Dromtariffe are too strong for Kildimo-Pallaskenry
Dromtariffe 2-10 Kildimo-Pallaskenry (Limerick) 1-7
A TELLING surge in the opening half did much to signpost Dromtariffe’s victory over Kildimo-Pallaskenry in this AIB Munster Junior A Football Championship quarter-final at Mallow on Saturday.
Shaking off some early nervousness, Dromtariffe grabbed a hold of the game and turned superiority into scores with a pair of goals netted by Shane Collins and Mark O’Connor key to the destination of the spoils. Fair play to Kildimo-Pallaskenry to offer commendable spirit to stay in the contest, although the copybook of the Limerick champions was blotted with three players red carded in injury-time.
At key stages during the opening half, Dromtariffe emerged the more probable winners because of the manner, they controlled possession, plenty of energy and movement during the second quarter when the Cork champions delivered telling scores with 2-4 registered as against 0-2 conceded.
The tempo dropped upon the restart, Dromtariffe rarely hitting top form but seldom looking troubled by gallant opponents. And while Kildimo-Pallaskenry showed some positive glimpses, there was never any real danger of Dromtariffe letting their commanding lead slip.
The numerical imbalance during six minutes of injury time made no difference whatever to the outcome. Though Dromtariffe opened the proceedings with an Evan Murphy point, Kildimo-Pallaskenry held their own early through the impact of Young Hurler of the Year Kyle Hayes and Tony McCarthy with the effective Darren O’Connell posting a pair of points.
Certainly game on to a low scoring initial quarter, a Seamus O’Sullivan point forced equality at 0-2 apiece. After Daniel O’Keeffe nudged the Duhallow outfit ahead, Dromtariffe managed to take the wind out of the Limerick men’s sails once Conor O’Callaghan sprinted into space and crossed for Collins to flick home a goal.
That score lifted Dromtariffe to a higher gear, controlling the pace of the game through the efforts of Seán Howard, Jack Murphy and Conor O’Callaghan in defence with Seamus O’Sullivan and Adam Buckley winning possession in the centre.
Though Hayes delivered a Limerick point, momentum allowed Dromtariffe create scores more easily, Callahghan stepping forward to point before a long ball from the minor player found Mark O’Connor to billow the net.
Enjoying the lions share of the possession, additional points from O’Keeffe and O’Callaghan boosted Dromtariffe though Kildimo-Pallaskenry gained some encouragement from a much needed McCarthy point to trim the arrears 2-6 to 0-4 at the break. And Dromtariffe looked the more accomplished side on the restart, stamping their authority on the proceedings with Collins, O’Keeffe and O’Connor on target to grab a commanding 10 points ahead.
As the contest progressed through scrappy fare, Dromtariffe lost their shape somewhat, struggling to make possession count, team captain’s Seamus O’Sullivan move to full forward to offset injury handed the midfield initiative to the opposition. Credit Kildimo-Pallaskenry, refusing to lose heart, they received a glimmer of hope, a move initiated by Hayes and involving Keel Moloney and Conor Staff saw O’Connell’s deflected effort find the net.
Indeed the green flag spurred on the Treaty combination, though they came raiding for another major score, the Dromtariffe defence weren’t in the mood to concede again and duly put the squeeze on their opponents.
Staff did point to reduce the arrears to six before O’Keeffe and Peter Nash swapped pointed frees. Far from a tempestuous encounter, a sporting contest boiled over at the end of regulation time with Kildimo-Pallaskenry losing three players to red cards in two separate incidents.
Crucially Dromtariffe held their cool, safely securing a passage to the penultimate hurdle and a meeting against Waterford kingpins Mount Sion this Saturday. DROMTARIFFE: D Mann, C O’Mahony, C Cremin, S Howard, B O’Keeffe, J Murphy, T Howard, A Buckley, S O’Sullivan 0-1, E Murphy 0-1, D O’Donoghue, M O’Connor 1-1, C O’Callaghan 0-2, S Collins 1-1, D O’Keeffe 0-4 (2f). Subs: J Buckley for T Howard (35), D O’Connor for S O’Sullivan (55), G Murphy for M O’Connor (59).
KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: J Hickey; B Howard, B McGeogh, E Carroll; M Sheehan, T McCarthy 0-1, B Walsh; K Moloney, K Hayes 0-1; C Staff 0-1, B O’Connell 1-3, D O’Connell; D Deegan, L O’Leary, P Nash 0-1f. Subs: L O’Sullivan for K Moloney (41), D Walsh for E Carroll (45).
REFEREE: E Moran (Kerry)