Rock stands firm

Rockchapel build up a productive buffer. All through, the 2012 County Junior champions put together a cohesive and hard working team performance over a laborious Mayfield that took a time to get into the fray.

Mayfield will be disappointed at the way the game panned out, the demise partly of their own making, the concession of three first half goals left a mountain to climb. To their credit, the city side made a plucky effort to resurrect their hopes thanks to the accuracy of talisman Paul Condon.

Mayfield fought the good fight but it was never going to be anything than Rockchapel’s day. That said, Mayfield can take some positives from entering a back door qualifier against Glanworth. What an opening for Rockchapel, starting at pace on raising a pair of green flags in quick succession.

First, from the throw in, Liam Collins fed the ball to dangerman Seamus Hickey to dart away from defenders and fire home. And a hesitant Mayfield paid the price again, attack number two saw William Murphy steer the ball to the net.

A shellshocked Mayfield recovered from a sluggish spell to come more into the picture, rewarded in the 5th min., Nickey Kelly placed full forward Condon to net. From an electric start, still Rockchapel dictated, their workrate right throughout the team outstanding, based upon the effective work of Maurice Stack and John O’Callaghan in defence, the grafting of Conor Kepple in midfield