Mallow make it league and championship double with JBHC win

Mallow 2-21 Charleville 1-13

HAVING claimed the Cavanagh’s Fermoy Division 2 HL title only a couple of weeks ago Mallow’s Junior hurlers made it a league and championship double at Doneraile on Sunday when they defeated Charleville in the McAuliffe Hurleys Charleville sponsored JBHC (2) final.

Played in wintry conditions Mallow had the aid of the elements in the opening half. They created most of the running and moved into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. Sean Buckley kept Charleville in touch with a free in the 18th minute.

However at this stage Mallow were well on top. John Healy was in superb form at centre back and was ably assisted on the flanks by Rory Downey and Brian O’Riordan while Mark Roche and Kenneth Mills also did very well at midfield.

In the 19th minute they struck for the games opening goal when a delivery by Brian Murphy was saved on the line by the Charleville keeper Maurice O’Brien but the alert Fergal McCormack was on hand to finish to the net. Further pressure saw the impressive Jimmy Glynn breach the Charleville defence for a second goal in the 23rd minute to move 2-5 to 0-2 clear. Aaron O’Connor had a point for Charleville but some well taken points in the run up to the break by Jimmy Glynn (2) Fergal McCormack and Kenneth Mills helped the winners hold a 2-9 to 0-3 interval advantage.

On the changeover Mallow were again quick into the action with the hardworking Sean Glynn reeling off two rapid points. Aided by the wind in this half Charleville enjoyed good spells of possession with ‘man of the match’ Sean Buckley very impressive at midfield along with Claud Gough, Cathal O’Carroll and Brian Barrett. In the 36th minute they had a goal when a delivery by Sean Buckley found McDarra O’Brien who set up Michael O’Driscoll for a goal 2-11 to 1-4.

Charleville tried hard to reduce the deficit but in truth they were too far adrift of causing any upset. For the rest of the third quarter there was a number of points traded as Mallow held a 2-16 to 1-7 lead. In the last quarter Michael Maher added a point for Mallow before two long range points by Charleville’s Sean Buckley made it 2-18 to 1-9 by the 49th minute.

The Rathluirc side also came close to scoring two goals in this period but were denied when the Mallow keeper Padraigh Buckley was called upon to make two great saves from Michael O’Driscoll and Shane Connolly in quick succession. In the last ten minutes Charleville continued to push forward, Sean Buckley added three points before the final whistle with Michael Maher and Kieran Byrne also on target for Mallow with points.

In the end there was no denying Mallow a fully deserved victory. After the game Kieran Byrne accepted the Foxy O’Leary Memorial Cup from Michael Murphy Board PRO in front of a large Mallow gathering. They now face Killavullen to determine who will represent the Division in the County JBHC. MALLOW: P Buckley, E Crowley, G O’Sullivan, K Murphy, R Downey, J Healy, B O’Riordan, M Roche, K Mills 0-2, M Maher 0-2, F Moynihan 0-1, J Glynn 1-3, B Murphy, F McCormack 1-9 (0-4f, 0-2 ‘65’) K Byrne 0-1. Subs: S Glynn 0-3 for B Murphy (inj) T McNamara for J Glynn, S Buckley for M Roche, E Healy for E Crowley, A Woods for K Murphy.

CHARLEVILLE: M O’Brien, C Kiely, C Fitzgerald, PJ O’Halloran, I Linehan, C Gough, S Kiely, C O’Carroll 0-1, S Buckley 0-11 (5f), A O’Connor 0-1, B Barrett, S Connolly, M O’Brien, M O’Driscoll 1-0, K Dore. Subs: M Gammell for K Dore, D Collins for I Linehan, J Keane for M O’Brien, J Smith for S Kiely (inj), M O’Brien for B Barrett.

REFEREE: Eoin Walsh (Dromina)