Thrilling U-16 B final ends in stalemate

Buttevant 3-18 St Mark’s 6-9

THIS 13-a-side Rebel Og North U-16 B 2 HC final played in Kildorrery on Thursday night under lights was a thrilling contest. In the end it was only fitting that there should be a replay to decide the outcome between two very skilful sides. The lead changed hands a number of times.

Buttevant had a penalty saved while St Mark’s forced level with a penalty in the third minute of injury time. Buttevant started well with three early points by Edmund O’Donoghue J C Guiney (free) and Michael O’Neill after good play by Kyle Trimm and Conor O’Hanlon.

St. Mark’s forced level when Cian Curtin worked well for Jimmy McAuliffe who goaled and he gave his side the lead with a point two minutes later. In the 11th minute Michael O’Neill soloed through and goaled putting the Avondhu side 1-3 to 1-1 clear. Buttevant followed with a Kyle Trimm goal. By the 20th minute Buttevant were 2-4 to 1-3 clear. St. Mark’s forced a close in free that Cian Curtin had saved by Kyle Trimm. Good play by the Freemount-Meelin side saw David Carroll and Cathal Broderick work well for Jimmy McAuliffe who had his second goal. Cormac Curtin pointed a ‘65 for the Duhallow side. In the closing moments Jimmy McAuliffe struck for his third goal as St Mark’s edged 3-4 to 2-6 clear. A foul on McAuliffe led to a late pointed free by Cormac Curtin to leave St. Mark’s ahead at the break 3-5 to 2-6.

Two pointed frees on the resumption by Cormac Curtin opened up a four point lead 3-7 to 2-6. Buttevant moved Michael O’Neill to centre back where he did very well. Good play for Buttevant by Kyle Trimm led to a goal by Kyle Bowles. Exchanges continued to be very close with Buttevant holding a slender lead. In the 47th minute good play by Cormac Curtin led to a goal by Brian Carroll as the Duhallow side hit the front 4-8 to 3-10. Kyle Bowles levelled once more.

Buttevant’s penalty by J C Guiney was excellently saved. Guiney followed with a pointed free after a foul on Edmund O’Donoghue. Buttevant keeper Donal Ryan saved very well from Brian Carroll. Good play for St. Mark’s by Jimmy McAuliffe led to a great goal by Declan Buckley as the Duhallow side moved 5-9 to 3-12 clear with six minutes remaining. Buttevant rallied well. They had six rapid points on the trot by Kyle Bowles (4) Conor O’Hanlon and Neil O’Connell as they led 3-18 to 5-9. In the 63rd minute a foul on Cian Curtin led to a penalty that Brian Carroll converted with the final whistle following on the puckout. BUTTEVANT: D Ryan, N O’Riordan, B O’Connor, C O’Hanlon 0-1, M O’Connell, A Carey, Kyle Trimm 1-5, M O’Neill 1-1, E O’Donoghue 0-1, J C Guiney 0-6 (4f, 1 ‘65’), N O’Connell 0-1, J Maher, K Bowles 1-3. Sub: A Trimm for J Maher.

ST. MARK’S: Ciaran Curtin, D Culhane, B Carroll 2-0, P Curtin, D Carroll, J Kelly, D Buckley 1-0, C Broderick, D Dineen, Cormac Curtin 0-8 (5f, 1 ‘65’), C Curtin, A Linehan, J McAuliffe 3-1.

REFEREE: Dave Farrell (Mitchelstown)