Boherbue put JAFC title on line against Lyre

THE bar is raising in the E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Dealers Duhallow JAFC with the opening semi-final between Boherbue and Lyre going ahead in Dromtariffe on this Thursday evening.

From the outset to the campaign, Boherbue have delivered an ominous warning of their wellbeing, first time out, the defending holders overcame Knocknagree’s second string. The champions laid the groundwork for victory in the opening half, three goals netted to confirm a far more balanced and more accomplished outfit. Knocknagree brought plenty of potential to an intriguing contest but an inability to raise to the impressive tempo set by Boherbue left the challengers facing a battle they seldom looked like coming to terms with.

And a fast moving Boherbue encountered few problems from Castlemagner to a one sided round 2 tussle. Raising their game to levels where Castlemagner failed to reach, nobody could question Castlemagner’s workrate or resolve yet they found it difficult to dislodge a solid Boherbue combination.

Right from the start, Boherbue put together delightful passages of football, a David O’Connor goal pushed the holders ahead 1-5 to 0-0 inside 10 minutes. For a spell, Castlmagner succeeded on weathering the storm, still Boherbue measured up to the test, the workrate of Niall Murphy, Michael O’Connor, Adrian Murphy and Jerry O’Connor hugely influential. In fairness, Castlemagner hauled themselves back into contention yet Boherbue’s ball retention, support play and finishing proved superior with Denis McCarthy and Andrew O’Connor splitting the uprights.

Lyre incurred a single point loss to Dromtariffe in the opening round, the latter given a searching examination having looking well positioned on leading by eight points early in the second half. Indeed Lyre had enough of the play and the chances to have forced extra time yet Dromtariffe’s greater balance coupled with a productive spell either side of the interval proved decisive.

However Lyre cut loose on producing a powerful display to easily account for a disappointing Kanturk in Round 2. In scorching conditions, Lyre sauntered through in impressive fashion, never any disputing the victors authority and they had the issue in safe keeping by the interval. Indeed Lyre worked efficiently for the hour, grafting their way through a test that ultimately proved a lot more easier than many would had anticipated.

Operating some excellent combined play, Damien Kearney, Colm Coughlan and James Twohig held command in the Lyre defence, Timmie Murphy and Kevin Tarrant won a generous supply at midfield with Denis Roche, Paudie Ryan and Liam O’Brien sharp up front.

Lyre will relish the underdog label going into this contest and with places in a divisional final in addition to a ticket into the county championship at stake, both sides will strive might and main for a return. However, Boherbue are very much the form team and the inclination is to opt for the reigning holders to advance to familiar ground.

* The second semi-final between Cullen and Dromtariffe scheduled for Wednesday evening was posponed owing to the inclusion of Dromtariffe’s Conor O’Callaghan onto the Cork panel for the All Ireland U21HC semi final against Wexford.