Patrician secure All Ireland final berth with win over Ballymahon
Patrician Academy, Mallow 5-8 Mercy, Ballymahon 1-9
PATRICIAN Academy Mallow had a well merited win over Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon in the All Ireland Senior C FC semi-final at Haywood College Abbeyleix on Tuesday night.
The game was played in cold, wintry but dry conditions. Academy had the aid of the cross wind in the opening half. Ballymahon opened the scoring with an early pointed free by Dylan Farrell.
Academy took the lead in the third minute when Conor McMahon worked well for Conor Corbett who goaled. Academy led for the rest of the game. Mercy School made some very good runs with Ian Gilmore, Jason Coughlan and Dylan Farrell very effective.
Diarmuid Kelly pointed a free. Academy regrouped well. They had a series of well taken points by Conor McMahon (2) Barry O’Shea, Conor Corbett, Brian O’Sullivan and Éanna O’Hanlon as they moved 1-6 to 0-2 clear.
Academy had their second goal in the 18th minute when Jack Dillon and Conor Corbett worked well for Éanna O’Hanlon who made it 2-6 to 0-2. Ballymahon created a good movement by Diarmuid Kelly and Rory Howlin that led to an effort by Dylan Farrell coming back off the post and being cleared. Eoin Kelleher pointed in the closing moments as Academy led at the break 2-7 to 0-2.
Ballymahon had two wides on the restart. Academy had a goal by Eoin
Kelleher after good play by Eanna O’Hanlon, BarryO’Shea and
Brian
O’Sullivan
3-7 to
0-2.
The
Leinster side made a huge recovery.
They had points by Kevin Tansey and Sam Maxwell with Jamie Bermingham with a well taken goal cutting the lead 3-7 to 1-4 by the 41st minute. Further pressure yielded four more points on the trot that cut the lead to 3-7 to 1-8 by the 48th minute.
Academy recovered very well. They gained supremacy at midfield where Éanna O’Hanlon and Kieran Twomey were most impressive. Their attack were in regular supply and Kieran Twomey placed Conor Corbett for a 50th minute goal 4-7 to 1-8.
Corbett added a point following great play by Éanna O’Hanlon and David Walsh. Corbett struck for his third goal in the 57th minute. Both sides made a number of substitutions in the closing moments with Academy holding out for a deserved win and a place in the All Ireland final v Oughtarard (Galway) on Saturday, March 30.
Overall it was a very good display by the Academy who played some attractive football despite the weather.
PATRICIAN ACADEMY: J Murphy (Mallow), O Carroll (do), N O’Riordan (do), S Kelly (Clyda Rovers), J Hadden (Mallow), C O’Shea (Kilshannig), B O’Sullivan 0-1 (Castlemagner), E O’Hanlon 1-1 (Kilshannig, K Twomey (do), J Dillon (Mallow), B O’Shea 0-1 (Kilshannig), E Kelleher 1-1 (Mallow), B O’Connor (Clyda Rovers), C McMahon 0-2 (Kilshannig), C Corbett 3-2 (Clyda Rovers) Subs: D Walsh (Clyda Rovers) for B O’Shea (black card), C O’Sullivan (Kilshannig) for B O’Connor, C Carroll (Mallow) for C O’Shea (black card), M Cogan (Kilshannig) for J Hadden
MERCY SCHOOL BALLYMAHON: B Peters (Rathcline), R Keane (Ardagh), M Gunning (Milltown), I Gilmore 0-1 (Rathcline), C Belton (Clonguish), J Coughlan (Tang), D Kelly 0-1 (Carrick), R Prior (Rathcline), S Maxwell 0-2 (Ballymore), J Bermingham 1-0 (NewtownCashel), C McKiernan (Tang), R Howlin (Grattan Óg), O Kenny (Rathcline), D Farrell 0-3 (0-2f) (Kilashee), K Tansey 0-1 (Rathcline) Subs: D Cody (Ardagh) for R Howlin, C Flood (Rathcline) for K Tansey, L Gunning 0-1f. (Milltown) for J Bermingham, A
Ryan (Keenagh) for
Diarmuid Kelly
REFEREE: Seamus Mulhaire (The Heath)