Halbert and Cahill turn it for Glenville

Glenville 0-15 Macroom 0-12(AET)

Halbert has been domiciled in the US for much of the year while Cahill was unfit to start, but both made telling contributions when called upon.

Both were introduced to the Glenville forward line within two minutes of each other and within five minutes of being on the pitch, had pinched a point each. Halbert tied the scores with a quarter of an hour to go before Cahill edged them in front, and it was a lead they would never relinquish.

Both then capped impressive cameos with their side’s last two points of the game.

Another who shone was Noel O’Riordan in midfield, who, as well as lording matters for the bulk of the game with his high fielding and turnover ability, also set up a raft of scores, particularly in the opening half. Brendan Healy must also be given credit for his efforts and though withdrawn late on as he began to show the effects of a recent cruciate ligament injury, his surging runs were a constant threat.

Macroom only led once and that was thanks to second half substitute Fintan Goold with a fine solo score. The Cork senior looked dangerous at full-forward but Sean O’Callaghan must be credited for breaking the ball away from him on several occasions when it was lumped his way while Paddy O’Regan on front of him did a neat and tidy mopping up job.

The Mid Cork side, fielding a number of players with inter-county experience, such as Sean Kiely and Rory Buckley, would have been fancied to advance but found themselves trailing 0-6 to 0-3 after 20 minutes thanks to some unerring free-taking by Brendan Moloney for Glenville.

Moloney had three while wing-forward Will Connolly landed a brace in a spell where O’Riordan was nothing less than awesome.

Macroom struggled but eventually drew level with their own free-taker, Andrew Hegarty, raising three white flags. But Glenville, with slight wind advantage, finished the half strongly with Patrick Cronin and Moloney clipping over.

It was nip and tuck for the opening 10 minutes of the second period but Goold made his presence felt when he gave his side the lead for the first time with a fisted score.

Cahill gave Glenville the lead once more after Halbert tied matters but Conor O’Sullivan kicked a 60th minute equaliser to send the game to extra-time.

There, Glenville took over and Moloney, Cahill – with a massive effort and Halbert closed the game out with points.

Scorers for Glenville: B Moloney 0-7 (0-7f), W Connolly, J Halbert, P Cahill (0-2) each, J Foley, P Cronin (0-1) each.

Scorers for Macroom: A Hegarty 0-5 (0-5f), D Kelly, C O’Sullivan (0-2) each, O Murphy, C Murphy, F Goold (0-1) each.

GLENVILLE: K Cronin; D McCarthy, S O’Callaghan, W O’Leary; P Cronin, P O’Regan, B Healy; N O’Riordan, S Bergin; K Coakley, E O’Reilly, W Connolly; B Moloney, J Foley, S Bracken.

Subs: A Cronin for E O’Reilly (54), J Halbert for S Bracken (43), P Cahill for S Bergin (48), S Bracken for B Healy (inj.) (72).

MACROOM: J O’Connell; R Buckley, E O’Mahony, J Angland; P Lynch, S Kiely, M Cahill; T Dineen, P Corrigan; D Kelly, C Murphy, G Angland; C O’Sullivan, A Hegarty, O Murphy.

Subs: M O’Donnell for O Murphy inj. (h/t), D Horgan for G Angland (h/t), F Goold for T Dineen (45), P Kelleher for C O’Sullivan (70).

Referee: D O’Leary (Kiskeam).