O’Riordan goal decisive as Mallow defeat Fermoy in County League

Mallow 1-11 Fermoy 0-12

PREMIER Intermediate Football champions of the last two years Mallow and Fermoy clashed in the opening round of the County Division 2 FL at Fermoy on Sunday with Mallow emerging victors by a two point margin. In a keenly contested encounter both teams were quick into the action.

They were level at 0-3 by the 13th minute the points coming by Martin Brennan (2) Pa Herlihy, Ronan O’Callaghan, Cian O’Riordan and Jack Dillon for their respective sides. Mallow created the games opening goal scoring chance soon after when good work by Eoin Kelleher set up Pa Herlihy who was denied by a great save by the Fermoy keeper Liam Coleman.

At the other end the home side with two pointed frees by Ronan O’Callaghan moved 0-5 to 0-3 in front by the 19th minute. The remainder of the half saw Mallow gain the initiative. Good work by Stephen O’Callaghan resulted in Cian O’Riordan kicking over a fine point. From the kickout Mallow won possession with O’Riordan getting through to score the only goal of the game. Ronan O’Callaghan responded with a free for Fermoy but it was the winners that completed the first half scoring when Eoin Kelleher set up Cian O’Riordan for a long range point as Mallow held a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead.

On the changeover despite Kieran O’Sullivan opening up a three point game when he pointed within seconds of the throw in it was Fermoy that took the game to their opponents from the offset. A period of sustained pressure saw Ruairi O’Hagan, Liam Coleman and Padraigh De Roiste with minors force level for the 4th time at 1-6 to 0-9. Just when Fermoy looked right back in the contest it was Mallow that upped their efforts once again and five points on the trot by the 48th opened up a sizeable lead.

In the 39th minute good work by Eoin Stanton saw Cian O’Riordan kick over. From the kickout Ryan Harkin won possession to set up O’Riordan for a fine point. Moments later Eoin Kelleher cut in from the end line to score a great point from a very difficult angle and it was followed by a pointed free by Ryan Harkin at the mid way stage. In their next attack wing back Stephen O’Callaghan got in on the scoring act to make it 1-11 to 0-9.

Fermoy to their credit refused to surrender and in the last quarter staged a good revival. In the 50th minute a good pass by Brian O’Sullivan found Martin Brennan whose effort at goal struck the crossbar. Further pressure in the closing moments saw Ruairi O’Hagan tag on three more points but in the end time was not on their side with Mallow emerging victors by a two point margin.

MALLOW: K Doyle, S Coughlan, A Cashman, M Quirke, S O’Callaghan 0-1, A Cahill, S Merritt, R Harkin 0-1f, E Stanton, J Dillon 0-1, M O’Rourke, K O’Sullivan 0-1, P Herlihy 0-1, C O’Riordan 1-5, E Kelleher 0-1. Subs: K O’Connor for J Dillon, C Carroll for M O’Rourke.

FERMOY: L Coleman 0-1f. P Clancy, J Daly, E Clancy, P Murphy, D O’Carroll, A Bargary, S Aherne, D Dawson, A Aherne, P De Roiste 0-1, B O’Sullivan, M Brennan 0-2, R O’Hagan 0-4 (2f), R O’Callaghan 0-4f. Subs: G Lardner for A Bargary, D O’Flynn for D O’Carroll, D Lardner for A Aherne, J O’Sullivan for E Clancy, J O’Callaghan for R O’Callaghan.

REFEREE: Pat O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers)