Iveragh United edge past Ballymac Celtic to qualify for Tommy Healy Memorial Cup final

TOMMY HEALY MEMORIAL CUP SEMI-FINAL

Iveragh United 2 Ballymac Celtic 1

THE Promised Land is beginning to appear in the horizon for Iveragh United after booking their place in the Tommy Healy Memorial Cup Final after a thrilling win over Ballymac Celtic at Mounthawk Park on Saturday night.

This was a keenly contested cup tie played at a lively pace with both sides showing great commitment and grit getting in tackles like their lives depended on it.

A young Iveragh side began the game strongly on top at midfield where Alex Coffey, Odhran O’Shea and Jack Landers were causing havoc down the left side of the pitch.

For Ballymac Donal Daly and Dean O’Connell were working their socks off trying to give a good supply of the ball to striker Shane Kelliher

Iveragh United forced a few corner kicks early in the game but they did not test the Ballymac defence.

Ballymac got their first shot on target with Donal Daly trying an effort from distance but it was a comfortable save for the Iveragh goalkeeper.

Iveragh United went ahead in the 24th minute when Jack Landers ran on to a great over the top ball and he showed great composure playing tricks the Ballymac goalie and slotted into the bottom corner of the net.

They doubled their lead 10 minutes later with Jack Landers working the ball in from the sideline and he linked up with Anthony Cournane and he applied a great finish leaving the South Kerry side in a comfortable position at the interval.

Ballymac manager Adam Condon make a substitution for the second half with Darragh Regan replacing Denis Quille and 2 minutes later Adam Sheehy had to retire injured and he was replaced by Shane McGuillicuddy.

Before long they began to get a grip of the game at midfield and they began to apply pressure on the Iveragh defence.

They pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute after a Donal Daly corner kick the ball bobbled around a bit in the goalmouth and after a couple of failed attempts which were blocked on the goal line Shane Kelliher pounced to drill the ball to the net past a forest of players.

Now the game was really in the melting pot and you could see Ballymac were going for the jugular as they pressed for an equaliser.

However Iveragh remained comfortable on the ball and were looking extremely dangerous on the counter attack with Jack Landers a constant threat up front.

Iveragh boss Brian O’Connor emptied his bench as his side worked hard to succumb the relentless attacking by their opponents.

On the counter-attack Iveragh got a couple of great chances to establish a more comfortable lead but they were guilty of squandering two gilt edged opportunities to score.

To their credit Ballymac pushed as hard as they could to try and come up with a goal but Iveragh defended very well and held out for a narrow win at the end.

Now Iveragh are on course for a possible league and cup double but they will have to sharpen up on their finishing if this is to be accomplished.

Iveragh United: David Murphy, Alex Kelly, Alex Coffey, Liam O’Connor, Gareth Evans, Niall Brennan, Odhran O’Shea, Anthony Cournane, Fintan O’Sullivan, Cathal O’Shea, Jack Landers. Subs: Luke Harty, Kevin Moriarty, Ian Moriarty, Brian Mc Hugh, Ben O’Sullivan.

Ballymac Celtic: Cian Ring, Mark Brick, Jamie Leen, Conor Brick, Dylan Burns, Mike Herlihy, Denis Quille, Adam Sheehy, Dean O’Connell, Shane Kelliher, Donal Daly. Subs: Darragh Regan, Ronan Dalton, Denis Nolan, Shane

McGuillicuddy, Adam Wharton.

HENNEBERYS SPORTS RESERVE CUP

Strand Road 0 QPR 5

QPR’S brilliant run of form continued at Mounthawk Park on Friday evening with a very impressive win over Strand Road.

At the beginning of the season they were struggling but in the second half of their league campaign they have put a string of great performances together that moved them right up the league table.

They took a major scalp in this game lowering the sails of Strand Road who were a side that was fancied to go a long way in the competition.

John Moynihan scored a hat trick while Liam Brosnan netted twice for the East Kerry side.

They are at home to Killorglin in the next round of the competition.