel Collins, Aidan Hurley, Ronan O’ Sullivan, Denis Lordan, Alan Sheehan, Donncadh Deasy, Brian Mc Carthy, Conor Hurley, Sean Hayes, Cathal Crowley.
