Clinical Sliabh Luachra deliver blistering scores to oust Macroom

Sliabh Luachra Gaels 3-22 Macroom 1-14

A STRONG showing from Sliabh Luachra Gaels paid dividends against Macroom in a highly entertaining tussle to the Glenville U-21 Football Tournament played at Kiskeam.

With both sides committed to attack, the action was back and forth but by the end of the hour, the Ballydesmond and Kiskeam combination offered the better composure in their play and the sharper scoring options as the game progressed. In fairness, Macroom didn’t make it easy for the host Duhallow outfit, operating neat passages of football yet their energy visibly drained from tiring bodies during the concluding quarter.

Sliabh Luachra sprinted from the starting blocks, good work from Dara Moynihan fed Brendan O’Leary to net from close range. Macroom added to the enjoyment of the occasion, rising to the challenge, prompted by the solid play of Ben O’Connell, Olan O’Leary and the lively Dylan Twomey operating at full forward bagged a cracking goal.

Though Twomey and Kieran Doody added Macroom points, Sliabh Luachra regained the upperhand in the exciting fare with Thomas Casey and Anthony

Dennehy finding the range for parity at 1-10 apiece at the end of a high scoring opening 30 minutes.

Macroom remained in the hunt on the restart, Killian O’Donovan moved outfield from a net minder position to deliver a booming point. However, the Sliabh Luachra response was both positive and effective, their game boosted by the play of Barry Lenihan, Jack Daly, Moynihan and the Casey brothers, Maurice and Thomas.

The latter found space to net from a sweeping move with a run of points that followed. Macroom reacted for a spell, points from Twomey and Shane Meaney kept the visitors involved.

That was as close as it came for Macroom during the closing quarter, Sliabh Luachra Gaels offered an aggressive style of football going forward helped build up the scoring tally highlighted on Thomas Casey providing the spadework for Moynihan to add his side’s third goal to seal an impressive victory.

P O’Keeffe; J Collins, J O’Connor 0-1; B Lenihan 0-2, S Murphy, J Daly; K Murphy 0-1, M Casey 0-2, A Dennehy 0-1, D Moynihan 1-3, C Dunlea; B O’Leary 1-2, T Casey 1-10. Subs: K Murphy for A Dennehy, S Murphy for D Moynihan, B O’Connell for K Murphy, H Alsane for B O’Leary, J Clogan for P O’Keeffe.

MACROOM: K O’Donovan 0-1; F Galvin, K Condon; S Meaney 0-1, K Bridek, D Quinn; B O’Connell 0-1, O O’Leary 0-1; J O’Riordan, S McMahon 0-1, B O’Shea 0-2, D Twomey 1-6, K Doody 0-1. Subs: J Sexton, J O’Shea.

REFEREE: D Scannell (Kiskeam)