Goals prove vital as Mallow are worthy winners of Walsh Cup
Mallow 4-12 Bride Rovers 0-14 Mallow emerged deserving winners over Bride Rovers in the Red FM Co Div 1 HL Group (B) game at Rathcormac on Saturday. This game was also a Senior hurling tournament - Tony Walsh Memorial Cup final.
The home side started well. William Finnegan was in great form. He had the opening score with Mark Tobin replying in the 3rd minute. Three more points by William Finnegan were followed by a
Cian Hogan point as the Rovers led 0-5 to 0-1. Mallow came strong, Fionn Heffernan pointed and they had a goal by Ronan Sheehan that levelled 1-2 to 0-5 after 18 minutes. By half time the sides were also deadlocked 1-4 to 0-7.
Early in the second half Bride Rovers edged 0-9 to 1-4 clear when William Finnegan and D J Cahill had points. Mallow improved greatly in defence and midfield. Points by Fionn Heffernan and Pa Herlihy from the wing levelled 0-9 to 1-6. Cian O’Connor edged Rovers ahead once more. Mallow dominated the last quarter. Some of their younger players Paul Lyons,
Ronan Sheehan, Fionn Heffernan and Mark Tobin linked up well with Pa Herlihy and Denis Hayes and they scored 3-6 to 0-4 for the Rovers in the final quarter.
They were level for the last time 1-8 to 0-11 after 47 minutes. Denis Hayes placed Pa Herlihy for a goal and Mark Tobin followed with two points 2-12 to 0-12. William Finnegan pointed a free but a 3rd goal for Mallow by Fionn Heffernan opened up an 8 point lead in the 54th minute 3-12 to 0-13.
The 4th goal came in the 57th minute when Denis Hayes worked a good ball to Mark Tobin who made it 4-12 to 0-13.
William Finnegan had his 11th point in injury time as Mallow ran out comfortable winners.
The Tony Walsh Memorial Cup was presented to Mallow captain Fionn O’Neill by Ger Lane, Bride Rovers chairman.
Scorers for Mallow: Mark Tobin 1- 5 (0-2f), Fionn Heffernan 1- 3, Pa Herlihy 1-1, Ronan Sheehan 1-0, Denis Hayes 0-1, Paul Lyons 0-1.
Bride Rovers: William Finnegan 0-11 (0-9f. 0-1 s/l), Cian O’Connor 0-1, D J Cahill 0-1, Cian Hogan 0-1.
Mallow: Podge Buckley, Pa Healy, Sean
O’Leary, John Healy, Darragh Moynihan, Niall O’Riordan, Bill Kingston, Paul Lyons, Seamus Buckley, Mark Tobin, Fionn O’Neill, Ronan Sheehan, Fionn Heffernan, Denis Hayes, Pa Herlihy. Sub: Ben Slattery for Fionn O’Neill.
Bride Rovers: Ben Hogan, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Adrian Buckley, Seamus Aherne, Kieran Kearney, Shane O’Connell, Shane Walsh, David Barry, Paddy O’Flynn, DJ Cahill, Conleith Ryan, William Finnegan, Michael Collins, Cian O’Connor, Cian Hogan. Subs: Edmund Cashman for Conleith Ryan, Cillian Tobin for David Barry, Jordan Mannix for Tadhg O’Sullivan.
Referee: Willie Wallis (Midleton).