High scoring Rovers finish well to claim victory
Mallow 4-12 Harbour Rovers 1-30
Following a high scoring Cavanagh's of Fermoy Division 1 HL tie at Mallow on Wednesday evening last week, Harbour Rovers defeated Mallow. Whilst there was no denying Rovers the manner of their victory, the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests, with the home side getting goals at crucial stages to stay in contention.
As they headed into the final quarter just a point separated the teams, but it was Rovers that finished in a flurry, adding eight points without reply before the final whistle, to emerge victors by a nine point margin.
The opening stages saw Harbour Rovers start in a very determined manner with Padraig Hannon, Peter Condon, John O'Sullivan and Michael Wade having points as they moved 0-6 to 0-2 in front by the 10th minute. Mallow quickly got up to the required pace. Jack Dillon and Padraig Hannon traded points, before Mallow struck for the first of their four goals in the 17th minute when a free by Jack Dillon was gathered by Sean O'Leary on the edge of the square who billowed the net - 0-7 to 1-3.
Still, it was the Rovers that were showing the greater urgency with Padraig Hannon, Aaron Noonan, Peter Condon and Emmett Sheehan reeling off some well taken points, as they moved 0-11 to 1-4 in front by the 26th minute. In the run up to the break, Mallow staged a good revival with Garry Sweeney, Liam Malone, Niall O'Riordan, Jack Dillon and Sean O'Leary impressing. Liam Malone had their second goal when he drilled a free to the net and they followed with some fine points from Liam Malone (2), Tom Hickey and Sean O'Leary, that levelled matters at 0-14 to 2-8.
Just when they seemed like going in at the break on level terms, Harbour Rovers had other ideas. In injury time Michael Wade edged the eventual winners in front, before a fine solo run by substitute Diarmuid O'Brien set up Sean Finn for a cracking goal, that helped Rovers hold a 1-15 to 2-8 interval lead.
On the changeover, Mallow were quick into the action. Accurate free taker Jack Dillon reeled off three frees, before Sean O'Leary struck for their third goal in the 37th minute, as they moved 3-11 to 1-16 in front.
In a highly competitive third quarter they were level again by the 40th minute when Diarmuid O'Brien, Emmett Sheehan and Jack Dillon had points for their respective sides. However, as the half went on Harbour Rovers shaded matters. Padraig Hannon (3) and Peter Condon had points in quick succession, with Mallow responding when Jack Dillon had their fourth goal in the 47th minute when he was first to react, after Rory Downey's effort at goal was saved by the Rovers’ keeper, Brian Gallagher - 1-22 to 4-12.
In the last 13 minutes, Mallow tried hard but they found it difficult to break down a well organised Rovers’ defence. Instead, it was the Glanworth outfit that found scores much easier to come by with Padraig Hannon, Colm Whelton, Peter Condon, Pa Roche, Diarmuid O'Brien and Michael Wade, having eight points between them before the final whistle, as they ran out deserving winners.
TEAMS & SCORERS
Harbour Rovers: Brian Gallagher, Harvey McGrath, Bart O'Keeffe, Colm Whelton 0-1, Philip Blackburne, Sean Finn 1-0, Marc Moloney, Peter Condon 0-5, Tom McGrath, Padraig Hannon 0-11 (0-3f, 0-3 '65's), Michael Wade 0-4, Emmett Sheehan 0-3, Aaron Noonan 0-1, John O'Sullivan 0-1, Scott Sheehan. Subs: Diarmuid O'Brien (0-2) for John O'Sullivan (inj), David Campion for Harvey McGrath, Pa Roche (0-2) for Scott Sheehan.
Mallow: Luke Sheehan, Trevor Doyle, Barry Taylor, Diarmuid Murphy, Robbie Kelleher, Conal Smith, Kevin O'Connell, Garry Sweeney, Liam Malone 1-2 (1-1f), Tom Hickey 0-1, Niall O'Riordan, Jack Dillon 1-8 (0-6f), Rory Downey, Sean O'Leary 2-1, Michael Dunigan, Sub Billy Murphy for Trevor Doyle, John Healy.
Referee: Michael Sheedy (Shanballymore).