By Eoghan Cormican (@cormicaneoghan), McDonagh Park
Pobalcoil Chorca Dhuibhne, Kerry 1-14 St Patrick’s, Cavan 1-11 (AET)
Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne kept alive their Hogan Cup defence in dramatic fashion at Nenagh this afternoon.
The Munster champions trailed St Patrick’s, Cavan entering second-half stoppages of this absorbing semi-final contest and their cause appeared lost when Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh kicked wide from the placed ball deep in injury time.
There was time for one more play and a foul on man of the match Brian Ó Beaglaioch afforded the Dingle school a second roll of the dice.
Seamus Ó Muircheartaigh had been substituted on 58 minutes and was reintroduced to kick the game-saving free. Just inside the 45-metre line and to the left of the posts, the full-forward directed his kick between the sticks to force extra-time.
Points thereafter from Seán Ó Gairbhia, Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh (0-2) and Ó Muircheartaigh returned the champions to the decider where they will meet Roscommon CBS in a fortnight.
St Patrick’s, Cavan had moved themselves within touching distance of a final berth when kicking four unanswered points early in the second period to overturn a 1-6 to 1-3 interval deficit. Pierce Smith’s free on 57 minutes edged them 1-10 to 1-9 in front, but they were unable to hold out.
The Dingle school played against the elements in the opening period, putting themselves into pole position by establishing a three-point advantage.
The key score of that first-half arrived two minutes into first-half stoppages as Cathal Ó Bambaire kicked to the net.
The goal stemmed from a surging Brian Ó Beaglaioch run, the centre-back fouled as he crossed the Cavan 45-metre line.
A quick free found PJ Mac Láimh unmarked on the edge of the square and while Fergal O’Rourke produced a superb save to deny the half-forward, Ó Bambaire scrambled home the rebound.
St Patrick’s, Cavan struggled to capitalise on the elements, not helped by their defensive mentality and insistence on positioning 13 men behind the ball. Brendan Argue fisted their goal on 13 minutes.
Piece Smith and Thomas Edward Donohue supplied the minors, but their wide count stood at eight at half-time.
Scorers for Pobalcoil Chorca Dhuibhne: C Ó Géibheannaigh (0-7, 0-6 frees); S Ó Muircheartaigh (0-3, 0-2 frees); C Ó Bambaire (1-0); S Ó Gairbhia (0-2), PJ Mac Láimh, B Ó Beaglaioch (0-1).
Scorers for St Patrick’s, Cavan: TE Donohue (0-4 frees); P Smith (0-4, 0-3 frees); B Argue (1-0); P O’Reilly, D Kennedy, B Conarty (0-1 each).
Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne: L De Bhailís (Daingean Uí Chúis); C Ó Súilleabháin (Daingean Uí Chúis), T Ó Súilleabháin (Daingean Uí Chúis), C Ó Murchú (An Ghaeltacht); A Ó Conchúir (Daingean Uí Chúis), B Ó Beaglaioch (An Ghaeltacht), T Ó Súilleabháin (Daingean UíChúis); M Ó Conchúir (Daingean Uí Chúis), P Mac An tSíthigh (An Ghaeltacht); PJ Mac Láimh (An Ghaeltacht), S Ó Gairbhia (An Ghaeltacht), Gh Ó Brosnacháin (Daingean Uí Chúis); C Ó Géibheannaigh (Daingean Uí Chúis), S Ó Muircheartaigh (An Ghaeltacht), C Ó Bambaire (Daingean Uí Chúis).
Subs: R Ó Mainnín (Lios Póil) for Ó Brosnacháin (48 mins), T Mac an tSíthigh (Daingean Uí Chúis) for Ó Bambaire (55), L Ó Brosnacháin (Daingean Uí Chúis) for Ó Muircheartaigh (58), S Ó Muircheartaigh (An Ghaeltacht) for Mac Láimh (63).
St Patrick’s, Cavan: F O’Rourke (Laragh); D Lunney (Drumlane), D Monaghan (Drumlane), L Fortune (Cavan Gaels); D Kennedy (Killygarry), C McManus (Teemore Shamrocks), JJ McGovern (Swanlibar); T Galligan (Lacken), B Argue (Bailieborough Shamrocks); P Smith (Crosserlough), P Leddy (Lacken), D Brady (Ballyhaise); B Conaty (Denn), TE Donohue (Denn), C Smith (Killgarry).
Subs: R O’Neill (Killdallan) for Leddy (22 mins), S Fortune (Cavan Gaels) for McGovern (42), B Sheannon (Killygarry) for Smith (52), Barry McKieran (Abbeylara) for Argue (56), P O’Reilly (Crosserlough) for L Fortune (68), T Galligan for Kennedy (70).
Referee: F Kelly (Longford).