O’Hare is spot on for Roche

A BARRY O’Hare penalty goal with the last kick of the game deprived the Seans of what would have been a merited victory over Roche in this Kevin Mullen Shield semi-final.

Indeed, had the home side shown a little more composure in the final few minutes they could have held on for what to most observers would have been a major surprise.

Unbeaten in all competitions so far this season and hot favourites for both league and championship honours, the visitors got a wake-up call as they were outfought in all areas of the pitch and they must consider themselves very lucky to be in the final.

Roche built up a lead of four points at the half-way point, with Kevin O’Callaghan scoring the goal and the points coming from O’Hare (2) and Robbie Mackin, while what looked like an Evin Quigley point was controversially ruled out.

Seans hit back with six unanswered points on the restart to lead by two, before Callaghan (2) and O’Hare restored Roche’s advantage.

A well-taken goal from Tony Kelly had Seans two points ahead and seemingly en route to the final, but a Mackin score halved the deficit and O’Hare held his nerve from a penalty in stoppage time after a foul on David Quigley.

Best for the Seans were Ciaran McMahon, David Balfe, Leigh Ross, Tony Kelly and Kevin McMahon. ROCHE: Jamie O’Hare; David O’Connell, Harry O’Connell, Ciaran Savage; Liam Rice, David Quigley, Robbie Mackin 0-2; Dan O’Connell, Evin Quigley; C Byrne, Enda Murphy, Liam Dawe; K Callaghan 1-2, Barry O’Hare 1-3 (1-0p), Tommy Campbell. Subs: James Tiffany for Savage, Owen O’Hare for Byrne, Liam Carthy for Murphy, Niall McArdle for Dawe.

SEAN MCDERMOTT’S: Mark McEneaney, David Balfe, Ciaran McMahon, Kevin McGahon, Alan O’Neill, Kevin Carroll, Leigh Ross, Patrick Osborne, Ronan Curran, Ian Corbally 0-2, Sean McMahon 0-1, David O’Neill 0-2, Peter Osborne, Tony Kelly 1-0, Kevin McMahon 0-3. Subs: Brian Melia, Niall McEneaney, Brendan McGahon. REFEREE: Kevin Levins.