Fourteen-man Mayfield overcome adversity to slay Kilbrin final bid

that landed the spoils to secure a ticket to the decider against neighbours Sarsfields.

With Mayfield crisp and hard in the tackle, Kilbrin were forced into a series of uncharacteristic errors. And the latter’s task of real penetration and bite proved a major shortcoming during the second half on Kilbrin shooting a glut of wides.

Still the game was up for grabs until Mayfield holding a two point advantage struck for the contest’s lone goal netted by Shane Kelly in the 55th min. Kilbrin had enjoyed a flyer of a start, Garrett Linehan pointing straight for the off.

Mayfield settled once Shane O’Donovan pointed a 65 and the city champions might well had goaled, Podge Duggan denied by Kilbrin ‘keeper Paudie O’Callaghan that the influential O’Donovan again obliged from the resultant 65.

Though Kilbrin answered with a Shane Crowley point for parity, Mayfield favoured by the breeze regained the lead from points per Kelly and a pair to O’Donovan for a clear 0-5 to 0-2 advantage midway through the opening spell.

Kilbrin thundered into the contest, positives for the Duhallow hopefuls were provided by the industry of a well organised half back line of Daniel Sheahan, William Egan and Con Carroll, well supported by Thomas O’Reilly and Michael Lenihan.

Enjoying their best passage of play over the hour, points from Crowley and the Lenihan brothers tied up the game before points from Eoin Sheahan and Daniel O’Sullivan helped secure a 0-7 to 0-6 advantage by half time.

Swapped points to Shane Duggan and Stephen O’Reilly saw the status quo prevail on the restart. However Mayfield appeared to face a mountain to climb from the 34th minute on losing attacker David Malone for a second yellow card offence.

The sides traded pointed frees to Crowley and Duggan before Crowley added a smashing point from sideline cut for a 0-10 to 0-8 advantage to Kilbrin approaching the three quarter stage. In fairness, Mayfield hung in, back to back points to O’Donovan and David O’Neill ensured parity.

Hasty shooting led to a series of Kilbrin wides whereas Mayfield rose their game to new heights.

Their growing dominance was based upon a solid defence with Kieran Brosnan, Dan Lucey, Gavin Looney and the magnificent O’Donovan outstanding whilst the introduction of key player Nicky Kelly as substitute certainly lifted his colleagues.

Kelly failed to start owing to hamstring problems and made an impression as did his brother Shane and O’Neill. As the wides tally totted up for Kilbrin, the impetus was clearly with Mayfield, confirmed in the 55th minute on Shane Kelly blasting to the Kilbrin net.

If anything, Mayfield appeared to hold the extra player, the flow of the game going one way with

O’Neill, Duggan and O’Donovan ticking on points. With Kilbrin failing to halt the onslaught, there was power and purpose in the Mayfield side to storm home and return to a county final for the first time since 2011 when they incurred a defeat to Charleville.