An understrength Duhallow fall to Erins Own

Erins Own 1-16 Duhallow 1-9

FORCED to field without several first-choice players, it was always on the cards that Duhallow would be hard-pressed to prevail in the county SHC clash with Erins Own at Mallow last Monday.

As things transpired, the game proceeded very much along anticipated lines, as the outcome was seldom in any real doubt, despite the spirited efforts of the divisional side to upset the odds.

It was a pillar-to-post victory for last year’s defeated county finalists, who didn’t have to produce anything out of the ordinary to get the job done. In truth, the writing was on the wall for Duhallow after Erins Own cruised into a four-point lead, 0-5 to 0-1, during the opening ten minutes.

Sean Howard bagged Duhallow’s first point, following good work by Jack Murphy and Shane Hehir, and he kept them in touch with two more scores from frees before Erins Own made a major breakthrough in the 16th minute. Latching on a delivery from Maurice O’Carroll, Eoghan Murphy booted in a goal for the East-Cork side to make it 1-7 to 0-3 at that stage.

It left Duhallow facing an uphill battle, and, in view of their obvious limitations in attack, it was hard too see them making up the leeway, although they did manage to arrest their slide as the progressed.

That was due primarily to the steadiness of their defence, in which David O’Mahony was particularly effective at full-back. Sean Howard continued to carry Duhallow’s main threat in attack and he was their sole marksman before Mark Ellis powered forward from centre back to post an inspirational score nearing half time.

Turning over 1-9 to 0-6 in arrears, Duhallow got off to the best possible start in the second half, with Stephen O’Reilly, Sean Howard and William Murphy combining to create an opening that yielded a goal from Shane Crowley inside 31 minutes.

Any hopes Duhallow might have harboured of knocking Erins Own off course were quickly dispelled, however, as they failed first half to add to their tally until Shane Howard converted a free at the three-quarter stage.

In the interim, Erins Own had reeled off five points on the trot, making it abundantly clear in the process that they had the facility to move up the gears when required.

Duhallow, to their credit, never threw in the towel, and, with the score at 1-15 to 1-8, they had reason to feel a little aggrieved when the referee called back the play to award them a free after full forward Eoin Sheahan, having made a great catch at the edge of the square, presented Shane Crowley with a golden opportunity in the 50th minute.

That Anthony Nash’s goal-attempt from the free was deflected over the bar was scant consolation for the losers, who will also reflect ruefully on erratic shooting, which saw them accumulate 14 wides over the hour.

It would be stretching things quite a bit, however, to suggest Erins Own – who were best served by Shane Murphy, Stephen Cronin, Sean Kelly and Eoghan Murphy – were flattered by their winning margin, as they always appeared to be playing well within themselves in what was a pedestrian contest for the most part.

David O’Mahony, Jack Murphy, Mark Ellis and Sean Howard performed most creditably for Duhallow, while ‘keeper Anthony Nash showed his quality with a superb save to prevent Colm O’Callaghan from goaling for Erins Own in the third quarter.

Scorers ERINS OWN: E Murphy 1-7 (5f), C O’Mahony and M O’ Carroll 0-2 each, S Cronin, Kieran Murphy, R O’Flynn, S Kelly (sideline) and S Murphy 0-1 each

DUHALLOW: S Howard 0-6 (4f), S Crowley 1-0, M Ellis, J Forrest and A Nash (f) 0-1 each

ERINS OWN: S Bowen; C O’Connor, C Dooley, J Sheehan, S Cronin, S Murphy, J O’Carroll; S Kelly, Killian Murphy; C O’Mahony, M O’Carroll, Kieran Murphy; C O’Callaghan, J O’Flynn, E Murphy Subs: S Horgan for J O’Carroll , ht, R O’Flynn for O’Flynn, ht, A Bowen for Kieran Murphy, 54, M Collins for O’’Mahony, 54

DUHALLOW: A Nash (Kanturk); K Cremin (Dromtariffe), D O’Mahony (Castlemagner), C Murphy (do.); J Murphy (Dromtariffe), M Ellis (Millstreet), M O’Sullivan (Castlemagner); L McLoughlin (Kanturk), S Hehir (Tullylease); S Howard (Dromtariffe), W Murphy (Meelin), S O’’Reilly (Kilbrin); M Vaughan (Millstreet), E Sheahan (Kilbrin), S Crowley (do.) Subs: J Forrest (Meelin) for Vaughan, 42, D O’Keeffe (Dromtariffe) for Hehir, 43

REFEREE: D Copps (Ballyhea)