Devastating finish sees clinical Charleville edge out Mallow
This lively Co-Op Superstores Cork SAHC produced many nail-biting moments before Charleville edged past Mallow in Kilbrin on Saturday. The north Cork derby bringing out the best in each other with the lead swapping hands at different stages.
Charleville assumed control late on, having been two points in arrears at half-time, and three points behind in the second half. They had to work hard, but then again, that is nothing new to the 2018 All-Ireland IHC finalists who refused to be beaten.
It is their second win and they are in a healthy position in Group B ahead of their final fixture with Fermoy later in the month. This section is titled the ‘Group of Death’ and you can see why. Bandon got the better of Fermoy, also on Saturday, which means Fermoy and Bandon are on two points. A lot to play for.
So, this leaves us with Mallow who need a result against Bandon to keep their hopes alive – albeit scoring difference is not in their favour. With 14 players, they were disappointed to lose to Fermoy. It was no surprise to see Ger Manley’s men come with all guns blazing. Without the services of the injured Alec Luttrell and the suspended Sean Hayes, they fought to the very end.
An increasing wide count (albeit they did argue two wides had in fact gone over), and a Cormac Murphy penalty saved by Cian Collins proved costly.
Charleville too had their woes, forced to line out minus their injured centre-back Jack Buckley. However, they won this nip-and-tuck Avondhu battle on the home straight outscoring Mallow five points to one before Mallow substitute Charlie Carroll found the net deep in stoppage.
Claude Gough’s Charleville were 0-9 to 0-11 in arrears at the interval, the sides level six times during a hectic opening half. Fifteen seconds in and Gary Sweeney got Mallow up and running. Three points apiece then before Charleville hit the next three without reply – all from play from Jack O’Callaghan, Darragh Fitzgibbon, and Jack Doyle.
Mallow full-back Fionn O’Neill scored a smashing point, and when they returned after the water break, Paul Lyons did similarly. The momentum with them, and they drove it on with powerful play from their defence. Kevin Sheehan clipped over a brace, and Aaron Sheehan found the target from placed balls. Collins was called upon to deny Aaron Sheehan and when Denis Hayes landed a point, they pulled two clear having hurled really well.
Podge Buckley too stopped a goal shot from Jack Doyle.
It was end-to-end.
Mallow restarted the second half outscoring Charleville three to one. Some great points from Cormac Murphy (2) and Hayes. By the 40th minute, they were 0-15 to 0-12 to the good. Charleville had a few nervous moments, and did well not to concede a goal.
Fitzgibbon was good on the frees and he got one from play, former captain Danny O’Flynn registered, as did Gavin Kelleher, Doyle, and Andrew Cagney.
It was a four-point match when Collins came to their rescue from Murphy’s penalty after Pa Herlihy was upended. Too many Mallow chances went a-begging, scoring just one point.
Yet, they refused to yield. Carroll’s goal showing their determination. But they ran out of time.
D Fitzgibbon (0-11, 0-9 frees), J Doyle and A Cagney (0-3 each), G Kelleher and D O’Flynn (0-2 each), J O’Callaghan (0-1).
A Sheehan (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-2 65s), C Carroll (1-0), C Murphy (0-3), K Sheehan, D Hayes, and G Sweeney (0-2 each), F O’Neill and P Lyons (0-1 each).
C Collins; D Butler, J Meade, M O’Flynn; J Barry, A Dennehy, F Cagney; D O’Flynn, J O’Callaghan; M Kavanagh, D Fitzgibbon, J Doyle; D Casey, G Kelleher, A Cagney.
T Hawe for M Kavanagh (half time).
P Buckley; J O’Hanlon, F O’Neill, J Healy; P Healy, R Sheehan, D Moynihan; P Lyons, N O’Riordan; G Sweeney, P Herlihy, K Sheehan; A Sheehan, C Murphy, D Hayes.
G O’Sullivan for J Healy (48), C Carroll for G Sweeney (48), J Hayes for R Sheehan (54), D Buckley for K Sheehan (bs 58-60).
Conor Lane (Banteer).
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