St Mark’s have point to spare in U-16 B2 HC final replay

St Mark’s 4-14 Buttevant 4-13

FOLLOWING a tremendous replay at Charleville on Monday evening another high scoring contest ensued with St Mark’s holding out by the narrowest of margins. Buttevant had the perfect start and helped by early points by JC Guiney (3) and Josh Maher they led 0-4 to 0-0 after 8 minutes. Cormac Curtin opened St Mark’s account with a free. Buttevant well on top added points by JC Guiney and Mark O’Connell after good play by Neil O’Connell. Mark’s had their second score in the 18th minute when David Carroll found Cormac Curtin who was fouled and the latter pointed the free 0-7 to 0-2.

In the 23rd minute Cormac Curtin with another free closed the gap to 4 points. Good play by Cormac Curtin to Ciaran Curtin led to a fine point. Impressive Cathal Broderick soloed through and pointed. St. Marks were very much in the ascendancy in the closing moments and they forced level at 0-7 each. In the 28th minute Daniel Dineen goaled.

Buttevant replied immediately when Kyle Trimm soloed through and forced Ciaran Curtin to save well. The rebound came to the well placed JC Guiney who goaled. Guiney followed with a pointed free edging Buttevant in front 1-8 to 1-7. St Mark’s Brian Carroll saved well from a JC Guiney free in injury time. Deep in injury time St Mark’s took the lead when Adam Linehan worked hard for Ciaran Curtin who goaled 2-7 to 1-8 at the break.

On the resumption Ciaran Curtin had a quick goal opening up a lead 3-7 to 1-8. Buttevant fought back very well. Kyle Trimm soloed through and goaled with JC Guiney’s long range effort finding its way to the net as Buttevant moved a point clear 3-8 to 3-7. Further Buttevant pressure led to a Michael O’Neill point. Jimmy McAuliffe pointed under pressure for the Freemount-Meelin side who came within the minimum 3-9 to 3-8.

The Avondhu boys edged further ahead when Kyle Bowles worked well for Neil O’Connell who goaled. In the 40th minute St Mark’s had their fourth goal when a free by Cormac Curtin was finished to the net by the outstanding Cathal Broderick 4-9 to 4-8. Three minutes later a foul on Ciaran Curtin led to a pointed free by Cormac Curtin who levelled for the 3rd time at 4-9 each.

Cathal Broderick edged St Mark’s in front with Buttevant forcing level again at 4-10 apiece. They were also level at 4-11 and 4-12 each entering the final moments. Michael O’Neill put Buttevant a point ahead with a long range point. In injury time Ciaran Curtin seemed to have sent the game to extra time when he tied up the game for the seventh time at 4-13 each.

Deep in injury time David Carroll worked very hard for Cathal Broderick who sent over the winner. Buttevant had four chances of forcing the game to extra time. Two efforts went wide one was cleared and the other was a fine save by Mark’s keeper Ciaran Curtin.

After the game Kieran Linehan Rebel Og Vice-chairman presented the cup to the winners captain Dylan Culhane. Both sides will go forward in the County Championship and they could meet again in the Co final.

ST. MARK’S: Ciaran Curtin, D Culhane, B Carroll, P Curtin, D Carroll, J Kelly, D Buckley, C Broderick 1-2, D Dineen 1-0, Cormac Curtin 0-4f, A Linehan, J McAuliffe 0-3, Ciaran Curtin 2-5 (0-2f).

BUTTEVANT: D Ryan, N O’Riordan, C O’Hanlon, B O’Connor, M O’Connell 0-1, A Carey, K Trimm 1-0, M O’Neill 0-5, N O’Connell 1-0, J C Guiney 2-5 (0-3f), E O’Donoghue, J Maher 0-1, K Bowles 0-1. Sub: A Trimm for J Maher.

REFEREE: Alec Morrissey (Newtownshandrum)