Charleville come out on top in low scoring contest

Charleville 0-8 Mallow 0-4

CHARLEVILLE progressed to meet either Kilshannig or Fermoy in the Synergy Fermoy Credit Union JAFC semi-final after they defeated Mallow in a low scoring encounter at Churchtown on Wednesday.

Scores were certainly at a premium during the opening half with just three points registered in this period with both sets of defences dictating matters. The first score of the game came in the 20th minute when Jack Callaghan pointed a free for the winners with the same player increasing his side’s lead when he kicked over another point two minutes later. Mallow got their account up and running two minutes later when a Charleville clearance in the backline was intercepted with Peter Attridge on hand to kick over. At the end of normal time Mallow missed a chance to take a lead to the break when Trevor McEvoy was denied by a fine save by the Rathluirc keeper Jessie Smith.

On the changeover despite Cathal Carroll and Stephen O’Callaghan swapping an early point it was Charleville that shaded matters for most of this half. Their forwards looked very threatening as they moved double scores in front by the 38th minute when Jack Callaghan kicked over another free. The resultant kickout was won by the hard working Alan Dennehy whose delivery set up Darren Butler for a well taken point 0-5 to 0-2. Mallow’s response was immediate and a great movement involving Michael Quirke, Jack Dillon, Peadar Hennessy and Eoin Barry saw Peter Attridge kick over from a very tight angle to set up a close last quarter with two points separating the teams 0-5 to 0-3.

Just when Mallow looked like being back in the tie it was the Charleville challenge that grew in stature with Jack Doyle, Finbarr Cagney, Alan Dennehy, Jack Buckley, Jack Callaghan, Cathal Carroll and Mark Kavanagh finishing very well. In the 48th minute Jack Callaghan pointed a free and they moved 0-7 to 0-3 in front from the resultant kickout when Jack Buckley set up Danny Flynn who pointed from long range. Mallow regrouped once again with John McGuinness Erin Cahill, Stephen O’Callaghan, Kevin McCarthy, Peter Attridge and Michael Quirke doing well. Peter Attridge with a free in the 58th minute gave them a lifeline but this proved to be their last score.

At the other end Charleville were denied a certain goal at the end of normal time when the Mallow keeper Josh Murphy made a splendid save from the inrushing Jack Callaghan. In injury time Mark Kavanagh completed the scoring as they emerged victors by a four point margin. CHARLEVILLE: J Smith, M O’Flynn, D O’Sullivan, J Meade, J Doyle, F Cagney, J Kennedy, A Dennehy, J Buckley, C Carroll 0-1, D Flynn 0-1, J Callaghan 0-4f, S Buckley, D Butler 0-1, S Corkery. Subs: M Kavanagh 0-1 for S Corkery, T Hawe for D Butler, T Keane for J Callaghan.

MALLOW: J Murphy, E Barry, R Willis, M Quirke, J McGuinness, E Cahill, T McEvoy, S O’Callaghan 0-1 J Dillon, P Attridge 0-3 (2f), K McCarthy, M Roche, M Kenny, B Kennedy, A Hogan. Subs: P Hennessy for M Roche, O Carroll for R Willis (black card), S Kelly for T McEvoy (inj).

REFEREE: Eoin Walsh (Dromina)