Cool-Hand Mikey snatches late win for CBS
Mikey Hand's late free levelled the game before he went on to be St. Mary’s Academy Carlow CBS' matchwinner
A couple of injury time points gave St. Mary’s Academy Carlow CBS a winning start to this year’s South Leinster Senior ‘C’ Football Championship against a fast finishing Heywood.
CBS had led for the majority of the game but Heywood, managed by Carlow GAA legend Paul Broderick, came storming back into the game in the final quarter and it was only cool-Hand Mikey that got CBS over the line.
In a strong opening to the game, CBS raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead even though the overall flow of the game felt pretty even.
Excellent centre back Eoghan Kavanagh scored that goal 14 minutes and then CBS got their second through Thomas Lawler in the 28th minute and they led 2-4 to 0-3 at the break.
The game seemed as good as over when Hand coverted a penalty in the 34th minute after Darragh McEvoy had been fouled.
That left ten points between the teams but Heywood struck back immediately Evan McWey set up Conor Headen for a goal.
Bobby Rowan added a free but it was the introduction of Liam McEvoy that really sparked Heywood into life and after the second of his two goals, Headon scored a free to give them the lead for the first time with eight minutes to play.
Hand was to prove to be the hero though for CBS. He held his nerve to tie the game with a 56th minute free and then scored a magnificent point from play as the game ticked into injury to give his team the lead once more.
The game was still in the balance but it Hand again who stepped up with the last score of the game to seal a two point win.
CBS now face a Carlow derby in their next game against Tullow CS.
Luke Dooley; Noah Oglesby, Eduard Muntean, Rhys McCanny, Alex Donnelly-Finn, Eoghan Kavanagh 1-0, Ryan Nolan; Sean Hayden, Leon Fitzgerald; Alex Mazur 0-2, Thomas Lawler 1-1, Daragh McEvoy, Oisin Byrne 0-1, Mikey Hand 1-6 (1-0pen, 5fs), Daniel Kehoe. Subs: Kian Scully, Sean O’Brien, Ciaran Scully.
Ed Slevin; Colm Dundon, Alan Knowles, Tom Dreenan, Jake Gohery, Evan McWey, Sean O’Donnell; Jim Holland 0-1, Bobby Rowan 0-2fs; Jack Kennedy, Declan Iguma, Tom Fingleton, Billy Brennan 0-1, Conor Headen 1-3 (3fs), John O’Brien. Subs: Liam McEvoy 2-1.
