Youthful guile steers O’Curry’s into intermediate final

O’Curry’s  0-14

Kilfenora  0-7

RELEGATED in 2010, O’Curry’s are now just one hour shy of regaining senior club status. While the teams were level (0-6 each) at half-time in Saturday’s intermediate semi-final in Doonbeg, O’Curry’s completely dominated the second half, outscoring Kilfenora 0-8 to 0-1.

A glance at their scoring return reveals eight O’Curry’s men scored from play, although they also managed to kick 16 wides. Another area of concern for the winners, who play Kilmihil in the final, was their spurning of some scoreable frees that Ger Quinlan, Eoin Troy and Jack Scanlan will have to convert if presented with similar chances in their next game.
On the plus side, several of their younger player excelled with Scanlan especially impressive at full-forward, where his mobility and varied runs befuddled the Kilfenora full-back line. Tom Downes and Eoin Brew also played well, which suggests O’Curry’s have plenty of quality players coming through.
A feature of the first half was the excellent kicking of Jason Connole, the only Kilfenora man to score from play. The wing forward kicked three of his four points in the first half, with Killian Malone pointing the remainder.
Ironically his marker, Brian Troy, fisted the game’s first score but Connole had the better of it for the rest of the first half. Had Killian Malone’s goal effort, 10 minutes before half-time, not been diverted around the post by PJ Greene, Kilfenora, might have made more of a battle of it in the second half.
At the other end, O’Curry’s spread of first-half scorers, Brian Troy, Damien Carmody, Eoin Troy, Eoin Brew, Jack Scanlan and Ger Quinlan clearly indicated that they had more scoring potency.
The second half proved O’Curry’s fitness was another factor in helping them to establish control. Jason Connole scored Kilfenora’s lone second-half point in the 28th minute.
In the interim, Troy, the Quinlan brothers, Michael Foran with two quality scores, Scanlan and Brew did the business for Dinny McMahon’s team.    
O’Curry’s lined out without the suspended Michael Carmody and now face a selection dilemma ahead of the final, when their veteran forward will be back in the frame.
Ollie Quinlan, Tom Downes, Eoin Brew, player of the match, Jack Scanlan all excelled for O’Curry’s, while Jason Connole, Cathal Nagle and Seán O’Gorman did their best for Kilfenora.
As an aside the €8 admittance fee was reasonable given that both intermediate semi-finals were on in Doonbeg but the absence of a match programme was disappointing. If people have to pay €10 to get in, including the €2 for the car park, they are surely entitled to a programme so that they know the identity of the players. 

O’Curry’s: PJ Greene; Paul Roche, Michael O’Shea, Ollie Quinlan; Brian Troy, Seán Haugh, Tom Downes; Ger Quinlan, Derek Troy; Michael Foran, Damien Clohessy, Eoin Brew; Eoin Troy, Jack Scanlan, Damien Carmody.
Subs: Seán Murphy for Damien Carmody, James Troy for Damien Clohessy, Declan Walsh for Paul Roche, Colin Lynch for Tom Downes, Shane Keane for Michael Foran.
Scorers: Eoin Troy (0-3, 0-1f), Eoin Brew, Jack Scanlan, Michael Foran (0-2 each), Ger Quinlan (0-2, 0-1f), Brian Troy, Damien Carmody, Ollie Quinlan (0-1 each).
Wides: 16; Frees won: 26; 45s: 2.
Yellow cards: 0.
Kilfenora: Liam Keane; Jack O’Dea, Diarmuid Nagle, Paul Reddan; James Keane, Paudie Ireland, Cathal Nagle; Pat Connole, Seán O’Gorman; Austin Kelly (captain), Killian Malone, Jason Connole; Paul Carkill, Michael Theasby, MJ Malone.
Subs: Jonathon O’Gorman for Paul Carkill, Aidan Malone for James Keane.
Scorers: Jason Connole (0-4), Killian Malone (0-3, 0-2f, 0-1 45’).
Wides: 8; Frees won: 20; 45s: 1.
Yellow cards: Diarmuid Nagle, Paudie Ireland. 
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane).