Kilshannig and Mallow minors draw in thrilling semi-final
Kilshannig 1-13 Mallow 0-16
KILSHANNIG and Mallow have to meet again to determine who meets St Finbarr’s in this year’s Rebel Og County Premier MFC (2) final after they finished in stalemate after extra-time at Mourneabbey.
In a thrilling contest both teams enjoyed their moments. Despite the sides being level at 0-1 each by the sixth minute it was the Glantane outfit that started in a very positive manner with Bill Curtin, Eanna O’Hanlon, Kieran Twomey, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Eoin Healy, Michael O’Sullivan, Colm and Barry O’Shea featuring strongly and by the end of the first quarter three more points by Colm O’Shea, O’Hanlon and Twomey surged them 0-4 to 0-1 in front.
Then came a good spell by Mallow with Eoin Kelleher at centre forward heavily involved in a lot of his sides movements while others to impress included Oisin Carroll, Jack Hadden, Eoghan Barry, Shane Merritt, Peadar Hennessy, Ronan Sheehan, Peter Attridge, and Sean McDonnell. In the 18th minute Eoin Kelleher kicked a good point before two points in quick succession by Sean McDonnell and Charlie Carroll by the 25th minute got them back on parity at 0-4 each. Kilshannig regrouped well in the closing moments. A good pass by Conor McMahon set up the inrushing Eoin Healy whose effort at goal hit the crossbar and went over for a point.
Kieran Twomey followed with a long range point before Eanna O’Hanlon with a free in the 29th minute restored a three point lead. In injury time Mallow completed the first half scoring when a great movement involving Jack Hadden, Kevin O’Mahony and Shane Merritt resulted in Peter Attridge kicking a good point under pressure and reduce the deficit to 0-7 to 0-5 at the shortwhistle.
On the restart Mallow set out their intentions from the offset when Ronan Sheehan’s goal scoring chance within seconds of the thrown in struck the crossbar and went over for a point. They were level for the third time in the 33rd minute courtesy of Peadar Hennessy. Mallow took the lead for the first time when Eoin Kelleher kicked over but this score was cancelled out when Conor McMahon had a point for Kilshannig in the 36th minute. This was the trend for a while and as the game heading into the last ten minutes it was all to play for when tied at 0-9 each. Kilshannig struck for the only goal of the game in the 51st minute when a quickly taken free by Conor McMahon deceived everyone when it made its way to the Mallow net.
With a place in the final at stake against St Finbarr’s the Glantane side looked in a great position of reaching the decider until Mallow finally got their revival going with three minutes of normal time remaining. In the 57th minute Eoin Kelleher kicked a crucial free. Peter Attridge added another point from a free before good work by Eoghan Barry picked out Sean McDonnell for the equalising score in the 59th minute. With a considerable amount of injury time to be added both teams had chances to snatch victory before the final whistle sounded and thus extra time was deemed necessary.
The first period of extra time saw Kilshannig dominate matters and it was reflected with three early scores by Kieran Twomey, Eanna O’Hanlon and Ciaran O’Sullivan that moved them 1-12 to 0-12 clear. Mallow fought back well. Peter Attridge pointed a free before Enock Khanyile with a well taken point on the stroke of the half time whistle left just a point between the teams 1-12 to 0-14.
On the changeover Kilshannig moved two clear when the hardworking Eoin Healy kicked over. The Glantane side were unable to increase their lead any further and instead it was Mallow that finished strongly to salvage another day out when Peter Attridge (free) and Ronan Sheehan with a point each got them back on level terms. In the end a draw was a fitting result. KILSHANNIG: G Creedon, M Cogan, B Curtin, D O’Riordan, M O’Sullivan, C O’Shea 0-1, S Murphy, E O’Hanlon 0-3 (2f), K Twomey 0-5 (4f), C O’Connell, B O’Shea, E Healy 0-2, C O’Sullivan 0-1, C McMahon 1-1 (1-0 f), D Taylor. Subs: M Barry for M O’Sullivan, A Sheehan for D Taylor,.
MALLOW: J Murphy, E Crone, O Carroll, E Kenny, J Hadden, E Barry, K O’Mahony, S Merritt, P Hennessy 0-1, R Sheehan 0-2, E Kelleher 0-4 (1f), A Bolster, P Attridge 0-4 (3f), S McDonnell 0-3, C Carroll 0-1. Subs: S O’Flynn for J Hadden (inj), E Khanyile 0-1 for A Bolster, J Hadden for S McDonnell (inj), A Bolster for S O’Flynn (et), M Fitzpatrick for E Kelleher.
REFEREE: John Ryan (Macroom)