Patrician Academy find Rockwell too hard to crack

Rockwell College 4-13 Patrician Academy Mallow 4-8

ROCKWELL College had a five point win over Patrician Academy (Mallow) in the Munster Senior B FC at Ballyporeen on Wednesday. Over the hour the overall team work and balance proved vital for Rockwell. Patrician Academy lacked scoring power up front relying mainly on the outstanding Barry O’Shea who finished with 3-2.

Rockwell opened with early points by Ryan O’Sullivan. Good play by Enock Khanile led to an opening Mallow point by Eanna O’Hanlon in the 7th minute. Academy took the lead soon after when Shane Merritt worked well for Eoin Kelleher who goaled and gave his side the lead.

Rockwell fought back well. Jake Flannery put Ryan O’Sullivan in for a point and the latter levelled in the 14th minute 0-4 to 1-1. Sean Cotter gave the Tipperary side the lead with Eanna O’Hanlon (free) levelling in the 17th minute 0-5 to 1-2. Rockwell goaled soon after by Mark Heffernan. In the 23rd minute they had their second goal by Cian Mullane that put them double scores ahead 2-6 to 1-3.

Academy had a late point by Barry O’Shea after good play by Eanna O’Hanlon as the winners led 2-6 to 1-4 at half time.

On the resumption Rockwell moved double scores ahead again 2-8 to 1-4. Cian Mullane and Eanna O’Hanlon swopped a point before Mullane added two points in quick succession that opened up a 9 point lead 2-11 to 1-5 by the 42nd minute.

Mallow had another Barry O’Shea point after good combined play by Kevin O’Mahony and Oisin Carroll. Rockwell had their third goal in the 45th minute when Sean Cotter and Jack Harney worked a good movement for Ryan O’Sullivan who goaled and made it 3-11 to 1-6.

Sean Cotter with a quick point put Rockwell 12 points clear. Academy threw caution to the wind. Shane Merritt put Barry O’Shea in for a goal in the 49th minute. Three minutes later good play by Eoin Kelleher, Enock Khanile and Colm O’Shea led to another goal by Barry O’Shea 3-12 to 3-6. Academy had two more points cutting the lead to four 3-12 to 3-8

In the closing moments Sean O’Connor pointed for Rockwell. Barry O’Shea had his third goal with Rockwell having their 4th goal in injury time that saw them advance by a five point margin. ROCKWELL COLLEGE: D Cusack (Tousist), J Houlihan (Moyle Rovers), S Grogan (Cahir), T Broderick (John Mitchel’s), C McKenna (Cahir), J Harney (Moyle Rovers), A Ryan (Golden-Kilfeacle), J Flannery (Galtee Rovers), C Kennedy 0-1f (Clonmel Commercials), C Mullane 1-4 (Clerihan), C O’Brien (Cahir), S Cotter 0-2 (Moyle Rovers), M Heffernan 1-0 (Killenaule), R O’Sullivan 1-5 (0-2f) (Cashel King-Cormack’s), C Kelly (Kilsheelan-Kilcash). Subs: J O’Dwyer (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for M Heffernan, S Maher (Moycarkey Borris) for C O’Brien, S O’Connor 1-1, (Clonmel Commercials) for J Houlihan.

PATRICIAN ACADEMY MALLOW: J Murphy (Mallow), D Taylor (Kilshannig), B Curtin (do), K O’Mahony (Mallow), N O’Riordan (do), O Carroll (do), B O’Shea 3-2 (Kilshannig), C O’Shea (do), D Keane (Buttevant), S Merritt (Mallow), E O’Hanlon 0-5 (3f) (Kilshannig), E Khanile (Mallow), C Carroll (do), C McMahon 0-1 (Kilshannig), E Kelleher 1-0 (Mallow). Subs: D Cronin (Clyda Rovers) for N O’Riordan, N O’Riordan (Mallow) for D Keane, K O’Sullivan (Kilshannig) for D Taylor.

REFEREE: Donie Cahill (Ballyporeen)