Goals set Mallow on their way to U-21 ‘B’ final
quick wides.
Mallow hit the front with their first goal in the 7th minute when Stephen O’Callaghan worked well for Sean Hayes who netted. Fermoy were wide again soon after. They had three points by Dale Dawson (free) Cian O’Carroll and David Lardner to be level 1-1 to 0-4. The reigning champions hit the front by Rory McEvoy. At the end of the first quarter Mallow were level for the third time when Mattie McGlynn and Trevor McEvoy worked well for Eoin Murphy who pointed. They followed with three points in quick succession to go a goal clear. Cian O’Carroll with a late pointed free cut Mallow’s lead at the break 1-5 to 0-6.
On the resumption Fermoy did well. Dale Dawson pointed a ‘45’ and David Lardner levelled. Sean Hayes and David Larnder swapped a point 0-9 to 1- 6. Cian O’Carroll edged Fermoy ahead once more from a free and followed from play. In the 44th minute Daniel O’Flynn made a great catch and placed Cian O’Carroll for a fine point 0-12 to 1-6. Mallow were reduced to 14 players. Fermoy moved further ahead with points by Shane Aherne and Dale Dawson 0-14 to 1-7. Mallow seemed to have lost their chance when they kicked two wides in the 52nd minute. Good play by Trevor McEvoy led to a goal by Eoin Murphy that levelled for the 6th time. With three minutes to go Fermoy took the lead when Eoin Lacey and Greg Lardner worked well for Cian O’Carroll who pointed. Trevor McEvoy levelled from a free. In injury time Daniel O’Flynn and Ronan Morrisson combined well for David Lardner who seemed to have secured the winning score for Fermoy. Mallow’s impressive Trevor McEvoy won the kickout and worked a good movement with Stephen O’Callaghan who placed Sean Hayes who was fouled. The resultant free by Hayes saw the game all square at full time 0-16 to 2-10.
Eoin Lacey edged Fermoy ahead on the resumption. The turning point in the game came when Mallow ’keeper Kevin Doyle found the outstanding Trevor McEvoy who caught a high ball from the kick-out gaining a mark. McEvoy was fouled by a Fermoy player during the regulated five seconds to deliver. The resultant free was brought forward for dissent and McEvoy’s long range free found Sean Hayes who netted and put Mallow 3-10 to 0-17 ahead.
The winner’s fourth goal came a minute later when Sean Hayes and Eoin Murphy worked well for Mark Kenny who made it 4-10 to 0-17. Fermoy found it hard to come from that setback but they battled to the end David Lardner kicked a great point that left Mallow ahead at the break in extra time 4-10 to 0- 18.
Oisin Ennis pointed for Fermoy on the resumption. Sean Hayes replied from a free after a foul on Kevin Taylor. David Lardner had two late points for Fermoy but it was Mallow with a Kevin Taylor point after good play by Sean Hayes and Mark Kenny that secured their place in the final.