Beara crashed out of the Cork U21A football championship following a heavy defeat to Éire Óg in Ballinacarriga.
ÉIRE ÓG 1-15
BEARA 0-8
GER McCARTHY REPORTS
BEARA crashed out of the Cork U21A football championship following a heavy defeat to Éire Óg in Ballinacarriga.
The divisional side began without a host of first team regulars and it showed. Ryan O’Sullivan and Ciarán O’Sullivan’s absences blunted a Beara attack and midfield that had played superbly to overcome Bishopstown in the previous round.
Alas, Beara ran into a well-oiled Éire Óg machine that dominated territory and possession through all four quarters and ran out deserving winners.
Jack Murphy was at the hub of all the Éire Óg’s best moments. The young midfielder finished with ten points, six of which were converted from 45s and frees. Along with Murphy, fellow midfielder Diarmuid Dineen helped the Muskerry club dominate the centre of the pitch whilst up front, Dylan Foley and Brian Hurley proved a hard-working tandem.
Despite the heavy defeat, there were still some positives to take on a chastening night for Beara football. Centre back Jason Harrington has bags of potential and helped launch a series of counter-attacks throughout the evening. Jamie O’Neill kicked over four points whilst midfielders Oliver Byrne and Neill O’Sullivan worked tirelessly despite meagre possession.
The tone was set when Éire Óg wasted six consecutive chances before moving 0-3 to 0-0 ahead thanks to Jack Murphy, Dylan Foley (free) and Brian Hurley efforts during the opening quarter. Beara’s solitary response was a fine Jason Harrington point but their opponents moved up through the gears and scored six times without reply.
Jack Murphy converted a 45 prior to Dylan Foley squeezing a close-range shot into the bottom corner of the net. Foley added a free before Murphy (two 45s) and Diarmuid Dineen made it 1-8 to 0-2 at the interval, Beara’s Olivier Byrne raising a second white flag from a 45.
The second period proved a much tighter affair even though the cushion of a nine-point advantage meant Éire Óg were never in danger of relinquishing their lead.
Beara’s Jamie O’Neill (two points) and Sean Walsh exchanged scores with Jack Murphy (three points) and Diarmuid Dineen to leave Éire Óg 1-12 to 0-5 in front with 15 minutes to go.
Multiple substitutions made for a scrappy ending, a timeframe in which Beara’s Joe O’Neill was sent to the line. Jack Murphy cemented his team’s win with three late frees before Jamie O’Neill (free) and Dan Crowley efforts wrapped up the scoring.
Scorers
Éire Óg: Jack Murphy 0-10 (3 45s, 3f), Dylan Foley 1-2 (2f), Diarmuid Dineen 0-2, Brian Hurley 0-1.
Beara: Jamie O’Neill 0-4 (2f), Jason Harrington, Oliver Byrne (1 45), Sean Walsh, Dan Crowley 0-1 each.
Éire Óg: Eoin Kelleher; Cillian Sheehan, Hugh Murphy, Jerome Kelleher; Conor McGoldrick, John Cooper, David Twomey; Jack Murphy, Diarmuid Dineen; David Kirwan, Mark Kelleher, Rian O’Flynn; Joseph Cooper, Dylan Foley, Brian Hurley (captain).
Subs: Matt Brady for D Twomey (44), John Corkery for J Cooper (52), James O’Shea for M Kelleher (54), Joseph Lynch for C McGoldrick (58), Graham Moynihan for R O’Flynn (59).
Beara: Ger Dunne (Urhan); Dan Elphick (Urhan), Connor O’Sullivan (Urhan), Dan Harrington (Adrigole); Joe O’Neill (Castletownbere), Jason Harrington (Adrigole), Micheal O’Shea (Urhan); Oliver Byrne (Castletownbere), Neill O’Sullivan (Adrigole); Billy Murphy (Castletownbere), Killian Shea (captain, Urhan), Cian O’Shea (Adrigole); Jamie O’Neill (Urhan), Alan O’Donoghue (Urhan), Eamonn O’Shea (Urhan).
Subs: Sean Walsh (Castletownbere) for A O’Donoghue (27), Conal Keane (Castletownbere) for C O’Shea (ht), Dan Crowley (Adrigole) for M O’Shea (49), Billy Murphy (Castletownbere) for O Murphy (49), Darren Henshaw (Garnish) for D Harrington.
Referee: Michael Collins (Clonakilty).
