Second half surge seals it for Mallow

Mallow 0-21 Cloyne 2-11

MALLOW discovered a new urgency during the second half to outsmart Cloyne after a highly entertaining County Premier IHC Round 1 clash at Fermoy last Sunday.

Having operated second fiddle to a Cloyne outfit in the opening spell, a different Mallow resumed for the second half. And though falling behind by nine points rather than wilt, the Avondhu men burst into life, incredibly outscoring Cloyne 0-14 to 0-1 during the closing 20 minutes on playing against the breeze.

All told a most impressive Mallow resurrection, cutting down the errors and applying a more determined approach that ultimately proved a matchwinner. Mallow coach Fergal McCormack had reason to be cheerful after his side showed a marked improvement.

“We felt s bit under pressure to be behind by six points at halftime yet we had enjoyed plenty of possession. During the second half, it was nice to see the work on the training ground come to fruition,” he said.

“It’s always important to get over the first round and avoid relegation fears, it could be late July before our next outing. That will other players such as Seán Hayes to get back from injury and others stake a place on the side,” said McCormack.

Earlier Cloyne’s play appeared more direct yielded better dividends though lead points from Ian Cahill and Keith Dennehy were matched by a pair of pointed frees from Killian O’Connor. Though operating against the breeze, Cloyne took a grip on the proceedings helped on a terrific goal from corner forward Michael Cahill.

The initiative was running with Cloyne now, stamping their authority on the proceedings from the telling play of alert ‘keeper Donal Óg Cusack, Eoin Motherway, Brian Fleming and Maurice Lynch. And with excellent sharpshooter Brian O’Shea showed deadly accuracy from placed balls, four on the bounce pushed Cloyne into a commanding position.

That said, Mallow held plenty of possession, but failed to get the necessary precision into scores confirmed on posting eight wides during the opening spell. Cloyne appeared much sharper, illustrated on Cusack finding Fleming to launch a lengthy clearance into full forward Ian Cahill to point delightfully.

Amazingly, Mallow waited to injury time for only their lone score from play, a point from wing back Dara Moynihan cut the arrears 1-7 to 0-4 at the break. However, Cloyne enjoyed a big start to the second half, availing of a second goal, Fleming the instigator for Michael Cahill to register his second green flag.

That left Mallow facing the possibility of a wipe out, a massive test of their resolve and the response was compelling. Playing their way back into contention saw Cormac Murphy, O’Connor and Patrick Healy point.

Still Cloyne appeared to hold the facility to answer and back to back pointed frees from O’Shea helped secure a 2-10 to 0-7 advantage by the 41st min. Mallow had taken remedial action and a new spring to their game surfaced, really up for the challenge, Ronan Sheehan, Jack Hanlon and Healy hurled surperbly in defence, Paul Lyons moved to midfield established a strong platform with Cormac Murphy and O’Connor thriving in attack.

Hitting the high spots, Mallow came forward in relentless waves of attacks, three points apiece to O’Connor and Murphy in addition to a pair from Healy and another from Kevin Sheehan altered the scoreboard in favour of the North Cork side by the minimum of margins 0-17 to 2-11.

Cloyne broke the sequence, O’Shea obliged with a pointed free to square up the proceedings. That proved a temporally respite for Mallow regained the initiative courtesy of back to back pointed frees from O’Connor.

Still Cloyne worked to launch a rescue, trailing by two points, a 20 metre free saw O’Shea elect to go for a goal but his efforts was dealt with by a competent Mallow rearguard.

Essentially, Mallow’s workrate was key to the turn around of fortunes, Healy placed Murphy for a gem of a point before Ronan Sheehan laid the groundwork for big Donal Relihan add a point to coppenfasten victory.

All is not lost for Cloyne, a chance to redeem themselves when they face up to fellow Imokilly side Youghal in Round 2.

MALLOW: A Long; R Sheehan, F O’Neill, J Hanlon; D Sheehan, P Healy 0-3, D Moynihan 0-1; J Sheehan 0-1, K Mills; G Hayes, C Murphy 0-6, D Relihan; D Hayes, K O’Connor 0-9 (0-7f), P Lyons

CLOYNE: D Óg Cusack; D Jermyn, E Motherway, B Fleming; M Lynch, S Beausang, E O’Sullivan; B Minhane, B O’Shea 0-8 (0-7f); C Smith, K Dennehy 0-1, C Mullins; M Cahill 2-0, I Cahill 0-2, B Walsh Sub: C Motherway for Mullins (60)

REFEREE: M Maher (St Finbarrs)