Battling St Finbarr’s edge home in thriller
This game had everything and with time slipping away from Glanmire in the normal 60 minutes they introduced former Cork Senior football star Michael Cussen in the 48th minute and he almost gained them an unlikely win with two stunning goals.
On a wet evening at the excellent Brian Dillons venue this was a highly charged game with Cian Madden punishing a goalkeeper error in the opening minute with a simple tap in to the empty net.
The free taking of Alan Barry kept Glanmire within striking distance and the hard working Kieran Kenneally punished the Barrs defence with a stunning goal in the 16th minute.
As the half matured it was evident the Togher outfit were getting on top and a late Brian Ramsey point ensured they commanded a 1-9 to 1-6 interval lead.
Three unanswered points gave the Barrs a six-point lead but the introduction of Cussen certainly changed this game in the closing quarter.
The Barrs looked home and hosed before Cussen grabbed a high ball and placed it past the bewildered keeper.
Amazingly Cussen raised a second green flag a minute later as suddenly Glanmire looked unlikely winners.
The Barrs had to battle hard coming down the stretch as two late Cian Madden points took the game to extra time.
On the restart the Barrs gained control as they outscored their opponents 1-4 to 0-0 in the first period of extra time that laid the foundation for their win.
Although another Cussen in the shape of James added a goal in the second period it proved too late for the gallant Glanmire side who just fell short.
P Harte 2-2 (1-0 pen), C Madden 1-5 (0-3f), E Finn 0-6, A O’Mahony, C Holland, B Ramsey, S Dennehy, I O’Callaghan (0-1 each).
A Barry 0-7 (f), M Cussen 2-0, K Kenneally 1-1, J Cussen 1-0, S O’Driscoll 0-2, T Hourihan 0-1.
S Sherlock; S Ryan, G O’Connor, C Davey; C Buckley, C Holland; E Finn, C Keane; I O’Callaghan, P Harte, J Goulding; B Ramsey, R O’Mahony, C Madden.
S Dennehy for B Ramsey (h-t), S Cox for J Goulding (45), C McCarthy for R O’Mahony (50), M O’Donovan for C Madden (70), D O’Leary for P Harte (75), P Kerins for I O’Callaghan (75).
B O’Connell; D Murphy, B Dennehy, B Murphy; C Murphy, J O’Keeffe, B Kelleher; T Hourihan, T Leahy; A O’Mahony, C Kiely, C Power; A Barry, K Kenneally, A Garvey.
S O’Driscoll for C Power (h-t), G O’Callaghan for A O’Mahony (38), M Connolly for B Murphy (38), M Cussen for J O’Keeffe (48), A O’Mahony for D Murphy (bc 58), J O’Keeffe for B Dennehy (60), C Kiely for C Murphy (65), J Cussen for J Murphy (70).
Alan Long (Argideen Rangers).
