Gaelic Games

St Finbarr’s too good for Éire Óg in reaching Munster final

Bruising encounter saw four black cards and one red as Conor McCrickard netted twice

St Finbarr’s Conor McCrickard netted twice in their win over Éire Óg. Photo: Tom Maher/Inpho

Sun Dec 19 2021 - 16:52

St Finbarr’s (Cork) 2-14 Éire Óg (Clare) 0-12

Two first-half goals from Down’s Conor McCrickard steered St Finbarr’s to a first Munster club football final since 1986 following a hard-fought win over Éire Óg at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

It was a bruising game, which included four black cards, two each, a plethora of yellows and one red late on for Éire Óg midfielder Darren O’Neill after his second yellow.

McCrickard pounced first after 12 minutes, when the brilliant Steven Sherlock ignored a tap-over point from a close-in free to pick him out with a lovely weighted pass for a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

READ MORE

Despite losing their influential midfielder and captain, Ian Maguire, to a black card after 18 minutes, the 14-men asserted their authority on proceedings.

They scored 1-4 without reply during his absence though the goal will cause nightmares for the Éire Óg defence, who allowed a long-range pass from Colin Lyons float over directly to McCrickard, who finished in style.

The Cork champions led by 2-7 to 0-4 at the interval, but the visitors responded to the challenge impressively.

Spurred on by dynamic wing-back Ciarán Russell and captain Gavin Cooney and Mark McInerney inside, Éire Óg gradually reduced the deficit.

It was down to five at the second water-break, 2-9 to 0-10 following a run of four points on the spin, including a couple from dashing centre-back Conall Ó hÁiniféin.

And Éire Óg were just four adrift entering the closing 10 minutes following a Cooney free, but that was as good as it got for the Clare champions.

Sherlock, who has been a revelation all season for the ‘Barr’s, showed why by scoring the closing four points, starting with a magnificent effort off his left under severe pressure.

And he knew it was his day when an injury-time free from way out on the left touchline crashed over off an upright.

St Finbarr's: J Kerins; C Scully, J Burns, S Ryan; C Lyons, B Hennessy, A O'Connor; I Maguire (c), E Comyns; D O'Brien (0-1), C McCrickard (2-1), M Shields; C Myers-Murray (0-3), S Sherlock (0-9, 0-6f, 1m), E Dennehy.

Subs: E McGreevey for Shields 40 mins, B O'Connell for Dennehy and A Lyne for O'Brien 47 mins, L Hannigan for Lyons 53 mins, C Walsh for Myers-Murray 60 mins.

Éire Óg: N Murray; M Doherty, A Fitzgerald, R Lanigan; E O'Connor, C Ó hÁinifein (0-2), C Russell; D O'Neill (0-1), D McNamara; A McGrath, D Reidy, N McMahon; P Talty (0-1), G Cooney, (0-5, 0-2f), captain, M McInerney (0-3).

Subs: I Ugwueru for McGrath 24 mins, D Walsh for Reidy 39 mins, E Courtney for McMahon 43 mins, D O'Brien for Talty, T Connellan for McInerney 60 mins.

Referee: B Griffin (Kerry).