CARRIGALINE QUALIFY FOR TWO FINALS

In what has turned out to the most dramatic week in the long history of carrigaline Hurling and Football Club, we now have two teams, Intermediate Football and U21 Hurling, into County Finals. Three semi finals in a week was a lot to ask of the teams especially as a large number of players were on both panels, but a sensational 22 yard free from Tony Murphy in the U21 game saw him goal and Carrigaline take victory in and when the same player brought both teams level with eight minutes left on the clock there was only going to be one outcome, another hard fought victory. Both sets of team management and players must be complimented for their never say die attitude over the course of the three games which bring the Carrigaline Club closer to the Holy Grail of an adult County Title. Add to that the fact that our U16 team are also contesting a County Football Final in the near future bodes well for the club in the long term in both hurling and football. The Intermediate Football final will be the first game to be played on Saturday evening next in Pairc Ui Rinn at 8pm (keep an eye on the notice board for any changes) while the U21 Hurling game has still to be fixed. So we are calling on the people of Carrigaline to come out and support the teams starting with Saturday evenings game.

CARRIGALINE 1-8 CILL NA MARTRA 0-9
This was a tough encounter with few scoring chances. Cill Na Martra were first out of the blocks in this game and by the 16th minute they held a three point to no score lead. However carrigaline were not for panicking and they continued to defend well. Eoin Murphy had Carrigs first score of the half in the 18th minute, this was followed five minutes later by a long range Stephen O’Regan effort. Cill Na Martra added another point to their tally before an opportunist Barry O’Keeffe Goal in injury time put Carrig a point to the good. Cill Na Martra were not to be outdone and levelled the game with a free at the end of the half to leave the half time score 1-2 to 0-5.
The second half was just as scrappy but no less exciting as both teams traded scores.
Cill Na Martra scored the first point of the half to regain the lead but a well fisted point from Eoin Murphy and a free from Barry O’Keeffe had the Carrig lads back in front. Cill Na Martra added another point from a free but this was quickly cancelled out by a Barry O’Keeffe score from play. Cill na Martra got the next two points to put them a point to the good with 13minutes remaining. The game continued to be played around the middle third of the field before Tony Murphys equalising point in the 22 minute of the half. Carrigaline were starting to dominate a were picking up the breaking ball and tackling and defending in packs. Peter Murphy with his first point of the game and then another Barry O’Keeffe free put carrig in command with time running out. To their credit carrig held firm and repelled all their opponents attacks to secure victory by a two point margin and scenes of jubilation. Carrigaline had many excellent performances on the night but Eoin O’Sullivan and Colin Lynch at the back, Stephen O’Regan at midfield, Barry O’Keeffe, Eoin Murphy and Tony Murphy up front were to the fore in all the good things from carrigaline in the game
Team: M Webb, K Forbes, N Hayes, K Blake, C Lynch, J Moran, E O’Sullivan, E O’Keeffe, S O’Regan, N Murphy, P Murphy, E Murphy, T O’Sullivan, K O’Keeffe, B O’Keeffe.
Subs: G Harrington, T Murphy, M Doody.

CARRIGALINE 1-12 MIDLETON 1-11
This by normal standards was a low scoring game of hurling but the scores were excellent when they came and the hurling by both teams especially in the second half was top notch. Stephen O’Regan started the ball rolling for Carrig in the second minute with his first point and this was followed by Stephen Corcorans first point from a free. Midleton answered with their first point before another Corcoran free extended Carrigs lead. Midleton then came storming into the game and hit three unanswered points which and would have had a certain goal only for a great block by Joe Moran. After another pointed free from Stephen Corcorcan Midleto again stretched their lead with three more points . Stephen O’Regan got his second point of the game to narrow the gap but disaster struck for Carrig in injury time when Midleton hit a goal and a point to leave carrig trailing at half time by 0-5 to 1-8.
Carrig upped their game considerably in the second half and thanks to the accurate free taking of Corcoran were whittling away into the Midleton lead. Both teams missed some excellent goal chances as the half wore on but Joe Moran who was outstanding throughout added two points from a free and a ‘65’ the game was back in the melting pot with time running out. Corcoran hit another point from a free to leave two between the sides with time almost up. In the very last attack of the game simon O’Brien won a free for Carrig just outside the Midleton ‘21’ to blast the winning goal past what seemed like most of the Midleton team on the line. A cruel way to win a game but never the less it was a well deserved victory for the Carrig lads who held their opponents to just three points in the second half.
Team: M Webb A Noonan, G Harrington, P Ronayne, J Walsh, C Hurley, J Moran, J Cowhig, C Lynch, T Murphy, W O’Brien, S O’Regan, S Corcoran, S O’Brien,
Subs: N Coakley, D O’Regan, M Cuddihy.

COUNTY FINAL
The Football County final is fixed for Saturday evening at 8pm in Pairc Ui Rinn.
The team needs all the support it can get so please come along and lend your voice to the occasion. Car flags and flags ( first come first served) can be got by contacting Alan at 086 8510258.