Coakley is Carrig’s hero as they lift title

Carrigaline 2-14 Uibh Laoire 1-16

(JJ Hurley)

Cork GAA PRO, Ger O'Sullivan, Presenting the Paudie Palmer Trophy to Chris O'Herlihy in Ovens On Friday night (credit Bernard Laverty)

Niall Coakley kept his cool to send over a late free as Carrigaline survived a dramatic Uibh Laoire comeback to claim the McCarthy Insurance County Division 2 Football League title at Ovens on Friday night.

Forty-seven minutes into the second half, Coakley stroked home a penalty after Brian O'Driscoll was upended inside the square, leaving the South East men seemingly home and hosed with a 2-13 to 0-11 lead.

However, with only five minutes remaining, the Muskerry outfit laid siege to the Carrig goal, rattling up 1-5. Carrig had second-half substitute goalkeeper Chris Laverty to thank for a superb save during that spell.

As Uibh Laoire threatened to complete a remarkable comeback, indiscipline proved costly when referee Robert Whelan advanced a Carrig free into scoring range. Coakley kept his composure once more, splitting the posts to make sure of the victory.

The game opened with Carrigaline storming into the contest as Coakley struck for a goal and a point inside the opening minutes.

Indeed, by the 11th minute the Carrigdhoun side had stretched their advantage to 1-3 to 0-1.

As the teams exchanged scores, a two-point effort from Jack McCarthy put greater daylight between the sides, leaving the score at 1-5 to 0-2.

A brace of points from Uibh Laoire, including a fine effort from Sam Pickering, left just a goal and a point between the sides.

Enna Desmond gave his side a little breathing space before Carrig rode their luck as Tim Roberts fed Sean O'Leary, but his effort crashed off the crossbar on 20 minutes.

A point apiece left the score at 1-8 to 0-6 after 23 minutes before the tireless O'Driscoll tagged on another point as the half-time whistle approached.

Trailing by six at the start of the second half, an early statement was required and Uibh Laoire responded with three points on the bounce, including another fine score from Pickering.

However, the comeback stalled as the outstanding Coakley landed two points and his brother, Brian, added one of his own to leave the scoreboard reading 1-13 to 0-9.

In fairness to their opponents, they kept in touch with a pair of points from Jack Sweeney and Ian Jones.

The game looked to have been decided on 47 minutes when Coakley scored his second goal of the night, but the rally from the Inchigeelagh men almost ruined the Carrigaline party.

But Coakley was cool under pressure, as his late point ensured the Carrigdhoun side lifted the Paudie Palmer Memorial Trophy on its first presentation.

Scorers for Carrigaline: N Coakley 2-5 (1pen, 1f), J McCarthy (2pt), K O’Reilly 0-2 each, E Desmond 0-2, B Coakley 0-2, B Driscoll 0-1 each. Uibh Laoire: C Vaughan 0-7 (1F, 1 2pt), I Jones 0-4 (2pt) C O’Leary 1-1   S Pickering 0-2, B Cronin,  J Sweeney 0-1 each.

Teams:

Carrigaline:  S Mellett; B Murphy, C O'Herlihy, E Murphy; D Griffin, B O'Driscoll, K McCarthy; J McCarthy, P Mellett; C Kearney, N Coakley, E Desmond; B Coakley, R Delaney, K O'Reilly.

Subs C Laverty for S Mellet (HT). S Turner for P Mallet (45), N O’Keeffe for B Coakley (52) and T Vaughan for K O’Reilly (57).

Uibh Laoire:  J Creedon; C Galvin, D O'Donovan, D O'Riordan; K Manning, C O'Riordan, S O'Riordan; T Roberts, C O'Leary; A O'Donovan, C Vaughan, B Cronin; S O'Leary, I Jones, J Sweeney.

Subs: F McSweeney for K Mannering (44), B O’Riordan for B Cronin (49), K Jones and O Herlihy for Dan O’Riordan and Jack Sweeney (55)

 Carrigaline celebrating their victory over Uibh Laoire On Friday night in Ovens. (Bernard Laverty)

Referee Robert Wheelan Aghada