Kinsale bow out with pride after epic U21 semi-final drama

Home side lead late on but Iban Gaels snatch victory in penalty shoot-out

JJ Hurley

Iban Gaels 1-2-9 Kinsale 1-1-11

(Iban Gaels win on penalties 6-5)

Heartbreak was the only word for it in Kinsale on Sunday, as the home side bowed out of the Cork County U21 A Football Championship after one of the most dramatic encounters the town has seen in years.

After 80 minutes of pulsating football, and nothing to separate two superb sides, Iban Gaels edged through 6-5 on penalties, Donnagh Flynn holding his nerve in sudden death to send the Carbery outfit into the county final.

For Kinsale, who had poured everything into this contest and looked to have victory within their grasp deep into extra time, the defeat was cruel in the extreme.

Leading 1-13 to 1-11 on 78 minutes, the home crowd could almost taste the final whistle when Iban Gaels’ James Crowley produced a stunning two-point score from distance to level matters and send the game to penalties.

It was a finish that summed up the contest — relentless, breathless and packed with drama from start to finish.

Kinsale had started the brighter of the two teams, with early points from Gearoid Keaney and Killian Fitzpatrick giving them a narrow lead, 0-2 to 0-1, after 20 minutes

. Darragh Walsh replied for Iban Gaels, but the home defence, led superbly by Kris O’Callaghan, was well-organised in the opening quarter.

A moment of danger arrived when Donnagh Flynn slipped Olan O’Donovan through on goal, but Kinsale goalkeeper Séan Byrne produced the first of three magnificent saves that would keep his side in the game throughout.

A Luke Murphy two-point free gave the Gaels some momentum before the break, and they led 0-6 to 0-2 approaching half-time.

 But Kinsale, true to form, hit back. James Murphy clipped over an important score just before the interval to keep his side in touch, trailing 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.

The second half began with frustration for the home side as a series of scorable chances drifted wide.

Eight wides in total would prove costly as the Gaels built a commanding 1-7 to 0-4 advantage after 42 minutes, O’Donovan again to the fore with two fine points.

But if there’s one thing this Kinsale group have shown all season, it’s resilience.

They slowly clawed their way back, driven on by Gearoid Kearney and James Murphy, as the latter added two points to narrow the gap.

When substitute Conal Kingston struck for goal late in normal time — firing low to the corner — the place erupted.

Deep into injury time, Keane landed a superb equalising point to bring the sides level and force extra time.

With the bit between their teeth, Kinsale took control in the first period of extra time.

Two points ,including one from David Looney, were followed by an Ollie Buckley beauty to put the home side three clear, 1-13 to 1-10, as the clock ticked down.

But just when it looked like the job was done, the Gaels refused to go quietly. Crowley, outstanding all afternoon, kicked two late points — one of them an outrageous two-pointer — to bring his side level again at 1-13 apiece.

And so the penalties — a cruel way to end such a contest. Both sides traded scores through the first five kicks, finishing 3-3, before sudden death saw Flynn fire home the winner to break Kinsale hearts.

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Scorers for Kinsale:J Murphy 0-6 (2ptf), C Kingston 1-1, G Kearney, A Keane, C Sheehan, D Looney, O Buckley, C Fitzpatrick (0-1 each).

Scorers for Iban Gaels:J Crowley 0-5 (2pt), O O’Donovan 1-3, L Murphy (2ptf), D Walsh, D Flynn, J Collins (0-1 each).

Teams:

Kinsale: S Byrne; D O’Leary, K O’Callaghan, C O’Leary; L Kirwin, G Kearney, C Fitzgerald; J Murphy, B Long; S O’Callaghan, C Fitzpatrick, D Looney; R O’Brien, P Graham, A Keane.Subs: J Byrne for C O’Leary (HT), C Sheehan for C Fitzpatrick (45), C Kingston for B Long (47), G Murphy for L Kirwin (49), O Buckley for R O’Brien (55).

Iban Gaels: L McCarthy; K Hennessy, J Crowley, D Maloney; M Collins, D McCarthy, J Twomey; T Ó Buachalla, D Dineen; D Walsh, O O’Donovan, C Twomey; L Murphy, J Crowley, D Flynn.Subs: J Collins for D Walsh (52), D Walsh for D Maloney (67), S Ryan for D Dineen (72).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas)

Kinsale U21 team manager praises his side following their narrow exit from the County U21A Football Semi Final to Iban Gaels on Sunday