If Clonakilty and St. Michael’s upcoming Premier SFC group game is half as good as this league final then supporters are in for another treat.

A cracking game that ebbed and flowed saw St. Michael’s come from four points down to force extra-time. There was nothing between the sides throughout 80 plus minutes until Daly’s free won it for the West Cork side.

Heavy showers failed to dampen either side’s enthusiasm in an opening half that produced numerous wides and eleven scores.

Brian White’s brace of frees handed Clonakilty an early advantage. 

Yet, it was St Michael’s who enjoyed the better of the first period with impressive duo Luke O’Herlihy and Tadgh Deasy each scoring twice to make it 0-4 to 0-2.

Andrew Murphy increased the leaders’ advantage before a Clonakilty side without a score since the third minute finally responded.

Brian White and Darragh Gough frees preceded a superb Conor Daly effort to make it five points apiece.

Then, on the stroke of half time, corner-back Fionnan Leahy was upended in front of the Clonakilty goal. Luke O’Herlihy converted the resulting penalty to send his team in 1-5 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.

Simon Murphy fired into the roof of the net after 48 minutes and Clonakilty looked set for victory with the cushion of a 1-12 to 1-8 lead as the clock ticked down.

Credit to St. Michael’s, who dug deep and forced extra-time with a late surge. Billy Cain, Keith Hegarty and Luke O’Herlihy (free) scores left the bare minimum between the sides.

Then, Hegarty watched a goal-bound effort palmed away for a 45’ by Tom Clancy right at the death. Yet, Tadgh Deasy nervelessly 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. The two sides will meet again later this year in the Premier SFC where another cracker awaits.

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.

Scorers for 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).