Grange pushed all the way by Shanballymore

Grange 1-8 Shanballymore 0-8

GRANGE will meet Doneraile in this year’s Walsh’s Pharmacy (Fermoy) Junior B1 FC final after they eventually saw off a gallant Shanballymore outfit in the semi final at Ballyhooly on Saturday.

For long periods Shanballymore controlled matters but in the end it was a goal by Alan McNamara in the 49th minute that helped Grange record a close win.

The opening half saw Shanballymore seize control from the offset with Eoin O’Regan, Darragh Palmer, Sean Lynch, Barry Sheedy and the McHugh brothers Eoin and Robert in devastating form. This was reflected as they raced into a 0-3 to no score lead by the 13th minute and they could have been further ahead only for the Grange keeper Gavin Dawson making a massive save from Jimmy Burke.

During this half both teams also kicked a number of bad wides. Grange got their account up and running in the 17th minute when Noel Barry pointed a free. However Shanballymore continued to surge forward. In the 23rd minute the impressive Eoin McHugh pointed a free following a foul on Micheal Burke and they added two more points before the interval by Eoin McHugh and Sean Lynch to hold a 0-6 to 0-2 lead at the breakGrange’s second point coming from Noel Barry.

On the changeover Grange who already claimed the Co JBFC title two months ago came out a much improved side with Mark Timlin, Darragh Scott, Devon Roche, Kurt Wheeler, John Carmody and David Keating playing leading roles as they fought their way back into contention.

A good spell during the third quarter saw Kurt Wheeler and John Carmody have a point each before two massive points by David Keating at the midway stage left just a point between the teams 0-7 to 0-6.

In the 49th minute Grange struck for what proved to be the match winning score when Brian Cashman, David Keating and Kurt Wheeler combined well to set up Alan McNamara who finished to the net from close range. In a thrilling finish David Keating and Jamie Sheedy swapped a point by the 55th minute.

Shanballymore tried hard to get back on terms but it was not to be with substitute Peter Stapleton completing the scoring for the winners at the end of normal time.

GRANGE: G Dawson, J Magnier, M Timlin, B Cashman, D Scott, M Hennessy, J Roche, Devon Roche, R Fraher, N McCarthy, A McNamara 1-0, K Wheeler 0-1, J Carmody 0-1, D Keating 0-3, N Barry 0-2f. Subs: K Murphy for M Hennessy, A Deegan for N Barry, Darren Roche for N McCarthy, N Barry for J Carmody (blood), J Carmody for N Barry, M Hennessy for Devon Roche, P Stapleton 0-1 for R Fraher.

SHANBALLYMORE: S Donegan, P Fitzgerald, E O’Regan, R Burke, D Palmer, B Sheedy, R Hallinan, S Lynch 0-1, E McHugh 0-4 (2f, 1 ‘45’), J Sheedy 0-1, M Burke, R McHugh 0-1, J O’Grady, J Burke, A Sheedy 0-1f. Subs: K Barry for J Burke, N Barry for J O’Regan, S Cronin for R McHugh (inj).

REFEREE: Dave O’Farrell (Mitchelstown)

Fermoy too strong for Ballyhea in Under-21 AHC Fermoy 1-23 Ballyhea 1-16

HAVING lost their opening game to Kilshannig, Fermoy got their Country Clean Recycling U-21 AHC campaign back on track when they defeated Ballyhea by a seven point margin at Kildorrery on Tuesday. Over the hour the better balanced Fermoy side shaded matters and helped by some well taken points by Ben Twomey, James Molloy, David O’Callaghan and David Lardner they surged into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the eight minute. Ballyhea responded with two points courtesy of Jamie Copps.

Fermoy created the games first goal scoring opportunity soon after when Adam Creed placed Ben Twomey who was denied by a great save by the Ballyhea keeper Gearoid O’Shea. Nevertheless Fermoy continued to push forward at every given opportunity and in the 18th minute Ben Twomey made no mistake at the second time of asking as they moved 1-9 to 0-4 in front.

Ballyhea regrouped well from this set back and were right back in the tie three minutes later when Jamie Copps and Thomas Foley combined well to set up Luke Crowley who dispatched a well taken goal to the roof of the Fermoy net. However it was Fermoy that finished the half strongly with David Lardner (3) James Molloy, David O’Callaghan and Adam Creed adding points before the break to hold a 1-15 to 1-6 lead at the interval-the Ballyhea points coming by Jamie Copps.

On the changeover Ballyhea who were forced to plan ahead without key player Jamie Copps started in a very positive manner with Oisin O’Byrne, Adam Barrett, Thomas Foley, James O’Leary, Niall Crowley, Sean O’Kelly, Jack Barrett and Luke Crowley making an early impression. Jack Barrett took over free taking duties and four frees by the 41st minute narrowed the deficit to 1-16 to 1-10.

This was the closest they would get to their opponents with Fermoy responding with some well taken points by James Molloy (2) Luke Aherne, Adam Creed and David Lardner that moved them 1-21 to 1-11 clear by the 50th minute.

Despite 10 points separating the teams Ballyhea battled to the end. Sean O’Kelly (3) Jack Barrett and Thomas Foley had points before the final whistle but their was no denying Fermoy a convincing victory with Ben Twomey and James Molloy also having a point each for the winners in the closing stages.

FERMOY: J Shanahan, C Condon, R O’Sullivan, J Fitzpatrick, L Aherne 0-1, J Scannell, R Hoskins, A Creed 0-2, R Morrisson, D Lardner 0-10 (9f, 1 ‘65’), S McCarthy, J Molloy 0-5, D O’Callaghan 0-2, G Lardner, B Twomey 1-3. Subs: J Ennis for R O’Sullivan (inj), D Ekechukwu for C Condon, C Roche for L Aherne, J Gallagher for J Scannell,

BALLYHEA: G O’Shea, J Morrissey, A Barrett, C Crowley, O O’Byrne, N Crowley, W Carroll, J Barrett 0-5 (4f), J O’Leary, S O’Kelly 0-4 (2f, 1 ‘65’), T Foley 0-2, E O’Sullivan, W Shanahan, J Copps 0-5 (2f, 1 ‘65’), L Crowley 1-0. Subs: D O’Donoghue for J Copps (inj), H Duignan for W Shanahan,