SFL Final: Clonakilty get the better of St Michael’s in division two league final after extra time

Clonakilty 1-15 

St Michael’s 1-14 

(after extra-time)

Clonakilty needed extra-time to claim the 2024 McCarthy Insurance Group Cork GAA Division 2 county football league title at a rain-lashed Ballygarvan on Friday evening.

Ahead of their Premier SFC clash, the winners gained whatever slight psychological advantage was on offer by defeating their upcoming Group B county championship opponents.

Clon’s Brian White converted two frees before Luke O’Herlihy replied. Poor shooting ensured the score remained unchanged at the quarter-hour.

A succession of wides was broken when Tadgh Deasy brought parity to the score after 17 minutes.

Next, Deasy won a free that Luke O’Herlihy converted to hand the Dazzlers their first lead.

Deasy continued to shine and his superb long-range effort made it 0-4 to 0-2. 

Andrew Murphy capped off a dominant spell with St. Michael’s fifth point.

Amid increasing showers, Clonakilty’s barren spell was ended by a converted Darragh Gough free. Conor Daly made it a one-point game immediately after.

Clon continued to press and Brian White’s third free of the evening levelled matters prior to a major turning point.

Corner-back Fionnan Leahy was hauled down in front of the Clonakilty goal resulting in a penalty. 

Luke O’Herlihy made no mistake to send St. Michael’s in 1-5 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

Deteriorating weather didn’t prevent Daragh Gough from floating over a smashing effort shortly after the restart. A resurgent Clonakilty had Simon Murphy to thank for making it 1-5 to 0-7 before Conor Daly finished off a flowing move.

Level 1-5 to 0-8, St. Michael’s search for a score ended when Luke O’Herlihy splitting the posts.

Fergal Murphy and Adam Hennessy exchanged scores before Simon Murphy blazed a goal attempt over to make it 1-7 to 0-10 with 15 minutes remaining.

Tadgh Deasy edged St. Michael’s back in front only for Darragh Gough to reply from a tight angle. 

A close game saw Clonakilty push three points clear when Simon Murphy hit the roof of the net after 48 minutes.

Brian White’s fourth free handed the West Cork side a four-point cushion as the clock ticked down.

Late Billy Cain and Keith Hegarty efforts made it 1-12 to 1-10 before Luke Herlihy’s free left the bare minimum in it.

A turnover presented Keith Hegarty with a goal chance right at the death but a superb Tom Clancy goal-line block resulted in a 45’.

Tadgh Deasy brilliantly converted to send the final to extra-time.

Luke Herlihy and Maurice Shanley scored at either end during the first period of additional time. 

In the second period, Simon Murphy pushed Clon ahead but Keith Hegarty responded.

It was left to Conor Daly to convert a late free to win Clonakilty a classic encounter.

Scorers for Clonakilty: S Murphy 1-3, B White 0-4 (4f), D Gough (1f), C Daly 0-3 each, F Murphy and M Shanley 0-1 each.

St Michael’s: L Herlihy 1-5 (1 pen, 2f), T Deasy 0-4 (1 45’), K Hegarty 0-2, A Murphy, A Hennessy and B Cain 0-1 each.

CLONAKILTY: M White (captain); C Kenneally, M Shanley, D Lowney; B White, T Clancy, S White; B Ridgeway, G Wharton; S Murphy, D Gough, F Murphy; N Barrett, C Daly, R Mannix.

Subs: A Cullinane for N Barrett (ht), D Peet for G Wharton (35), C O’Donovan for D Gough (50), D Gough for B White (et).

ST MICHAEL’S: M Burke; B Cain, A O’Callaghan, F Leahy; E Sheehan, D Meaney, R Kavanagh; E Hickey, R O’Shaughnessy; K Hegarty, A Murphy (captain), A Hennessy; E Hegarty, T Deasy, L O’Herlihy.

Subs: M Carroll for E Hegarty (24), E O’Donovan for M Carroll (50), T Grainger for A Hennessy (54), L O’Sullivan for T Deasy (et), G Wharton for R Mannix (et), N Barrett for F Murphy (et).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).