*A disappointed Mark McInerney at the final whistle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ÉIRE Óg’s dreams of contesting the Munster senior club football final is over and with it the chance of a rare provincial double.
St Finbarr’s 3-20
Éire Óg 0-14
Venue: SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
A powerful St Finbarr’s side showed no mercy when dishing out a heavy defeat to the Clare champions in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.
The winners dominated in all the key areas from midway through the opening half and, with the aid of the wind in the second half, they dictated matters.
A hat trick of goals from midfielder Brian Hayes, a member of the Cork senior hurling team steered the Leesiders into the Munster final and a meeting with Kerry champions Dingle.
Ahead 1-10 to 0-8 at the interval the winners were always in control in the second half and could have finished with a bigger tally.
Fifteen minutes into the game things looked good for the Ennis side. They led by three points, 0-5 to 0-2 and were a little unlucky not to have been further ahead at that stage.
Then St. Finbarr’s moved up a gear and they hit 1-8 without reply, the goal from midfielder Brian Hayes, being of the fortunate variety.
Shortly before that score Cian Howard in the Éire Óg goal had made an excellent save at the expense of a 45 from Ethan Twomey.
During this period the Ennis men struggled on their own kickout while, up front, they were very reliant on Mark McInerney for scores. He kicked seven of their first half tally of eight, and this included a brace of two pointers.
There is little time for rest for Eire Og who face into an under 21 B football championship final on Tuesday night.
Then it’s onto the Munsrer club hurling final on Sunday next against favourites Ballygunner from Waterford and they will be keeping her fingers crossed that all of their dual players will be fit and ready for action in that one.
Football captain Aaron Fitzgerald who plays in defence for the hurlers received attention in the second half for an ankle injury.
Scorers; St. Finbarrs; Brian Hayes (3-3); Steven Sherlock (0-6, 1tp; Ethan Twomey, Ricky Barrett (0-3) each; John Wigginton Barrett (0-2); Enda Dennehy, Willliam Buckley Conor Dennehy,(0-1) each
Eire Og; Mark McInerney (0-10, 3 tp) Gavan Murray (0-2), Darren Moroney, Manus Doherty (0-1) each
St. Finbarrs
1: Darragh Newman
2: Billy Hennessy
17: Enda Dennehy
4: Sam Ryan;
19: Luke Hannigan
6: Alan O’Connor
7: Ciarán Doolan
8: Ian Maguire
9: Brian Hayes
10: William Buckley
11: Steven Sherlock
12: Conor Dennehy
13: John Wigginton Barrett,
14: Ethan Twomey
15: Ricky Barrett;
Subs:
23: Eoin McGreevey for W. Buckley (47)
25: Cillian Murray for R. Barrett (47)
27: Thomas Egan for L. Hannigan (50)
18: Bill O’Connell for C. Dennehy (50)
3: Jamie Burns for B. Hennessy (56)
Éire Óg:
1: Cian Howard
7: Manus Doherty
3: Aaron Fitzgerald,
4: Dean Ryan;
5: Ciaran Russell,
6: Gavin D’Auria,
10: Ronan Lanigan
8: David McNamara
9: Darren O’Brien
2: Darren Moroney,
11: Gavan Murray
21: Jarlath Collins;
15: Mark McInerney
14: Ikem Ugwueru
13: Luke Pyne
Subs:
18: Jack Joyce for D. O’Brien (42);
20: Aidan McGrtsh for J. Collins (48)
19: Niall McMahon for D.Moroney (53)
Referee; Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
