As It Happened: Castlehaven v Duhallow, Cork SFC final

Welcome to Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the 2012 Cork county senior football final as Castlehaven face off against divisional outfit Duhallow. Castlehaven last triumphed at this stage in 2003 while Duhallow were last champions in 1991.

Here’s the Castlehaven team for today’s game.

CASTLEHAVEN: 1. Paudie Hurley; 2. David Limrick, 3. Liam Collins, 4. Tomas O’Leary; 5. Mark Cahalane, 6. Damien Cahalane, 7. Chris Hayes; 8. Sean Dineen, 9. Dermot Hurley; 10. Roland Whelton, 11. Mark Collins, 12. Alan Cahalane; 13. Sean Cahalane, 14. Brian Hurley, 15. Stephen Hurley.

And here’s the Duhallow side for today’s game.

DUHALLOW: 1. Kevin Murphy (Boherbue); 2. John McLoughlin (Kanturk), 3. Pat Gayer (Castlemagner), 4. AJ O’Connor (Kiskeam); 5. Kealan Buckley (Knocknagree), 6. Jerry Healy (Ballydesmond), 7. Shaun Murphy (Ballydesmond); 8. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk), 9. Bertie O’Callaghan (Ballydesmond); 10. Donncha O’Connor (Ballydesmond), 11. Donal Gayer (Castlemagner), 12. Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk); 13. Kyle Holland (Kanturk), 14. Niall Fleming (Ballydesmond), 15. Matthew Dilworth (Knocknagree).

There’s plenty inter-county talent on show in today’s game. On the Duhallow side midfielder Aidan Walsh, who received an Allstar football award on Friday night, and wing-forward Donncha O’Connor are the mainstays of their side who have been influential for Cork in recent times.

In the Castlehaven team keep an eye on Damien Calahane, son of former Cork great Niall, at centre-back. He featured for Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s Cork senior hurling team this year but has also lined out for the Cork underage teams. Centre-forward Mark Collins was also part of Conor Counihan’s Cork senior football setup this year.

Two late changes to note, one on either side. Padraig O’Leary (Kiskeam) is into the Duhallow team for Kealan Buckley at half-back. On the Castlehaven side, David Burns comes in for Mark Cahalane. Burns will start in attack with a positional reshuffle elsewhere in the team. The two sides are currently in the pre-match parade.

Castlehaven 0-1 Duhallow 0-0: 1 mins – Quick start for Castlehaven as their key forward Brian Hurley lobs over a point from 20 yards. The score originated after Mark Collins intercepted a hand pass from Aidan Walsh.

Castlehaven 0-1 Duhallow 0-1: 3 mins – Cork senior Donncha O’Connor ties the game by sweeping over a free from the left hand-side.

By the way the referee for today’s game is Pat O’Leary from the Kilmurry club.

Missed point chances on both sides with Castlehaven’s Brian Hurley hitting the post with his effort and then Duhallow’s Donncha O’Connor sees his shot drop short.

It’s scrappy stuff so far here. Duhallow, playing against the wind, are withdrawing plenty players deep but are then suffering from a lack of support up front.

First yellow card of the game brandished to Castlehaven’s David Burns for an off-the-ball incident.

Duhallow 0-2 Castlehaven 0-1: 13 mins – Duhallow’s patient build-up and precise interplay pays off when Aidan Walsh booms over a superb point from 45 yards off his left foot. That was a terrific score and it’s also worth noting that Cork senior hurler Lorcan McLoughlin is having a major impact on the game with his work at wing-forward.

Castlehaven 0-2 Duhallow 0-2: 15 mins – Castlehaven draw level quickly courtesy of Seanie Cahalane. He is isolated close to goal and the attacker, an All-Ireland U21 medal winner with Cork in 2007, gathers the possession before turning to hook over a point off his right foot.

Duhallow 0-3 Castlehaven 0-2: 17 mins – Duhallow edge in front through wing-back Padraig O’Leary when he clips over a superb point after being picked out in space by an excellent cross field ball from Matthew Dilworth. Not the greatest spectacle so far but the standard has improved in the last few minutes.

Castlehaven have a chance to draw level but Roland Whelton’s point attempt drops short into the arms of goalkeeper Kevin Murphy. Castlehaven have spurned three point chances now through under hit shots.

Duhallow 0-4 Castlehaven 0-2: 24 mins – Duhallow push further ahead when Niall Fleming fists over a point. They are being more economical with their scoring chances while crucially their big players, captain Aidan Walsh and Donncha O’Connor are starting to leave their mark on the game.

Duhallow 0-4 Castlehaven 0-3: 27 mins – Castlehaven grab a point in reply and it arrives after an inspirational kick by Damien Cahalane from a free.

Duhallow 0-4 Castlehaven 0-4: 28 mins – And the teams are level with Castlehaven attackers starting to prise apart the Duhallow rearguard. Their latest point arrives after their chief playmaker Mark Collins makes a surging run and offloads to Brian Hurley, who shot 1-6 in last weekend’s county semi-final against Carbery Rangers, who swings over a point off his left foot.

Duhallow 0-5 Castlehaven 0-5: 31 mins – Cork senior duo Donncha O’Connor and Mark Collins raise their first white flags from play in this game. O’Connor was on the mark first for Duhallow with a stylish shot from the right wing over pressure and then Collins cancelled that out when he lobbed a shot over his shoulder to split the posts.

HALF-TIME: Castlehaven 0-5 Duhallow 0-5: That’s it at the break as the teams are tied on the scoreboard. The match has improved after a sluggish start with better points registered in the second quarter. It’s an extremely tight contest though with Duhallow after dominating in the possession stakes but Castlehaven have done well from limited attacks.

The Castlehaven team is back out for the second-half action. We’re waiting for Duhallow to emerge.

And now Duhallow are back out with the second-half about to start.

The attendance has been confirmed here in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as 6,170.

Duhallow 0-6 Castlehaven 0-6: 34 mins – Duhallow edge in front when Donncha O’Connor taps over a free after he had been hauled down in a cynical fashion by Castlehaven defender Chris Hayes who was yellow-carded after that incident. But Castlehaven draw level soon after with Mark Collins doing brilliantly to make headway up the right wing and land a great point under pressure.

Looks like this will go to the wire, little to separate the teams. Conditions not helping matters, grey and overcast here in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Castlehaven substitution sees Mark Cahalane on for David Burns. Seamus O’Sullivan is on as a blood sub for Duhallow for Aidan Walsh.

Aidan Walsh is back on the Duhallow team for Seamus O’Sullivan. 40 minutes gone here.

Castlehaven have been just reduced to fourteen men with Chris Hayes receiving his second yellow card of the game, the latest caution arriving after he fouled Padraig O’Leary. Big setback for the West Cork side who have replaced Alan Cahalane with Shane Hurley.

Another Castlehaven substitution with Shane Nolan on for Stephen Hurley. Duhallow just spurned a great scoring chance when Castlehaven goalkeeper Paudie Hurley coughed up possession but Niall Fleming’s close-range effort for a point went wide.

We’ve entered the final quarter of what has been a drab encounter. The teams are tied at 0-6 apiece and neither side is able to forge ahead decisively but Duhallow have a notable advantage with that extra man.

Duhallow substitution sees Jack Cott on for Kyle Holland.

Duhallow 0-7 Castlehaven 0-6: 50 mins – Duhallow make the breakthrough with corner-forward Matthew Dilworth rifling over a neat point. Midfielder Bertie O’Callaghan is starting to dominate for the divisional side.

Duhallow 0-7 Castlehaven 0-7: 52 mins – Castlehaven draw level with Mark Collins providing the inspiration to gather the ball in the left corner, cut inside and curl over a beautiful point. That was a vital score for the West Cork outfit.

Could we be heading for a replay here? It’s still all square with four minutes of normal time remaining.

Duhallow 0-8 Castlehaven 0-7: 57 mins – But just after predicting a draw, Duhallow’s Jack Cott has inserted daylight between the teams. The substitute raced clear after being fed by Niall Fleming and kept his composure to tap over a point.

Goal for Castlehaven!

Castlehaven 1-7 Duhallow 0-8: 60 mins – That could be a huge moment in this match as Castlehaven find the net. Substitute Shane Nolan is the scoring hero as he fists a cross by Mark Collins to the net. There’ll be four minutes of additional time.

The fourteen men of Castlehaven are still holding on. There’s two minutes of injury time remaining.

Castlehaven 1-7 Duhallow 0-9: 63 mins – Donncha O’Connor blazes over a point for Duhallow in a last-gasp attack.

FULL-TIME: Castlehaven 1-7 Duhallow 0-9: Castlehaven hold on to be crowned 2012 Cork senior football champions.

Huge scenes of celebration here in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the West Cork club Castlehaven hold on to win their first county senior football title since 2003. The victory helps avenge last year’s final defeat to UCC. In a poor game, the fourteen men held on to secure honours with substitute Shane Nolan the hero as he fisted home that late goal.

That’s all from this afternoon’s liveblog, thanks for joining us.