Three goal Fermoy see off Ballygarvan

Fermoy 3-18 Ballygarvan 2-10

AN evenly balanced Fermoy side ran out worthy winners over Ballygarvan in a high scoring County Under 21 AHC quarter final at the 4G pitch at Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday night.

Despite the sides being tied at 0-1 each when David Lardner and Michael Cussen traded a free it was the North Cork champions that showed the greater urgency during the early exchanges with Jack Scannell, Luke Aherne, Sean McCarthy, Adam Creed, David Lardner, Dale Dawson, James Molloy, David O’Callaghan and Jake Carr influential figures as they moved into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead by the 17th minute.

Ballygarvan stayed in touch when Cormac Dowd and Adam Dunne had points, but it was the winners that stretched their lead in the 25th minute when Darragh Daly set up David O’Callaghan for the game’s opening goal 1-7 to 0-4.

In the closing moments Cormac Dowd pulled a point back for the Carrigdhoun outfit but it was Fermoy with late points by key players James Molloy and Dale Dawson that held a 1-9 to 0-5 interval lead.

On the changeover despite Fermoy getting early points by David Lardner (2) and James Molloy it was Ballygarvan that shaded matters during opening ten minutes with Ciaran McIntyre, Paul Sexton, Adam Dunne, Michael Cussen and Ray O’Halloran featuring strongly as they fought hard to get back into contention.

Four points in quick succession by

Cormac Dowd (2) Callum Mackey and Ray O’Halloran narrowed the deficit to 1-12 to 0-9 by the 39th minute. Just when Ballygarvan appeared right back in the mix it was Fermoy that quickly weathered their opponents revival.

In the 41st minute a delivery by David O’Callaghan set up Adam Creed for a cracking goal. Ballygarvan refused to give in with Dylan O’Connor finishing to the net following a goal mouth scramble in the 48th minute to trail 2-13 to 1-9.

However it was Fermoy that finished the game in a flurry, James Molloy and David Lardner added points before Jake Carr scored their third goal in the 53rd minute that moved them 3-15 to 1-9 in front.

Ballygarvan battled back again and three minutes later Michael Cussen scored their second goal when he was first to react to finish to the net after Michael O’Sullivan’s effort at goal was saved by the Fermoy keeper Josh Shanahan.

There was to be no denying Fermoy their place in the semi final with David Lardner, Ben Twomey and James Molloy adding points before the final whistle as they emerged victors by a 11 point margin.

FERMOY: J Shanahan, J Fitzpatrick, J Scannell, C Condon, L Aherne 0-2, S McCarthy, N Collins, A Creed 1-0, R Morrisson, D Lardner 0-7 (0-6f), D Dawson 0-1, J Molloy 0-4, D Daly, D O’Callaghan 1-1, J Carr 1-2. Subs: R O’Sullivan for N Collins, C Roche for D Daly, B Twomey 0-1 for J Carr, C O’Brien for A Creed (inj), E Canty for L Aherne

BALLYGARVAN: B Ronan, E Forrest-O’Brien, R O’Leary, J Fenton, C McIntyre, P Sexton 0-1, S Fenton, A Dunne 0-1, M O’Sullivan, M Cussen 1-2 (0-2f), C O’Leary, C Dowd 0-4f, D O’Connor 1-0, R O’Halloran 0-1, C Mackey 0-1. Subs: E Mackey for E Forrest-O’Brien, E Forrett-O’Brien for C Mackey, J Aherne for C Dowd

REFEREE: William Wallace (Aghada)