Fermoy too strong for St Dominic’s as they reach U-21 HC final

Fermoy 4-13 St Dominic’s 1-6

AS the scoreline suggests Fermoy were never troubled by St Dominic’s in the final game of the three-way play-off series to determine who will meet Kilworth in this year’s Ballylough Milling Under 21 ‘A’ HC final.

From the offset the winners dominated. They moved into a 0-2 to 0-1 lead before they struck for the games opening goal in the ninth minute when a clearance out of the half backline by Ronan Morrisson was gathered by Adam Creed who dispatched to the net. Moments later Shane Aherne soloed through and scored a fine goal that raced them 2-2 to 0-1 in front.

St Dominic’s now faced an uphill battle and at the end of the first quarter their chances were dealt another blow when Adam Creed placed Shane Aherne for Fermoy’s third goal. Stephen Condon had a point for St Dominic’s but they found it near impossible to break down a well organised Fermoy backline where James Molloy, Greg Lardner and Ronan Morrisson excelled in the half backline.

At the other end Fermoy added four points before the half time whistle that all but sealed the issue when ahead at the interval by 3-7 to 0-2.

The second half was again much the same. Four pointed frees by Eric Delaney made it 3-11 to 0-3 by the 42nd minute. St Dominic’s refused to give in. Padraigh Hannon had a goal following a goal mouth scramble while Stephen Condon (2) and substitute Peter O’Sullivan had points to come within 3-11 to 1-6.

However in truth they proved to be mere consolations scores as there was no denying the better balanced Fermoy side. Eric Delaney added two more points before the full time whistle with Conor Barry also setting up David O’Callaghan for a well taken goal as they progressed to the final. FERMOY: J Wales, L Aherne, R O’Sullivan, J Scannell, J Molloy 0-1, G Lardner, R Morrisson, N Collins, D Lardner, C Barry, D Dawson 0-1, D O’Flynn, E Delaney 0-8 (0-7f, 0-1 ‘65’), S Aherne 2-2, A Creed 1-1. Subs: D O’Callaghan 1-0 for S Aherne, S McCarthy for R Morrisson, S O’Keeffe for A Creed, C O’Carroll for D Dawson, C Hurley for N Collins,

ST DOMINIC’S: B Sheehan, D.J Flynn, C Dennehy, D Mullins, J Fitzgibbon, J Coughlan, M Blackburne, E O’Donoghue, S Condon 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ‘65’), R McHugh, P Hannon 1-0, J Landers, S Sheehan, J Blackburne, J O’Sullivan. Subs: D Curran for D Mullins, C Hannon for R McHugh, E Roche for S Sheehan, P O’Sullivan 0-1 for D.J. Kiely, D Blackburne for E O’Donoghue.

REFEREE: Dave O’Farrell (Jnr) (Mitchelstown)