St. Marks pull away from Banteer to book place in final

DUHALLOW U-21 ‘C’ HC SEMI-FINAL

St. Marks 3-19 Banteer 1-11

ST. MARKS turned on the style to brush aside Banteer in high scoring Duhallow U-21 CHC semi-final at Banteer. At key stages, the Freemount and Meelin combination dominated under the puckouts and got into the mix for loose possession.

The early flurry suggested that Banteer might well offer a competitive contest yet as the game contest progressed, their prospects went steadily into decline. Early on,the sides were matched stride for stride, Cal Shine and Darren Murphy gave Banteer encouragement.

St. Marks moved the ball into scoring positions for Michael McAulliffe and Nicholas Linehan find the range. Still Banteer remained in touch, Luke Philpott converting from both play and placed balls for his side trail 0-6 to 0-4.

However St. Marks looked a side very much on a mission with much more to offer when the occasion demanded. And as the opening period progressed, the Freemount and Meelin combination confirmed their superiority for Linehan and McAulliffe to goal for a commanding 2-10 to 0-7 position at the break.

Indeed St. Marks took a tight rein on the proceedings on the restart, Cathal Broderick and Jack Curtin brought a high work-rate to defence as Michael O’Callaghan and Anthony Buckley combined effectively in the centre. That allowed for sufficient possession for a lively attack to thrive on, Cian Curtin, Linehan and McAulliffe split the uprights with Dean Collins netting a goal.

Banteer weren’t short of effort but a late goal from Philpott proved a case of too little too late to impinge on the outcome.

ST MARKS: T O’Callaghan; Jack Walsh, S Curtin, C Broderick; John Walsh, J Curtin 0-1, J Moynihan; M O’Callaghan 0-2, A Buckley; K O’Connor, D Collins 1-2, N Linehan 1-8; Cian Curtin 0-2, M McAulliffe 1-3, Cormac Curtin 0-1. Subs: S Broderick, P Carroll, E Collins, D Buckley, J O’Leary.

BANTEER: A Coughlan; C Kiely, N Twomey, C O’Keeffe; D Moore, C Coughlan, C O’Neill; C Shine 0-2, T Sexton; M Weathers 0-1, D Barrett 0-1, D Murphy 0-1; S Long 0-1, L Philpott 1-5 (0-4f), E O’Brien.

REFEREE: D Hickey (Millstreet)