Harbour secure final berth

Harbour Rovers 1-15 Ballyhooly 0-12

HARBOUR Rovers qualified to meet Clyda Rovers in the Hibernian Hotel JAHC final after they overcame a gallant Ballyhooly outfit in the semi final at Kilworth on Friday.

The game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests with Harbour Rovers getting the only goal of the game deep in injury time by Shane O’Riordan as they were victors by a six point margin.

Played in windy conditions Ballyhooly made a promising start with Cathal O’Keeffe, Seán Linehan, David O’Brien, Seamus Roche, Denis Kiely and James Roche making an early impression.

By the 10th minute points by James (2) and Seamus Roche moved them 0-3 to 0-1 in front. They could have been further ahead moments later but a vital save off the line by the Rovers keeper David O’Sullivan denied James Roche at the expense of a ‘65.

As the half went on Harbour Rovers quickly settled. By the end of the first quarter a point apiece by Padraigh Hannon and Jerome Fitzgibbon had them level at 0-3 each.

Exchanges continued to be very close and by the 22nd minute they were level again for the third time at 0-5 each when James Roche (2) and Stephen Condon traded points.

In the closing moments Ballyhooly finished strongly. Seamus Roche and Peter Ahern combined well to set up Denis Kiely for a well taken point. Another good movement saw Jerry O’Connor set up James Roche for a great point in the 27th minute.

However, in injury time David Pyne completed the first half scoring with a long range point for Harbour Rovers who trailed at the interval 0-7 to 0-6.

On the changeover Ballyhooly were quick into the action and points by Jerry O’Connor and Seamus Roche moved them 0-9 to 0-7 in front by the 36th minute.

As the half went on Harbour Rovers quickly got to grips with David Pyne and John O’Sullivan thundering into the game at midfield while Padraig Hannon, Seán Finn, Jack Coughlan, Brian Gallagher and the Condon brothers were equally as effective.

A good spell by the winners saw them have the next four points as they moved 0-11 to 0-9 clear as the game headed into the last quarter. Ballyhooly regrouped well and with less than seven minutes of normal time remaining points by James Roche (2) and Denis Kiely had them back on level terms at 0-12 apiece.

However, it was Harbour Rovers that were shading matters at this stage and by the 58th minute Stephen Condon (2) and Sean Finn had points. Ballyhooly refused to give in.

In injury time James Roche had a 21 yard free saved on the line by a Harbour defender with the clearance down the field seeing Stephen Condon and John O’Sullivan combine well to set up Shane O’Riordan for a goal that sealed their place in the final.

HARBOUR ROVERS: D O’Sullivan, B O’Keeffe, B Gallagher, P Blackburn, T Condon, J Coughlan, S Finn 0-1, J O’Sullivan 0-1, D Pyne 0-2, S O’Riordan 1-0, S Dunne, P Hannon 0-1, D Gallagher, S Condon 0-9 (0-6f), J Fitzgibbon 0-1 Subs: E O’DonÓghue for S Dunne, R Murphy for J Fitzgibbon

BALLYHOOLY: P O’Connor, C O’Keeffe, D O’Brien, F Linehan, J Mehigan, S Linehan, E Buckley, J O’Connor 0-1, S Roche 0-2, D Kiely 0-2, P Ahern, K Kiely, J Roche 0-7 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘65’), D Linehan, F O’Connell Subs: F McGrath for E Buckley, S Murphy for K Kiely

REFEREE: Dave Copps (Ballyhea)