Brave effort from Duhallow falls short

UCC 3-22 Duhallow 2-13

DUHALLOW delivered a brave effort but ultimately faded to a fancied UCC side that exercised their strength in depth to register a deserved win in the CoOp Superstores County Premier SHC Divisional/Colleges semi final at Mourneabbey on Tuesday evening.

The scoreboard confirms a decent Duhallow challenge and it might well had been closer for UCC’s third goal came soon after a Duhallow penalty cannoned off the College crossbar.

Duhallow battled game all through and deserve credit for pushing the Fitzgibbbon Cup holders. Still when required UCC possessed a slick touch, their reaction fast and spraying of ball long and short emerged most effective.

Some influential operators on board the UCC team, none more so than their talented half back line of Cork star Mark Coleman, former Tipperary u21 and called up senior panelist Paddy Cadell alongside Limerick’s Paddy O’Loughlin. Time and again, the trio launched productive attacks, their inter county involvement showing up well on this occasion.

Straight from the off, UCC enjoyed a promising start, availing of a goal from Owen McCarthy in addition to a run of points. Trailing by six, Duhallow gathered their breadth and gained encouragement from a Kevin Tarrant goal.

The College had a facility to respond, Kildorrery’s James Keating, O’Loughlin and Coleman adding points before Kerry player Shane Conway placed David Griffin for a goal. Duhallow enjoyed pockets of possession, attempting to avail of the solid contributions of Conor O’Callaghan, Mark Ellis and Jack Murphy.

Poor shooting limited Duhallow upfront only for Stephen O’Reilly and Ellis to bisect the uprights yet UCC had the closing say to the half and retired holding a 2-12 to 1-7 advantage.

Though the College added to their tally on the changeover, Duhallow hung in with Eoin Sheahan, Tomás Howard and Murphy putting points on the board. Again UCC answered with five of the next six scores, the students close to a goal, Karl Walsh denied by a super stop from Duhallow minder Kevin Roche.

Again Duhallow mounted a response, Howard netted from close range, the Dromtariffe man added a point, Duhallow trailing 2-21 to 2-12. In fairness, Duhallow kept pressing , a grounding on Sheahan resulted on a penalty for the divisional men.

Howard elected to fire a rising blaster only for the ball to rebound off the crossbar and cleared to safety by defender Eoghan Clifford. The Cloughduv player launched a counter attack, that led to UCC’s third goal, Roche saved from Karl Walsh only for substitute Padraig O’Leary net the rebound to complete a job well done.

UCC came with big credentials and deservedly secure a place in the decider against Imokilly this weekend yet Duhallow lost no caste in defeat.

UCC: D Desmond (Éire Óg); E Clifford (Cloughduv), D Lowney (Clonakilty), K O’Dwyer (Killenaule, Tipperary); M Coleman (Blarney) 0-2, P Cadell (JK Brackens, Tipperary), P O’Loughlin (Kilmallock, Limerick) 0-1; J Keating (Kildorrery) 0-4, D Griffin (Carrigaline) 1-1; K O’Leary (Castlelyons) 0-3, S Conway (Lixnaw, Kerry) 0-5 0-3f, 0-1 ’65), E Desmond (Carrigaline) 0-1; B Verling (Cloughduv) 0-2, B Kelleher (Carrigaline) 0-1, O McCarthy (Inniscarra) 1-2 Subs: K Walsh (Ballincollig) for E Desmond (40), P O’Leary (Watergrasshill) 1-0 for B Verling (47), M O’Leary (Valley Rovers) for M Coleman (50), D McBarron (Carrigaline) for J Keating (57) DUHALLOW: K Roche (Banteer); C Buttimer (Kilbrin), C O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), B Weathers (Banteer); A Ryan (Newmarket), M Ellis (Millstreet) 0-2(0-1f), J Murphy (Dromtarriffe) 0-1; W Murphy (Meelin) 0-1, S Howard (Dromtarriffe); N Flahive (Millstreet), T Howard (Dromtarriffe) 1-3 (0-2f), G Linehan (Kilbrin) 0-1; S O’Reilly (Kilbrin) 0-3, K Tarrant (Banteer) 1-0, E Sheahan (Kilbrin) 0-1 Subs: E Murphy (Dromtarriffe) for S O’Reilly(ht), C Murphy (Castlemagner) for W Murphy (ht), B Murphy (Dromtarriffe) 0-1 for K Tarrant (36), S Crowley (Kilbrin) for N Flahive (42)

REFEREE: C O’Regan (Ballyhea)