Clonakilty edge out Newcestown in cracking Division 1 Football League tie

Newcestown 1-13 (1-2-9) Clonakilty 1-14 (1-0-14)

Clonakilty edged Newcestown following a cracking West Cork derby in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League in Newcestown.

Level seven times throughout an engaging contest, the hosts turned a four-point interval deficit into a one-point lead within five minutes of the restart.

It was anyone’s game from that moment onwards until Conor Daly edged Clon ahead a minute into injury-time.

Richard O’Sullivan had a chance to earn a draw with the final kick of the game but his long-range free trailed wide of the uprights.

At throw-win, an undefeated Newcestown (one win and two draws) were hoping to capitalise on their opponents' two-game winless run. Following consecutive victories, Clonakilty lost to Knocknagree and drew with Castlehaven.

The hosts dominated early on but it was Clonakilty who struck first. Forcing a turnover, Conor Daly burst through and netted after three minutes.

Undeterred, Jim O’Sullivan’s team went up the opposite end and forced a turnover of their own before Micheál McSweeney levelled via a close-range goal.

The visitors’ tactic of stationing goalkeeper Mark White in the middle of the pitch for opposing kickouts helped Clonakilty build a 1-4 to 1-0 lead.

Darragh Gough (two), Dara Ó Sé and Brian White all scored and it took 16 minutes before James Burrows replied.

Humphrey Canty and Ó Sé swapped points prior to a brace of Daly and Ó Sé frees pushing Clonakilty five clear. Colm Dineen reduced the deficit on the short whistle, 1-7 to 1-3.

Cárthach Keane’s interval introduction had the desired effect. Keane scored with his first possession and added a two-pointer shortly after.

Seán O’Donovan raised a second orange flag as Newcestown led 1-8 to 1-7 after 35 minutes.

Clon’s response was swift as with Ross Mannix and Darragh Gough restored their club’s advantage.

Back came Newcestown with Humphrey Canty and Cárthach Keane (free) efforts, the second for a Clonakilty three-up infringement, making it 1-10 to 1-9.

The scores and tackles came thick and fast during a feisty closing quarter.

Mannix and Gough edged Clon back in front only for Daire McAree to level matters for a fifth time.

Sean McEvoy and Keane (free) scored at either end before Clon’s Brian White made it 1-13 to 1-12. Tadhg Twomey looked to have earned Newcestown a draw but Conor Daly’s injury-time effort meant it was Clonakilty who emerged one-point winners.

Scorers for Newcestown: C Keane 0-5 (1 2pt, 0-2 f), M McSweeney 1-0, S O’Donovan (1 2pt), H Canty 0-2 each, J Burrows, C Dineen, D McAree, T Twomey 0-1 each.

Clonakilty: C Daly 1-2 (0-1 f), D Gough 0-4, D Ó Sé 0-3 (0-1 f), B White, R Mannix 0-2 each, S McEvoy 0-1.

NEWCESTOWN: C White; J Kelleher, C O’Donovan, G Kelleher; J Burrows, M McSweeney (c), C Dineen; S O’Donovan, E Collins; D McAree, R O’Sullivan, J Kenneally; S O’Sullivan, T Twomey, H Canty.

Subs: C Keane for G Kelleher (h-t), C O’Donovan for J Kenneally (40, inj).

CLONAKILTY: M White (c); D Darragh, D Peet, D Lowney; J O’Mahony, T Clancy, C Kenneally; B White, B Ridgeway; R Mannix, D Ó Sé, D Kenneally; S McEvoy, C Daly, D Gough.

Subs: C Ryan for D Kenneally (44), M Murphy for T Clancy (57, blood), T Clancy for M Murphy (61).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).

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