O’Halloran the hero as superb saves stop Skibb

Coláiste Spioraid Naoimh 2-12 St. Fachtnas, Skibbereen 3-7

He may have been beaten on three occasions but this year’s dual county minor netminder made four magnificent saves to deny the Skibbereen school a victory that, on the overall run of play, they would not have deserved.

Apart from O’Halloran, CSN owed much to the dominance of county minors Michael Shields at midfield, Denis Crowley at full forward and the superb accuracy of Eoin McCann who kicked six magnificent long range points, all from play.

Fachtnas recovered from a disastrous start which saw them down by 10 points after 12 minutes.

The Bishopstown school couldn’t have asked for a better start. With Michael Shields orchestrating matters at midfield, they stormed into a 2-4 to nil lead after 12 minutes and Fachtnas looked to be in for a drubbing. Earlier on Ken O’Halloran denied Skibb a goal with the first of his superb saves.

It took Fachtnas 15 minutes to open their account, a Brian Dwyer point from a free, and it sparked 15 minutes of dominance. David Limrick took control at centre-back and Fachtnas scored 2-3 without reply.

They would have gone ahead but for another of those great saves by Ken O’Halloran and CSN were grateful for the half-time whistle which saw them in front 2-5 to 2-4.

The Bishopstown school began the second-half like they did the first and rifled over four points without reply to put some daylight between the sides.

However, Fachtnas were not quite prepared to roll over and with Limrick driving them on from centre back, they were denied a goal by O’Halloran’s superb save from Noel Kearney, but they finally beat the Bishopstown’ keeper when Kearney finished off another great passing movement.

It was nip and tuck for the next 10 minutes before Shane O’Driscoll reduced the deficit to the minimum, but in the closing minutes, CSN finished strongly with Eoin McCann kicking over three superb points to set up a final meeting with Coláiste Chriost Rí in a fortnight’s time.

Scorers: E. McCann 0-6; P. Fitzgerald, C. O’Sullivan 1-0 each; R. Kenny, B. Nunan (0-2 frees) 0-3 each; D. Crowley 0-2; St. Fachtnas: N. Kearney 1-1; G. O’Donovan, J. O’Regan 1-0 each; B. Dwyer (frees), C. Crowley 0-2 each; S. Hurley, S. O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

CSN: K. O’Halloran; N. Collins, C. O’Driscoll, M. O’Donovan; R. O’Dwyer, T. Creed, E. Byrne; R. Pratt, M. Shields; R. Kenny, E. McCann, P. Fitzgerald; C. O’Sullivan, D. Crowley, B. Nunan. Subs. M. Kelleher for C. O’Sullivan; M. Power for M. O’Donovan; A. Seymour for R. Pratt; M. O’Donovan for N. Collins.

ST. FACHTNAS: C. Hodnett; M. Cahalane, S. O’Neill, P. O’Driscoll; C. Hayes, D. Limrick, C. O’Driscoll; D. O’Neill, B. Dwyer; S. O’Driscoll, J. O’Regan, C. Crowley; S. Hurley, G. O’Donovan, N. Kearney. Subs. S. Cahalane for C. O’Driscoll; S. Kiely for C. Hayes, A. O’Regan for C. Crowley; S. O’Driscoll for B. Dwyer.

Referee: D. White.