Semi-final bound Iveleary too strong for Boherbue

Iveleary 3-10 Boherbue 1-12

IVELEARY survived a real test of their credentials by scoring a four point victory over Boherbue in a thrilling County Junior A Football Championship quarter-final at Millstreet on Saturday.

With two skilful sides on duty, this was

John Ryan (Macroom) always going to be a cracker, Iveleary were up for the job and when it mattered, they found the kick to advance to an eagerly awaited clash against Knocknagree in the penultimate hurdle.

The outcome was tough on Boherbue who had enough possession and chances to make an impression on a county title race not visited in 29 years, but Iveleary’s sharper play ultimately costs the Duhallow champions.

Indeed Boherbue could scarcely had hoped for a better start, dangerman Jerry O’Connor blasted home a marvellous goal with follow up points from Adrian Murphy and Andrew O’Connor helped secure a 1-3 to 0-0 advantage inside six minutes.

Iveleary succeeded on weathering the early storm once Barry O’Leary and Chris Óg Jones pointed. Driven on by the tireless grafting of Donal Cotter, Daniel O’Riordan, Seán O’Leary, Brian Cronin and Jones, Iveleary drove forward in waves.

A reward surfaced on 16 minutes, a sweeping move saw Jones finish surperbly to the Boherbue net. With Boherbue on the backfoot, saw black cards picked up, a foul on Finbarr McSweeney allowed Cronin despatch a resultant penalty

And Iveleary might well had added to their tally only to be denied by a series of brilliant saves from Boherbue ‘keeper Kevin Murphy that allowed a 2-3 to 1-5 advantage in favour of Iveleary at the break.

The sides traded points on the restart only for Iveleary grab the reins of control, Jones and Barry O’Leary linking up for Cathal Vaughan to net.

Boherbue rallied magnificently and a series of raids saw the ball come off both the woodwork and goal line coupled on a fine save by Iveleary ‘keeper Joe Creedon. Indeed Boherbue took encouragement from points by Niall Murphy, Jerry and Michael O’Connor to whittle the deficit to just two 3-8 to 1-12.

The concluding minutes were hectic as Boherbue threw everything forward in a bid to salvage matters.

However, Iveleary had no intention of leaving all their previous work go unrewarded and a late flurry of points from Vaughan and Cronin rubberstamped a passage to a semi final.

IVELEARY: J Creedon; D Cotter, D O’Riordan, B Murphy; S Lehane, K Manning, S O’Leary; P O’Riordan, C Ó Ríordáin; F McSweeney Jun, C Vaughan 1-2(0-1’45), F McSweeney; B Cronin 1-2 (1-0p, 0-2f), C Óg Jones 1-4, B O’Leary 0-2 Subs: S Galvin for P O’Riordan (44), C Galvin for F McSweeney (51), G McSweeney for O’Leary (55) BOHERBUE: K Murphy; D Buckley, N Murphy 0-1, B Buckley; T Murphy, M O’Connor 0-2, A Guerin; B O’Gorman, K Cremin; J Casey 0-1, A Murphy 0-1, A O’Connor 0-1; R Moynihan, D O’Connell, J O’Connor 1-5 (0-2f) Subs: M O’Gorman 0-1 for A Murphy (19bc), C J O’Sullivan for T Murphy (20 bc), P Murphy for O’Connell (38). D Moynihan for Casey (48), S Aherne for R Moynihan (50)

REFEREE: D Farrell (Mitchelstown)