Brace of first half Walsh goals sets Mitchelstown up for victory

Mitchelstown 3-11 Dromtarriffe 0-11

HAVING lost their opening game to Kilmurry recently Mitchelstown Intermediate Footballers got their McCarthy Insurances County Football League Division 5 campaign back on track when they ran out convincing winners over Dromtarriffe at Mitchelstown on Saturday evening.

Dromtarriffe also lost their opening game and they too were all out to get their season back on track and this was evident early on with the teams tied for the third time at 0-3 apiece by the 18th minute when Shane Beston (2) Evan Murphy (2) Darren O’Connor and Sean Walsh traded points.

As the half went on Mitchelstown certainly got to grips. Sean Walsh was a pivotal figure in the heart of their attack and his two goals in quick succession helped set them on their way to victory.

The first goal came in the 20th minute when he picked up possession from a huge delivery by the hard-working Ryan Donegan with the second coming a minute later when he netted from a very tight angle after Kevin Cotter, Dylan ReidyPrice, Dean Barry and Dillon Sheehan combined well to make it 2-3 to 0-3.

Further pressure before the break saw Walsh account for the next three scores as Mitchelstown held a 2-6 to 0-4 lead at the interval – Dromtarriffe’s fourth point coming by Adam Buckley.

On the changeover Dromtarriffe who had some notable displays by Jamie Kelleher, Jack Murphy, Brian O’Keeffe, Evan Murphy, Darren O’Connor and Brandan Murphy started in a very positive manner. Brian O’Keeffe and Evan Murphy picked off early points as the lead was reduced to two goals by the 37th minute.

Mitchelstown continued where they left off in the opening half showing the greater urgency when surging forward. Dylan Reidy-Price set up Darragh Flynn for a fine point before they sealed the issue moments later when a pin point pass by Dillon Sheehan from near the sideline set up the inrushing Ryan Donegan who finished to the net as they moved 3-7 to 0-6 clear.

Dromtarriffe battled away in the last 20 minutes with Evan Murphy kicking some great frees from difficult angles while Brandan Murphy and Jamie Kelleher also figured on the scoreboard.

In the end there was no denying Mitchelstown the manner of their victory with Dylan Reidy-Price (2) Dillon Sheehan and Ryan Donegan also having points in the last quarter. MITCHELSTOWN: L Hanna, K Finn, F Herlihy, L Finn, L Keane, S O’Sullivan, K Fox, S Beston 0-2, R Donegan 1-1, D Barry, S Walsh 2-4 (0-1f), K Cotter, D Reidy-Price 0-2, D Sheehan 0-1, K Roche. Subs: D Flynn 0-1 for S Beston, P Magee for D Barry (inj), S Doyle for K Fox, P Molloy for R Donegan, O Hanrahan for L Keane, E Geary for K Cotter, E Flynn for K Finn,

DROMTARRIFFE: D Crowley, P Buckley, J Kelleher 0-1, D Murphy, B Murphy 0-1, J Murphy, S Coyne, B O’Keeffe 0-1f, A Buckley 0-1, A Downey, E Murphy 0-6 (5f), F McKee, D O’Leary, D O’Connor 0-1, K Murphy2. Subs: C O’Callaghan for P Buckley, J Buckley for D O’Leary, M O’Callaghan for K Murphy.

REFEREE Dave Twomey (Shanballymore)