Heartache for Mallow in premier final

IN the County Premier IHC the Avondhu Division were represented by Mallow, Charleville, Fermoy, Kilworth.

Fermoy reached the County final in 2016 while Mallow were beaten in the semi finals of 2015 and 2016 by eventual champions Newcestown and Bandon.

There were some very close games. Round 1 drew a fine crowd to Ballyhooly where Kilworth defeated Fermoy by 3- 15 to 1- 14. Also in Round 1 Charleville had a single point to spare over Fr O’Neill’s 1-16 to 2- 12 with Mallow having a 1-12 to 1- 9 win over Courcey Rovers.

Kilworth and Mallow were now through to Round 2A while Fermoy met Tracton in Round 2B. Fermoy turned in a powerful display and were very easy winners by 4-22 to 0-7.

Cloyne beat Kilworth in Round 2A by 2-14 to 0-12. Fermoy accounted for Carrigaline in Round 3 by 2-13 to 0-15. Mallow had a huge win over Blarney in Mourneabbey by 5-18 to 1-21. Fr O’Neill’s had a big win over Kilworth 3-14 to 0- 8.

Kanturk and Charleville met in Kilbrin. It took a marvellous save by Anthony Nash midway through the second half to see Kanturk win by 1-22 to 0-21. Charleville and Kanturk met again this time in the quarter final.

Kanturk did well and led for most of the hour. They emerged winners by 1-19 to 0-14.

Mallow defeated Valley Rovers in a quarter-final with Cloyne beating Fermoy by 2-19 to 2- 12. The semi finals were played as a double header in Pairc Ui Rinn in bad weather conditions.

Kanturk had a goal to spare over Ballinhassig and Mallow had a 1-16 to 1-12 victory over Cloyne. The final then was between near neighbours Mallow and Kanturk in Pairc Ui Rinn under lights.

It was close all through, Mallow had 10 wides in the first half while Kanturk had 8. Kanturk moved 0-9 to 0- 7 clear early in the second half.

The sides were deadlocked 0-12 each with five minutes remaining.

Mallow had their goal which deflected off Gerry Hayes’s foot with just three minutes to go as they led 1-12 to 0-13. Kanturk had four points without reply to claim the title on a 0-17 to 1-12 scoreline.

Mallow team Aidan Long, Jack O’Hanlon, Killian O’Connor 0-1f. Ronan Mills, Darragh Moynihan, Fionn O’Neill (Capt) Alec Luttrell, Paul Lyons 0-1, Denis Hayes, Pa Herlihy, Cormac Murphy 0-1, Donal Relihan 0-4, Sean Hayes 0-3f. Gerry Hayes 1-1, Aaron Sheehan. Subs : Kevin Sheehan 0-1, for Aaron Sheehan, Brian Carey for Pa Herlihy (inj) Conor Hannon for Alec Luttrell (inj).