Reid steers Mattock to cup decider
VETERAN David Reid was in sparkling form in front of the posts in Collon on Friday night as 14-man Mattock Rangers booked their place in this year’s Sheelan Cup Final.
Current Division 1 league leaders Naomh Mairtin put it up to their hosts all the way through and trailed by just a point at the break - 1-9 to 1-8 - with Cathal Clarke accounting for the Mattock goal.
The home side had eight different scorers over the hour, including all six starting forwards, but ultimately it was Reid’s accuracy - particularly from frees - which got them over the line by a threepoint margin.
Mairtins also had eight different players on the scoresheet, with veteran JP Rooney helping himself to the goal and substitute Wayne Campbell adding two points on his introduction.
Mattock’s win was achieved despite losing one of their best players, James
Caraher, to two yellow cards mid-way through the second half, while others who impressed on the night for the winners were Aaron O’Brien and Alan Caraher. MATTOCK: Mark Lenehan; Alan Caraher, Ciaran Calvey, Ivor Sherlock; Brendan Leacy 0-1, Sean Gilsenan, James Caraher; Daniel Bannon, Hugh Donnelly; Terry Donegan 0-1, David Reid 0-9 (6f), Michael McKeown 0-1; Daire Englishby 0-1, Aaron O’Brien 0-1. Cathal Clarke 1-0. Subs: Ben McKenna 0-1 for Sherlock (55min), Sherlock for Calvey (58min, BC).
MAIRTINS: Jamie Mulholland; Paul Berrill 0-1, Thomas Sullivan, Jack McCarville; Padraig McDonagh, Benny Reilly, John Clutterbuck 0-1; Mick Fanning, Gavin Mooney 0-1; Conor Healy, JP Rooney 1-3 (1f), Conor Whelan 0-2 (1f); Val Leddy 0-1, Joe McGrane 0-1, Mark McCullough. Subs: Wayne Campbell 0-2 for McCullough, Thomas Sullivan for McGrane, Paddy Usher for T Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan for Clutterbuck, Brian McQuillan for Usher. REF: Tommy McEnteggart •Hunterstown Rovers will face O Raghallaigh’s in the Sheelan Shield decider after overcoming Oliver Plunkett’s 1-15 to 0-12 in this semi-final in Mell played on Friday evening.
Alan Landy’s seventh-minute goal separated the teams at the interval, with Hunterstown ahead by 1-7 to 0-7, and they also finished the game strongly, scoring five points in the last 10 minutes to end the Plunkett’s hopes.
Cooley Kickhams had eight different scorers, but it still wasn’t enough as they went down to O Raghallaigh’s by 2-9 to 1-9 in the other semi-final.
At half-time the Drogheda side led 1-5 to 0-5 and the away side kept the scoreboard ticking over just enough in the second period to secure their place in the decider.