Fermoy through to semi-final date

Fermoy 2-12 Mitchelstown 3-6

FERMOY with a strong second half performance defeated Mitchelstown in the County Premier Under 16 FC 2A replay at Kildorrery on Monday evening.

The inclement weather prior to and during the game made playing conditions rather difficult with a severe crosswind along with constant rain the order of the evening. The opening stages saw both teams quick into their stride when tied at 0-1 and 0-2 each by the ninth minute.

Mitchelstown struck for the games opening goal a minute later when Tommy Dalton set up the inrushing Aaron O’Brien who finished to the net from close range. Over the next couple of minutes Ben Twomey and Aaron O’Brien traded a point before two well taken points by Fermoy’s Darragh Daly and Jake Carr reduced the lead to the narrowest of margins 1-3 to 0-5.

Mitchelstown’s response was instant. Aaron O’Brien pointed before they struck for their second goal at the end of the first quarter when Dylan Sheehan and Aaron O’Brien combined well to set up Paddy Hanrahan who finished to the net and move his side double scores in front 2-4 to 0-5.

Fermoy stayed in touch when Ben Twomey kicked over two frees, but it was Mitchelstown that struck a purple before the break, scoring 1-2 without reply – the goal coming when good work by Paddy Hanrahan who set-up Aaron O’Brien who helped make it 3-6 to 0-7 at the interval.

On the changeover Fermoy were by far the better team and they held their opponents scoreless in this half. They had some good displays by Liam Clancy, Jake Carr, Darragh Daly, Ben Twomey and Sean Power as they took the game to their opponents from the offset.

They were awarded a penalty in the 34th minute but a great save by the Mitchelstown keeper Micheal Roche denied Jake Carr at the expense of a point. Nevertheless they made amends in the 40th minute when Ben Twomey cut through and scored a great goal 3-16 to 1-10.

Mitchelstown were dealt a blow at the mid way stage when they were reduced to 14 players. Fermoy worked the extra man to great effect for the remainder of the game.

In the 48th minute Darragh Daly kicked a great point before they took the lead five minutes later when a delivery across the square by Ben Twomey was finished to the net by Eoin Canty following a goal mouth scramble 2-11 to 3-6.

Despite not scoring in this half Mitchelstown created their fair share of chances, but at times they found it difficult to break down a well organised Fermoy back line. Ben Twomey completed the scoring for the winners with a free as they progressed to meet Bandon in the semi-final.

FERMOY: C Roche, T.J Daly, L Cremin, R Hoskins, S Og Duggan/Heffernan, L Clancy, R O’Brien, J Carr 0-3 (0-1 pen), D Daly 0-2, G Murphy, S Power 0-1, B Twomey 1-6 (0-4f), A Flynn, E Canty 1-0, C O’Brien Subs: K Fitzpatrick for TJ Daly, S Duffy for G Murphy (black card)

MITCHELSTOWN : Micheal Roche, A O’Shea, J O’Shea, C Keane, S O’Connell, R Donegan, S Kenneally, C Keane/Hyland, P Finn, D Harte, A O’Brien 2-4 (0-1f), D Sheehan, P Hanrahan 1-1, T Dalton, D Flynn 0-1 Subs: L Murphy for D Harte, Michael Roche for P Finn, A O’Grady for C Keane/Hyland,

REFEREE: John Ryan (Macroom)