Mallow impress V Blarney in county hurling championship
Mallow 5-18 Blarney 1-21
EVEN the pre match game announcer at Mourneabbey couldn’t help but notice that this game was not just pitting two of the top sides in the County PIHC against each other but also two of the best hurlers in the county as the north Cork venue and its MC welcomed Mallow’s Cormac Murphy and Blarney’s Mark Coleman on Sunday night. And credit to both stars and their respective teams they both put on a great show for the huge crowd in attendance.
Five goals and a masterful display from Murphy saw the Mallow men into the next round as Blarney felt the full force of a side again widely tipped to make it to the business end of this season’s competition.
This game was a terrific example of what championship hurling is all about without quarter asked or given right from the off. This game saw a host of wonderful scores in an opening 15 minutes where no fewer than 15 points were recorded with rebel stars Murphy and Coleman at the heart of all that was good about the game.
“We have some brilliant players and a great team both on and off the pitch. The lads are working really hard in everything they do but we still have so much work to do. They were brilliant in the second half. In the first we won no dirty ball but that all changed and that is one of the reasons we won it.
“Of course all our big names like Cormac [Murphy] were brilliant tonight,” Mallow coach Dermot O’Riordan told was after the match.
“If you can show me 26 hurlers better than that lad in this county at the moment we will definitely win the Liam McCarthy. He was brilliant. Cormac was brilliant, but he wasn’t the only one players like Denis [Hayes] in the middle were also terrific.
“Pa Herlihy impressed again with Dan Sheehan superb at the back. Even the subs did well when they came on. It was great to see young Daniel Buckley come on and get a great goal.”
Mallow had superb displays from full-back Killian O’Connor, midfielder Paul Lyons, wing back Daniel Sheehan, wing-forward Pa Herlihy and of course Murphy with Denis Hayes in the middle and keeper Aidan Long also impressing.
Long was superb under the highball with at least two great catches when points looked to be on while Hayes battled hard all game in a spot many thought was reserved for Murphy – who in turn moved out to half-forward.
For Blarney the first half competitiveness shown seemed to slip away when goals started flooding in with Blarney’s Coleman, Colin Murphy and Stephen Lohan all putting in major contributions for the men in red and white all the way to the finish. Shane Mulcahy in the corner also had some joy from his marker as did Peter Philpott with his brace of long range efforts.
The game burst into life with points reigning in from all angles with Coleman slotting over a brace of early frees and a wonderful side-line cut. Mallow looked a little flat footed early on and looked to be just about in touch as Blarney looked better at picking off their scores.
However, Mallow did stay close with a hat trick of points from Lyons, a couple of frees from Sean Hayes and a clinical finish from a classy looking Murphy. Blarney did well to weather a Mallow revival approaching the break and slotted over two late points which sent them in leading by a single score, 0-14 to 1-10.
This game changed course shortly after the restart as a brace of points from Blarney opened up a three point gap which was erased in a flash by Mallow’s second net buster, this time from Gerry Hayes. Another goal followed three minutes later from the other Hayes, Sean, as Mallow exploded into the team we all know they can be.
The sides traded scores over the next 10 minutes with Coleman and Murphy showing all the class that has both in county colours however Blarney’s challenge all but ended when Pa Herlihy raised the fourth green flag on 25 minutes, three minutes before substitute Daniel Buckley burst through for number five.
Mallow aren’t there yet, not by a long chalk - but they did show flashes last weekend of just how good they can be. Mallow have it all in the locker but need to get it on to the pitch.
The players, the management and the facilities are all in place at Mallow so it really is time to reap the rewards that this committed bunch deserve.
MALLOW: A Long; J O’Hanlon, K O’Connor, C Hannon; D Sheehan, F O’Neill, D Moynihan 0-1; D Hayes, P Lyons 0-3; P Herlihy 1-2, G Hayes 1-1, C Murphy 1-3; S Hayes 1-6 (5f), D Relihan 0-1, A Sheehan 0-1 Subs: B O’Ciarda for C Hannon (40), D Buckley 1-0 for A Sheehan (45), C Stack for D Relihan (56)
BLARNEY: C Murphy; D Walsh, P O’Leary, C O’Mahony; S Crowley, J Jordan, A McEvoy; P Philpott 0-2, M Coleman 1-8 (1-6f, 1.s/l); D Whyte 0-1, C Murphy 0-5, S Lohan 0-2; R Murphy, D Cremin, S Mulcahy 0-2 Subs: C Power for S Crowley (half Time), M O’Leary 0-1 for D Whyte (ht), M Cremin for D Cremin (36), K Costello for R Murphy (53)
REFEREE: J Larkin (Ballinora)