Reds deny 14-man Shamrocks

Cavan IFC Round 3

Cornafean 1-11

Bailieborough Shamrocks 1-10

Kevin Óg Carney at Kingspan Breffni

Cornafean gave their IFC aspirations a tidy filip at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday last when forging a hard-fought, third round victory.

The Reds were the most consistent outfit over the hour-plus but they will know that a great deal of improvement will be needed before a place in the quarter-finals can be cemented.

For their part, the Shamrocks gave it everything and must be commended for coming so close to winning out considering they played 44 minutes of the tie with just 14 players.

To the victors the spoils though and while they were forced to hang on for dear life to their forever slender lead, Cornafean’s success in denying the ’14 man syndrome’ to kick in made their victory all the sweeter.

Bailieboro enjoyed a dream start with rampaging centre-back Aaron Reel ghosting in behind the Cornafean’s full-back line before rifling the ball high into the net with just over two minutes on the clock.

Cornafean were always competitive and they almost instantly replied but Cormac Cullen saw his attempt for a point drop short and rebound harmlessly off the Bailieboro crossbar.

The game was a high-tempo see-saw affair with the soft going and greasy ball adding to the tension and excitement of two teams with plenty of pace and even more endeavour.

Bailieboro suffered a major blow in the 22nd minute when midfielder Peter Clerkin picked up a second yellow card with the Reds leading by a single point (1-4 to 1-3) at that juncture.

Cornafean grew in confidence as the second quarter gathered pace as if they sensed that their opponents were feeling sorry for themselves in not having consolidated their explosive start.

Cornafean seemed more adept in the art of kick passing which in the wintry conditions was most apt and in the art of pressing the Reds also appeared to have the upper hand.

The sides were tied at 1-5 apiece at the end of the opening quarter thanks, mainly, to Cormac Cullen’s fortuitous goal in the 11th minute which he notched from all of 22 metres.

There was no let-up in the pace of the game but Clerkin’s aforementioned dismissal must have left the alarm bells ringing loudly in the Shamrocks’ dressing-room at the interval, especially considering they were also faced with a three point deficit, 1-4 to 1-7, to reel in.

With a brace of Kilkenny frees on the restart, Cornafean seemed on the cusp of heading for home but the 14-man townies had other ideas and they notched four points without reply between the 40th and 44th minutes to bring it back to a one point game, 1-8 to 1-9, with a gem from Rhys Clarke particularly inspirational.

Bailieboro had the bit between their teeth as Cornafean laboured to adequately benefit from their numerical advantage and, more importantly, deliver the killer punch.

Luke Gilsenan’s point – while falling – hoisted the Shamrocks into a one point lead in the 49th minute but the in-form Barry Doyle gained parity for the Reds in the 51st minute as the tension became almost palpable.

The aforementioned Doyle followed up with a point in the 53rd minute after Rian Kellett did brilliantly to parry Sean Cooney’s rasper from close range.

It was backs to the wall stuff for the leaders in the run-in as Bailieboro manfully went in search of at least a draw but two crucial wides for the Shamrocks inside the four added-on minutes ensured that Cornafean went home as happy campers.

Cornafean: Andrew Smith; Pete Hogan, Dan Wharton, Mark Johnston (0-1); Eamonn Brady, Jason Miney, Shane Doyle; Cormac Cullen (1-1), Jack Wharton; Aodhghan Smith, Andrew Wharton, Culann MacSeain; Gerard Sheridan, Barry Doyle (0-4), Dean Kilkenny (0-5, 5f).

Subs; Peter Doyle for M Johnston; James McGahern for C Mac Seain; Oisin Browne for G Sheridan; Wayne Johnston for E Brady.

Bailieboro Shamrocks: Rian Kellett; Colin Gargan, Aidan Reilly, Conor Monaghan; Noah O’Sullivan, Aaron Reel (1-1), Philip Clarke; Peter Clerkin, Ryan Gilmer; Oran McIntyre, Luke Gilsenan (0-2), Jack McGuinness (0-2, 2f); Brendan Argue (0-1), Rhys Clarke (0-2), Rory Farrell (0-2, 1f).

Subs; Sean Cooney for C Gargan; Cathal Keegan for R Gilmer; Ryan Coleman for J McGuinness; Darragh Keegan for N O’Sullivan; Oisin Fitzsimons for P Clarke.