Millstreet impress against Mayfield in Co IFC at Carrigadrohid
A POLISHED opening half performance laid the groundwork for Millstreet to better Mayfield in Round 1 to the County Intermediate Football Championship played in Carrigadrohid on Saturday evening.
The Duhallow side deserved their success if only for the manner on which they refused to be ruffled after Mayfield threatened to snatch the initiative during the closing quarter on halving a six point deficit. Indeed Mayfield passed up a number of further scoring opportunities only for Millstreet to finish strongly and put the issue beyond doubt.
Indeed at the end of the hour, victory belonged to the more accomplished side, a new look Millstreet fielded seven changes in personnel to a team that disappointed to a defeat by Rockchapel in last season’s semi-final.
On this occasion, a fusion of youth and experience paid rich dividends, particularly in the opening half, Millstreet’s application pretty decent and in general, they were much more enterprising.
At their best, Millstreet owed much to the industry and powerhouse of Mark Ellis at midfield, an imposing performance saw the inter county hurler at the hub of his side’s best exchanges, finding the target on two occasions in the opening half and part of a move close to half time that yielded a goal from Danny Buckley for Millstreet secure a five point advantage.
As the game aged, a spirited Mayfield hung in to mount a series of attacks to rescue the situation only to succumb to a better balanced opposition.
Earlier on, the sides were locked together after points were exchanged by Cathal Crowley and Paul Condon. In the lively exchanges, Millstreet edged ahead thanks to a massive point from championship debutant Shane Hickey off an acute angle.
Mayfield were clearly up for a battle, starting with six members of their All Ireland Junior A Hurling winning side and their inside line looked potentially dangerous. And carrying a goal threat was confirmed in the seventh minute, David O’Neill’s long ball caught out the Millstreet rearguard and Condon slid home past Millstreet ‘keeper Mark O’Donovan.
However, Millstreet were up for the challenge on storming into the fray, sweeper Oisín Murphy in the thick of the fray, wing backs Hickey and Paul Sheehan eager to launch attacks with Ellis, well supported by Crowley prospering at midfield. Ellis obliged with additional points from Hickey and Vaughan helped built a 0-6 to 1-1 grip.
The city side broke the sequence, a full-forward line starved of possession did earn some ball with corner men Dan Lucey and Kevin Punch pointing to force parity. Millstreet wrestled back control, Sheehan on target before the same player was denied by a fine from Mayfield netminder David Hackett only for Ellis to point the resultant 45.
Coming up to half time, some key moments, after Nickey Kelly placed Lucey for a Mayfield point, key man Kelly incurred a black card. Now Millstreet drove forward with menace, Vaughan and Ellis combined for Buckley find the net in the 29th minute prior to an interception by Cormac Sheehan allowed Vaughan point for Millstreet to steer ahead 1-9 to 1-4 at the break.
On the restart, Mayfield offered a forceful blast on points to Shane O’Donovan and Condon. The standard of play waned, both sides passed up scoring opportunities , Millstreet switched their free taking duties to Vaughan who kicked three consecutive points for a 1-12 to 1-6 advantage at the three stage.
Steadily Mayfield played their way back into contention through the rallying efforts of Stephen Hackett, David O’Neill and O’Donovan with points from Colm O’Neill, Condon and O’Donovan leaving just three between the sides.
With the momentum behind them, Mayfield pushed on but faulty shooting limited the danger as the Millstreet defence resisted forcefully with pivotal defender Kevin Crowley getting in timely blocks.
Ultimately, Millstreet never lost their sense of direction, finishing strongly, corner forward James Linehan posting a pair of tasty points with Vaughan adding another free to complete the deal. At the end of the hour, both sides can look ahead optimistically to round 2 against Glanworth or Douglas.