Cappincur snatch victory from the jaws of devastating defeat in sensational finale

AN overall mediocre game was rescued by a sensational finale as Cappincur snatched victory from the jaws of a devastating defeat in the Senior “B” Football Championship semi-final at O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship semi-final

Cappincur 1-10

Clara 1-8

Leading by 0-10 to 0-8 with two of the three minutes injury time was played, Cappincur's worse nightmare unfolded when Clara got what seemed the winning goal. Cappincur goalkeeper Lauran Ryan was rightly penalised for taking too long with his kickout, veteran forward Graham Guilfoyle broke the throw ball and Ed Cullen slotted it to the net to give Clara a lead that they scarcely deserved.

As the game drifted over the three minutes of injury time, Cappincur mounted one frantic last attack, trying desperately to manufacture an equalising point and extra time. Ger Treacy's shot dropped short and long serving former county player Jason Gethings got his fist to the ball and diverted it into the net. The tension was incredible as referee Fergal Smyth consulted his umpires at length before awarding the goal.

The final whistle went moments later and neither side could scarcely believe what had unfolded. Yet when the dust settled, the result was a fair one and Clara would have stole it had they managed to snatch the win. The favourites were very below par on the day, emptying their bench in the second half and it was only late on that they played with the urgency and energy that they needed.

It almost rescued it for them but Cappincur would have engaged in long and bitter self recrimination had they lost it in these circumstances.

The first half in particular was a desperately poor affair with Cappincur guilty of some dreadful shooting, kicking seven wides as well as dropping balls short while Clara never got beyond third gear, guilty of some very poor distribution.

The half time score of 0-3 each reflected how poor it was as the teams were level on three occasions and both way short of their best.

The second half was much better and this was down chiefly to an improved Cappincur display. They began to use the ball better and with Bill Carroll getting two excellent marks, Brian Norris kicking two from play and brother Peter also getting on the score sheet, they led by 0-8 to 0-5 after 43 minutes.

With victory in sight, they went for it and opened a five point gap with a Peter Norris mark and a quality Sean Courtney point with five minutes left.

It was at this stage that Clara finally began to play with the spirit they needed. Impressive sub David Fleming got a free and Cappincur midfielder Adam Galvin came from nowhere to deny Graham Guilfoyle what looked a certain goal in the 58th minute. Fleming got another free and a point from play to bring it down to two points in injury time and set up that sensational finish.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Bill Carroll (Cappincur): Bill Carroll exerted a huge influence on this game. His shooting wasn't fully on and he was tightly marked but he oozed class. His two marks were crucial in the second half and he also set up Peter Norris's one with a super pinpoint ball. He directed a lot of Cappincur's play and they needed him to play well with older brother Eoin out injured – Eoin was actually named to start before the game but didn't come through the warm up. That resulted in Ollie Hayes, a normal corner back, starting way out of position in the full forward line, where Carroll would have played.

Diarmuid Carroll was also a contender for Cappincur. His return to the defence in recent weeks has been a great help to Cappincur and he was very impressive in the full back line. Brian Norris had a very good second half for the winners, Sean Courtney did a lot of good work, Enda Daly went very well in the first half when many of his team mates were struggling and there was something very impressive about their attitude in the second half as they kept trying to do the right thing and got their work rate levels right.

On a day when Clara just didn't perform, Conor Doyle was their best player, getting through a lot of work at midfield.

THE SCORERS

Cappincur: Jason Gethings 1-0, Brian Norris, Sean Courtney (1f), Peter Norris (1 mark), Bill Carroll (2 marks) and Enda Daly 0-2 each.

Clara: Ed Cullen 1-0, David Fleming 0-3 (2f), Cormac Delaney 0-2 (1 '45' and 1f), Marcas Dalton, Adam Kelly and Alex Egan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

CAPPINCUR: Lauraun Ryan; Diarmuid Carroll, John Colgan, Diarmuid Carroll; Ciaran Farrell, Brion Carroll, Hubert Healion; Bill Carroll, Adam Galvin; Sean Courtney, Ger Treacy, Brian Norris; Peter Norris, Ollie Hayes, Enda Daly. Subs – Jason Gethings for Enda Daly (47m), David Carroll for Hayes (47m),

CLARA: Mark Fallon; Christian McKeon, Cathal O'Meara, Alan Gavin; Robert Mitchell, Darragh McKeon, Matthew Mitchell; Ed Cullen, Conor Doyle; Adam Kelly, Marcas Dalton, Conor Egan; Cormac Delaney, Alex Egan, Graham Guilfoyle, Subs – Barry Egan for Robert Mitchell (36m), John Ledwith for Alex Egan (45m), Myles Handy for Conor Egan (45m), David Fleming for Darragh McKeon (50m), Lorcan Hiney for Matthew Mitchell (53m),

Referee – Fergal Smyth (Kilclonfert).

REFEREE WATCH

Fergal Smyth had a good game. He had a couple of big calls to make at the end but he seemed right with both.. Lauran Ryan did take too long with his kickout for Clara's goal, firstly taking his time placing the ball and then waiting while he tried to pick a man out. He consulted his umpires for Jason Gethings goal and while it would take a second viewing to be certain, Ger Treacy's kick in did hang in the air a long time and it did seem a legitimate goal. That goal came over the three minutes of announced injury time but there was a bit of extra time to be played as there had been a hold up during it.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Jason Gethings winning goal was the only moment that counted here.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch looked fantastic and the County Board had their usual quota of stewards on duty.

WHAT'S NEXT

Cappiucur go into the final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Clara – 11 (5 in 1st half); Cappincur - 8 (7 in 1st half),

Yellow cards: Cappincur – 3 (Brian Norris, Peter Norris, Enda Daly); Clara – 0.

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0.