Charleville advance to Division 1 FL semi-final

Charleville 3-9 Ballyhooly 0-5

Charleville assured themselves of a place in the Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Division 1 FL semi-finals after they ran out worthy winners over Ballyhooly on Saturday evening at Ballyhooly.

From the outset the winners took a lead they would not relinquish. Darren Casey was upended in the square in the first minute and a penalty was awarded, that Mark Kavanagh expertly dispatched to the net. This helped Charleville to hold a 1-3 to 0-0 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Ballyhooly, who created a number of chances during the opening exchanges, registered their first score in the 17th minute when Diarmuid Linehan pointed a free. However, it was the Rathluirc outfit that found scores mush easier to come by all through this half. Mark Kavanagh added a point from a free and moments later, he set up Simon Gleeson for a well taken point.

In the 22nd minute they struck for their second goal when a sweeping movement involving Conor Buckley, Darren Casey and Mark Kavanagh resulted in David Forde finishing to the net from close range - 2-5 to 0-1.

Ballyhooly added another point from a Diarmuid Linehan free, but it was the winners that all but secured the points at stake at the end of normal time, when Mark Kavanagh set up Darren Casey for a well taken goal, as they were full value for their 3-5 to 0-2 interval lead.

Despite 12 points separating the teams, Ballyhooly came out a much improved side for the second half. Diarmuid Linehan (3), Mark Kavanagh (2) and Darren Casey traded points by the 50th minute, to leave it 3-8 to 0-5.

Charleville completed the scoring late in the game when Brian O’Connell pointed a free as they ran out convincing winners.

Ballyhooly: Adrian O’Driscoll, Eoghan Buckley, Jeff Gowen, Mark Burdett, James Roche, Seamus Roche, Gearoid Roche, Sean Linehan, Barry Johnson, Colm Crowley, Diarmuid Linehan (0-5 - 0-4f), Brian O’Driscoll, Brian Lombard, Denis Kiely, Dylan Collins. Subs: Cathal O’Keeffe for Jeff Gowen (inj), Darragh O’Reilly for Sean Linehan, Fintan Linehan for Mark Burdett, Robert O’Gorman for James Roche, Tom Barrett for Eoghan Buckley.

Referee Dave O’Farrell (Mitchelstown).