Millstreet show true grit to seal semi-final berth from Glanworth

Millstreet 1-13 Glanworth 3-6

MILLSTREET showed plenty of grit, determination and no shortage of skill in seeing off Glanworth in Glantane last Sunday afternoon.

On a near perfect day for football, Duhallow side fought their way back into last four of the IFC after what was a hard fought but thoroughly deserved win over a Glantane side that failed to show their full hand on the day.

The boys in green and white bounced back from a slow start to dominate the middle 30 minutes of the game which ultimately proved to be enough to see them past one of the perennial favourites for this title.

Millstreet manager Aidan O’Mahony knew prior to the game that the test was great and was delighted with the way his side bounced back from a poor start.

“We knew coming into this game with Glanworth that it wouldn’t be a high scoring game and the first half was tough, but in fairness to our lads they worked their way back into the game after a slow start and steadied the ship in the second half.

“We missed a few score-able chances in that second half that kept the opposition in the game but we had a lot of young lads on the field as we were missing some of our bigger names and in fairness to them they stood up and got the result.”

The win was obviously very satisfying for the five time All Ireland winning footballer, but he was keen to point out that parts of the performance will need some attention.

“We will need to improve for the semi-final and we will be underdogs for sure. We will look forward to that game, regardless of who we are going to be playing, whether it is Knocknagree or whoever, but we will need to work on a few things including our shooting in front of goal.

“We will hopefully be having a few players coming back from injury and hopefully we will be able to work them in. Still plenty to work on but happy to get over today. We have a young and mobile team and that is a positive.

“We knew playing Glanworth that we would have to move it through the hands to try and take it out of the tackles (they obviously didn’t listen to me in the last 10 minutes), but one thing I will take away from this is the seven different scorers, that was a real positive.

“I suppose the way Glanworth play they drop plenty bodies back and maybe that helped us getting bodies up the field but we will take the positives.”

Led in the scoring stakes by Cathal Crowley and Neil Flahive, Millstreet looked like a very well drilled and motivated side, no surprise considering they are being managed by for Kerry great Aidan O’Mahony.

From the first whistle this was a grind for both sides as endeavourer and effort wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard. Millstreet’s full forward Cathal Crowley removed the baron look to the scoreboard on 10 minutes with the game’s opening point from play.

Two minutes later the Duhallow side found themselves behind after David Pyne bagged the game’s first major from the penalty spot. Millstreet responded but Glanworth were finding some rhythm and netted again on 16 minutes when John O’Sullivan lobbed the onrushing Millstreet keeper Dylan O’Leary.

Millstreet were on the back foot but soon found their way, dominating the middle third and scoring the next six points – to go in at the break up by one. 0-8 to 2-1. Flahive was proving a real handful for the Avondhu side with Crowley, Thomas Sheehan and Shane Hickey all finding their way in the first half scoring stakes.

The second half saw Millstreet improve and pull clear by seven (a goal from Crowley the main talking point) however Glanworth responded once more outscoring the winners by 1-4 to 0-1 in the closing minutes (John O’Sullivan goaling) but ultimately the damage was done early and it is Millstreet that will take to the field for what will be an eagerly awaited tie in a few weeks’ time.

MILLSTREET: D O’Leary; B O’Connor, A Murphy, D Buckley 0-1; O Murchu, P Sheehan, S Hickey 0-1; D Kiely, K Crowley; M Murphy, T Sheehan 0-1, B O’Flynn; C O’Leary 0-1, C Crowley 1-4 (2f), N Flahive 0-4 Subs: J Broxton for A Murphy (49), R Murphy for O Murchu (52), T Healy for T Sheehan (55), D Murphy for B O’Flynn (61).

GLANWORTH: C Cotter; T Condon, E O’Donoghue 0-1, J Coughlan; P Blackburn, B Gallagher, D Connolly; D Pyne 1-0 (pen), R O’Driscoll; J O’Sullivan 1-1, G O’Neill, D Colfer; P O’Driscoll, S O’Riordan 0-1f, M Sheehan 1-2 Subs: W Blackburn for B Gallagher (inj)(10), P Hannon for M Sheehan (ht), J Blackburn for J Coughlan ((inj)(37), J Fitzgibbon for R O’Driscoll (41), M Sheehan for G O’Neill (48), S Condon 0-1 for P Blackburn (50)

REFEREE: J Horgan (Gleann na Laoí)