Super sub Terry Lotty is Mayfield hero
With the sides level, sub Terry Lotty smashed home a terrific goal which helped kill the Kanturk challenge and book his side’s place in the decider again Fermoy.
Mayfield coach Mick Hannon compared Lotty’s response to being omitted to that of Republic of Ireland Shane Long and his wonder goal against Germany.
Hannon explained: “When we announced the team the previous night, there were tears in some players’ eyes on being omitted. There is huge competition for places in the side, especially in attack”, he said.
“Terry was the one to lose out but as we told him, Shane Long came on on Thursday and scored the winner.
“Likewise, Terry did so for us. He is the hero. I am so delighted for him given the service he has shown since I coached him at underage 20 years ago”.
“Fermoy will be a huge obstacle in the final. They defeated us last season in the quarter-final but we’re looking forward to it and we won’t be making up the numbers.” Mayfield enjoyed a dream start when David O’Neill’s goal bound effort was partly blocked before Nicky Kelly followed up and fired to the net.
Kanturk then found their feet and with Aidan Walsh and James Fitzpatrick faring well at midfield, four points on the bounce edged the Duhallow side ahead.
Still Mayfield looked sharp and focused with Trevor Boyd, Kieran Brosnan and David O’Neill shining in defence while Shane O’Donovan and Shane Kelly were also working well around the centre.
Free-taker Paul Condon along with Kelly and Darren Hayes showed composure to shoot a series of points.
Kanturk remained in with a shout and grabbed a goal when a sweeping move initiated by Mark Healy was finished by Darren O’Sullivan. That effort left Kanturk trailing by two points (1-7 to 1-5) at the interval.
A Paul Walsh point moments after the restart left the minimum between the pair yet the introduction of Lotty added greater penetration to the Mayfield attack.
Indeed Lotty showed his experience to loft over two of the next four points as the city side began to pull clear but Kanturk rallied magnificently with O’Sullivan netting his second goal. Mayfield answered with a pair of points from Shane Kelly and Condon before gutsy Kanturk stormed back with three of their own from Ian Walsh and Anthony Nash to pull level. Then came Lotty’s strike which drained the life out of Kanturk before points from Condon and Shane O’Donovan sealed the win, and Mayfield advance to the county showpiece.
P Condon 0-6(0-5f), N Kelly (1-2), T Lotty (1-2), D Hayes (0-2), S Fitzgerald, S Kelly, S O’Donovan 0-1 each.
D O’Sullivan (2-0), K Holland 0-3f, I Walsh 0-3(0-2f), A Walsh(f), J Fitzpatrick, P Walsh, A Nash 0-1 each.
E Bond; S O’Sullivan, P Fitzgerald, T Boyd; S Kelly, K Brosnan, D O’Neill; S O’Donovan, S Fitzgerald; D Lucey, R Scannell, D Hayes; N Kelly, P Condon, S Hackett.
T Lotty for Scannell(ht), P Scannell for O’Sullivan(bc 38), D Malone for Hayes(46), J O’Driscoll for P Scannell(bc 59), D Buckley for Fitzgerald(59).
J Fullerton; D Browne, A Sheehy, L O’Neill; J McLoughlin, M Healy, D O’Connor; J Fitzpatrick, A Walsh; J Carver, I Walsh, P Walsh; A Nash, K Holland, D O’Sullivan.
D O’Connor for Nash(57).
J O’Leary(Mallow).
