Castlehaven clubman Larry Tompkins on the club’s penalty-shootout win over St Finbarr’s, and not knowing when the final against Nemo Rangers will be played.
Larry Tompkins says he was kicking every ball as Castlehaven beat St Finbarrโs in a penalty shootout to qualify for the Cork SFC final.
Sundayโs clash with the Barrs finished 1-13 apiece after extra time and it took a sudden-death spot-kick from Mark Collins to secure victory.
Tompkins, who captained Castlehaven to their maiden senior title in 1989 against the same opposition, had to watch the game via a stream and was gripped by the action.
โI was watching it on a screen on my own, and look, youโre just playing every ball and kicking and passing every ball,โ Tompkins explains.
โYou’re telling guys on the field โwhy did you do that, or why did you get dispossessed?โ.
โLook, the Haven means so much to me and when you put on that jerseyโฆ I really enjoyed my memories playing with the Haven and Iโm the same now watching. Iโm kicking every ball.
โItโs a crazy situation,โ he adds of the penalty shootout. โThe Haven overall felt that they got out of jail a little bit.
โI felt that the Barrs dominated periods of that game and didnโt really convert.
“I think the Haven would have been delighted to get through it but a bizarre sanitation when it came to a penalty situation.
โThe pressure was on and somebody was going to be the villain.
โWe were lucky that when it came to sudden death, we had the coolness of Mark Collins to step up and convert the one that really mattered. Very unusual circumstances.
โItโs probably not a fair way but under the circumstances we understand it because games have to be finished. It was bizarre.โ
Towards the end of the game, Cork forward Brian Hurley scored an exceptional point from the sideline for the Haven.
โIt was reminiscent of the great Maurice Fitzgerald when he scored down in Thurles against Dublin.
โThe outside of the foot, an incredible score, and Brian is capable of those things.
โItโs great to see him back at that level of performance because heโs been through the mill and had two major surgeries on his hamstring.
โIt was brilliant to see him back, hopefully he keeps getting better as each game goes.
โWhat a point, what a score, and Brian has that kind of class.โ
The Haven will play Nemo Rangers in the Cork final, though not refixed date has been set at this time.
Larry Tompkins’ autobiography, ‘Believe’, is available now in all good book shops and online.
Get 15% off the Cork retro jersey using promo code ‘OurGame’ at OrgaRetro.com
