Cork champions driven by Kerry power base

CORK SFC FINAL/UCC 1-12 Castlehaven 0-10: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Cork completed a memorable double by adding the county senior football…

CORK SFC FINAL/UCC 1-12 Castlehaven 0-10:UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Cork completed a memorable double by adding the county senior football title to the Sigerson Cup won earlier in the year with a richly-deserved win over favourites Castlehaven in front of a crowd of just over 7,000 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

It was a repeat of their 1969 twin success and the county victory was their 10th in all and the first since 1999.

The decisive moment came five minutes from the end of regulation time with the sides tied at 0-10 apiece.

College pieced together a typical flowing move, initiated by captain and man-of-the-match Seán Kiely, and it resulted in a penalty following a foul on Paul Geaney.

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Daithí Casey, who helped Dr Croke’s to the Kerry final the day before, duly tucked the kick low to the right of goalkeeper Paudie Hurley for the game’s defining score.

It knocked the heart out of the Castlehaven challenge after they had fought back from a five-point deficit to restore parity thanks to a long-range Mark Collins free.

And, for good measure, substitute Gavan O’Grady popped up with a couple of late points to embellish UCC’s triumph.

College fully deserved to be 0-8 to 0-4 in front at half-time after the Haven won the toss and handed their opponents first use of the wind.

The students dominated midfield, where wing forward JB Spillane’s aerial prowess more than helped out Johnny Buckley and Will Kennedy.

Although the sides were level three times in the opening 20 minutes of the match, UCC powered ahead with a turbo-charged finish to the half, scoring three points without response to really put it up to the title favourites.

Roscommon’s Niall Daly started the sequence with a super point from wing back, followed almost immediately by Kiely, who surged forward from centre back to land an inspirational score.

And in the third minute of injury-time, Casey’s accuracy from frees nudged them four in front, leaving the Haven with a major task on their hands.

The sides traded points on the resumption, Kiely adding a brilliant second after 36 minutes, but they were held scoreless for the next 20 minutes as Castlehaven took a grip, scoring four unanswered points to eventually draw level. However, Casey’s penalty dashed their hopes.

UCC: S Mellet; M Hickey (both Cork), P Crowley, M Galvin (both Kerry); T Clancy (Cork), N Daly (Roscommon, 0-1), S Kiely (Cork, 0-2); J Buckley (Kerry, 0-1), W Kennedy (Cork); M Griffin (Kerry, 0-1), S Beston (Cork), JP Spillane; S O’Brien, D Casey, (1-4, 1-0 penalty, four frees), P Geaney (all Kerry, 0-1). Subs: J O’Sullivan (Kerry) for Griffin (41 mins), B Coughlan (Cork) for Beston (44 mins), G O’Grady (Kerry, 0-2, one free) for O’Brien (54 mins).

CASTLEHAVEN: P Hurley; D Limrick, L Collins, captain, T OLeary; M Cahalane, D Cahalane, C Hayes (0-1); D Hurley, S Dineen; R Whelton, M Collins (0-5, three frees), A Cahalane (0-1); B Hurley, S Cahalane (0-1), B Collins (0-1). Subs: D Burns (0-1) for Whelton (35 mins), S Hurley for A Cahalane (49 mins).

Referee: J Dorgan (Cork).

Munster First Round (Sun, Nov 6th)

1: Waterford v Kerry Waterford venue

2: UCC v Monaleen Cork venue

Semi-finals (Sun, Nov 20th)

1 v Kilmurry-Ibrickane Water/Kerry venue

2 v Tipperary Tipp/Limerick venue