Second half goals set Mitchelstown on their way to Div 3 FL final

Mitchelstown 5-12 Kildorrery 1-12

Mitchelstown and Buttevant will contest this year’s Cavanagh's of Fermoy Division 3 FL final, after Mitchelstown proved far superior over Kildorrery in the semi-final at Glanworth on Tuesday evening last week. The opening half was keenly contested with little separating the teams, but on the changeover three goals for the winners helped them run out clear winners.

The opening stages saw Dave Dineen, Shane Walsh, James Sheehan and Sean Cunningham kick over points by the sixth minute, that had the sides level for the second time at 0-2 apiece. Aided by the breeze, the better balanced Mitchelstown side added two more points before a great movement started by their ‘ keeper Stephen Fox, saw Luke Keane, Eoin Flynn, Stephen Kenneally and Daniel Harte link up well to release James Sheehan for a well taken goal (1-4 to 0-2).

Kildorrery regrouped well from this setback, with Paddy Pigott, PJ Keating, Jerry McCarthy, Cathal Harrington and Sean Cunningham to the fore and helped by a goal from Padraig Harrington, after he received a good pass from David Kelly, they were back on level terms at 1-4 apiece.

Mitchelstown, who had some good displays by Padraig Flynn, Dave Dineen, Luke Keane, Stephen Kenneally, Daniel Harte, Kevin Cotter and James Sheehan, hit the front again. James Sheehan and Stephen Kenneally had a point each, before James Sheehan cut through the Kildorrery backline to score his second goal in the 23rd minute.

Mitchelstown followed with two more points before a late rally by Kildorrery produced late scores by Cathal Harrington (2) and Sean Cunningham and deep in stoppage time, Shane Walsh's effort at goal was tipped over the crossbar by the ‘Town ‘keeper, Stephen Fox at the expense of a point, as Kildorrery trailed 2-8 to 1-8 at the break.

GOALS SCORING CONTINUES

On the changeover, Kildorrery started in a very positive manner with PJ Keating getting an early point to reduce the gap to two points. However from here on Mitchelstown certainly found scores much easier to come by. In the 38th minute Dave Dineen, James Sheehan and Kevin Cotter linked up well to set up Stephen Kenneally for a well taken goal, with Leon Murphy setting up James Sheehan for their fourth goal six minutes later that stretched their advantage to 4-11 to 1-9.

There was no denying Mitchelstown their place in the final from here, with Seamus Barrett placing Leon Murphy for another goal in the closing moments, as they ran out winners by a 12 point margin.

Mitchelstown: Stephen Fox, Kevin Finn, Danny Keane, Luke Keane, Kieran Fox, Barry Coffey, Eoghan Geary, Dave Dineen 0-3 (0-2f), Padraig Finn, Stephen Kenneally 1-3 (0-2f, 0-1 '45'), Daniel Harte, Eoin Flynn, Paddy Hanrahan, James Sheehan 3-4 (0-1f), Kevin Cotter 0-2. Subs: Sean O'Connell for Danny Keane (inj), Cameron Keane for Eoghan Geary, Shane Doyle for Eoin Flynn, Dean Barry for Daniel Harte, Seamus Barrett for James Sheehan, Diarmuid Lynch for Kevin Cotter, Leon Murphy (1-0) for Kevin Finn.

Kildorrery: Liam McMillan, Cathal O'Sullivan, Will Coffey, Declan Mullins, Eoin Hartnett, Jerry McCarthy, Conor Kent, Paddy Pigott, PJ Keating 0-1, Cathal Harrington 0-6f, Dave Kelly, Sean Cunningham 0-2, Padraig Harrington 1-0, Shane Walsh 0-2, Padraig O'Flynn. Subs: Matthew Fitzgibbon for Eoin Hartnett, Fionn Walsh O'Grady for Padraig O'Flynn, Ronan Walsh O'Grady for Dave Kelly, Cathal Walsh O'Grady for Jerry McCarthy (inj).

Referee: Peter Coughlan (Killavullen).