Kenneally inspires Newcestown comeback

Newcestown 3-12 Ballymartle 1-11

Ballymartle must still be wondering what went wrong in that second half when they could only manage three points, two frees from Ger Cummins, who was well shackled by the outstanding Pat Kenneally, and one from play by Barry Dwyer.

In the opening half they ran Newcestown ragged with fast play down the flanks and were well worth their 1-8 to 1-3 interval lead, although Newcestown’s Brian O’Mahony did miss a real sitter late in the half. However, led in brilliant fashion by Kenneally, ably supported by a much tighter defence, Newcestown showed what a great parish they are with an outstanding second-half comeback and with a few more aces to throw into the pack next time out the Carbery men will have even a stronger hand to play.

With Brian O’Donovan working tirelessly at midfield and Dan McCarthy, Padraig Condon and two-goal Donnacha Desmond bubbling up front, Newcestown simply left a bemused Ballymartle for dead and a handsome 2-9 total showed just how mean they were.

Meanwhile, Delanys set themselves up for a semi-final clash with Courcey Rovers when they scored a thrilling 1 13 to 1 11 win over Aghabullogue at Blarney on Saturday.

The mid-Corkmen were fast into their stride and their opening score came from a Finbarr Foley point in the fourth minute followed seconds later by a Dan Twomey point. Delanys quickly responded with two points in the 6th and 7th minutes from Kevin Egan and Mark McElhinney.

Another Foley point from a free in the 11th minute edged Aghabullogue ahead 0-4 to 0-2 but then came a Delanys goal that proved a turning point.

Mark McElhinney won a tremendous ball 40 yards out and rounded three of the Aghabullogue defence to clinically finish a great move. The Mid Corkmen goaled four minutes before the break, when a high ball into the square, half cleared by the Delany’s defence, allowed Donnacha Murphy to hit it first time to the corner of the net, giving his side a 1-8 to 1-6 advantage.

The final minutes proved frantic for Delanys who required two brilliant saves from keeper Vincent O’Brien to deny Aghabullogue victory.