Kildorrery 1-08
Macroom 0-06  

KILDORRERY put a dismal start behind them to down Macroom in the Co. Intermediate Football Championship third round replay in Cullen on last Saturday evening. The outlook looked none too good for a long stage in the opening half but Kildorrery hadn't read the script as they dug deep and hauled themselves back into contention.

Victory had looked remote when Macroom performing against the wind held Kildorrery scoreless for more than half an hour yet two points in injury time brought last season's defeated county finalists back into the fold. Upon the resumption, Kildorrery sharpened their cutting edge that was earlier blunted and a Tom Monahan goal direct from the throw allowed the North Cork up the pace of their game considerably.

A gross lack of penetration in attack proved Macroom's undoing. Failing to score from play, Macroom faltered in the toiling conditions. And when raw courage was required, a physically stronger and resolute Kildorrery queued up to deliver it in such vast quantities in the second half that it overwhelmed the Muskerry hopefuls.

The earlier deluge of rainfall had passed over by the throw in yet both sides took a time to get to terms with the greasy underfoot conditions. Scores were at a premium, the only note of consequence to the miserly action were three wides chalked up by Kildorrery as Macroom lost team captain Michael Cahill to injury.

Amazingly, it took all of all 15 minutes for the opening score, a foul on Macroom's Olan Murphy allowed David Gould point the resultant free. Though Kildorrery pressed, the dividends barely reflected their pressure. Macroom's more purposeful and economical use of possession became a difference between the sides, their authority prompted by the assured play of Rory Buckley, Ivan Casey, Fintan Gould, Gerard Angland and Murphy.

A pair of pointed frees from Gould illustrated Macroom upperhand that failed to register a wide in the opening moiety compared to six for their opponents. Kildorrery who had netted three goals in the opening half to the drawn encounter courtesy of a Monahan hat trick required scores to remain in the contest.

Waiting until the 32nd minute to break their duck, David White's ' 45 found Monahan to bisect the posts. That score offered Kildorrery encouragement and a follow up point from Miah Aherne cut the deficit 0-3 to 0-2 at the interval. Kildorrery enjoyed a dream start to the second half. Fittingly it was a case of the right man in the perfect position to deliver the game's only goal within 30 seconds of the throw in. The influencial Peter O'Brien won possession and prodded the ball into the path of Monahan who needed no invitation to dribble the ball into the net.

The impetus remained with Kildorrery, Aherne and Monahan adding sweet points. Though favoured by the breeze, Macroom's game became flatfooted as the underfoot conditions worsened. Kicking three wides, Macroom opened their second half account from a '45 converted by Gould at the three quarter stage. The county player added another from a free to trim the deficit 1-4 to 0-5.

Kildorrery managed to stem the tide under the resolute defensive play of Jerry McCarthy, Michael Walsh, David White and Eamon O'Connor. Elsewhere Shane Fitzgerald and O'Brien drove forward relentlessly with Monaghan and Aherne remaining menaces upfront. Breaking a thirteen minute spell without a score, a John Howard pointed free calmed Kildorrery's nerves. Now Kildorrery carved out the openings with increasingly ease, displaying their growing supremacy on points from O'Connor, Stephen Coughlan and Monahan.

The only blip to Kildorrery's copy surfaced late on a second yellow card picked up by white. Macroom had the closing day, John Ryan pointing a consolation free that failed to deny Kildorrery's passage into a quarterfinal date against Adrigole this weekend.

Scorers : Macroom: F Gould 0-4 (0-3f, 1 '45'), J Ryan 0-1f, D Gould 0-1f

Kildorrery: T. Monaghan 1-3, M Aherne 0-2, E O'Connor 0-1, S Coughlan, J Howard, 0-1(f) each

Teams:

Kildorrery:

B Hannon, S Kent, T P Murphy, J McCarthy, M Walsh, D White, E O'Connor, S Fitzgerald, M Monaghan, J McCarthy, S Coughlan, P O'Brien, J Howard, T Monaghan, M Aherne. Subs. L O'Keeffe for McCarthy (40), D Roche for Aherne (57)

Macroom:

J O'Connell, M Cahill, R Buckley, J Angland, I Casey, F O'Leary, C Murphy, F Gould, E O'Mahony, G Angland, B Tiernan, J Ryan, C Hurley, D Gould, O Murphy. Subs. P Lynch for Cahill (inj), J Gould for Tiernan , B Lynch for D Gould (inj )

Referee: J Bermingham (Bride Rovers).