Harrington strikes as Douglas motor past Mallow
Their talented young guns blew Mallow away with a power packed second-half show that had coach Nicky Heffernan all smiles.
Said Heffernan: "Yes, much more like it in the second-half. Those early scores and Mark Harrington's goal in particular gave us the impetus to win the game. Once Eoin Cadogan began to show what he can do around midfield late in the first-half I thought we controlled the game. That first-half finish and even better second-half start was really pleasing.''
No question those scorching nine minutes, in which they scored 1-6, turned the game Douglas's way, for Mallow had been well in game up to injury-time in the first-half when the sides were level at 0-3 apiece. There was a new sense of purpose in Douglas's play once they scored those three injury time points and, despite Douglas playing with 14-men for the last quarter, Mallow were always fighting a losing battle, only the excellence of goalkeeper Terry O'Brien saving them from a heavier defeat.
Both sides showed commitment and pace aplenty, resulting in some good passages of play. Ronan McCarthy and Jonathan Lane should have done better for Douglas before the excellent Mark Harrington opened the scoring in the ninth minute. But, despite playing against the strong breeze, there was plenty of bite in Mallow, Cian O'Riordan, Hurl Dockery and Denis Hayes impressing in the thick of the action.
O'Riordan soon levelled matters for Mallow, but it was Douglas who led after the opening quarter 0-2 to 0-1 thanks to a James Moylan point after fine work by Dineen. The lead didn't last long, however, O'Riordan pointing a free. And, in the 18th minute Harrington had a great chance of a Douglas goal, after an error by Mallow corner-back Kevin McCarthy, but elected to put the ball over the bar.
It became a see-saw battle when Barry O'Halloran tied up the scores for the third time in the 19th minute but slowly Douglas began to take control at midfield through the excellent Cadogan and Dineen. Not another score to the 30th minute however - some wayward shooting by both sides the main reason - until injury time when Douglas at last showed their mettle with three smart points from Ronan McCarthy, Thomas Sheehan and Barry Fitzgerald to fashion a 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead.
It got even worse for Mallow after the restart when the game was won and lost in four destructive minutes. Quick out of the blocks, wing back Lane scored a fine point. Then a terrific move involving Cadogan, Sheehan and Harrington resulted in the impressive corner-forward scoring a fine goal.
And when substitute Barry Hanrahan added a point it was all over for a bemused Mallow side. There was no holding Douglas now as they cannoned into a 1-10 to 0-5 lead by the end of the third quarter, one point from Harrington in particular extra special.
Dineen was then sent off for a second yellow and O'Riordan was lucky not to follow, but there was simply no holding a rampant city side. With Cadogan and Sheehan sublime and Lane always willing to attack, Mallow's extra man was unnoticeable. The Avondhu side never recovered from Douglas's early blast and now face a tough backdoor test against the winners of champions' Nemo Rangers and Ballincollig to stay in contention.
: Douglas: M. Harrington 1-4 (0-1 free), J. Moylan, B. Fitzgerald, F. O'Sullivan (frees) 0-2 each, R. McCarthy, J. Lane, B. Hanrahan, T. Sheehan 0-1 each. Mallow: C. O'Riordan 0-4 (0-2 frees), G. O'Halloran, D. Golden 0-1 each.
: B. Boyle; D. McSweeney, E. Cotter, F. Tobin; R. Keating, T. Sheehan, J, Lane; E. Cadogan, C. Dineen; B. Fitzgerald, G. McLoughlin, F. O'Sullivan; M. Harrington, R. McCarthy, J. Moylan.
: B. Hanrahan for McLoughlin, C. McCarthy for R. McCarthy, N. Heffernan for Lane.
: T. O'Brien; J. Cronin, D. Hayes, K. McCarthy; A. Cashman, K. O'Halloran, P. O'Riordan; H. Dockery, C. Kerrisk; C. O'Riordan, J. O'Sullivan, B. O'Halloran; M. Roche, N. Dineen, D. Golden.
: M. O'Leary for McCarthy, R. Sheehan for Roche, B.J. Ryan for O'Halloran, J. Collins for Cronin.
: P. O'Leary (Kilmurry).
