Aghabullogue come from behind to reach final

DOUBLE IS ON: Aghabullogue's Pauric O'Sullivan is tackled by Mayfield's Nicky Kelly during the Co-Op Superstores Cork IAHC at Pairc Ui Rinn. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Cork IAHC semi-final

Aghabullogue 0-17 Mayfield 0-11 

Aghabullogue remain on course to complete a hurling/football double after they progressed to the Co-Op Superstores IAHC final for the first time since 2020 on Friday night in Páirc Uí Rinn. In seven days’ time, last year’s IAFC finalists head to Mallow and a last four clash with Dromtarriffe.

This was the ultimate game of two halves - the mid Cork side coming from four points down at half-time to secure their place against Midleton in the final - two teams who went straight to the penultimate round.

Aghabullogue could certainly have made life easier for themselves, had they taken their chances with at least three goals opportunities going amiss, as Mayfield finished with 13 players after Dave O’Neill and Shane Keegan (second yellow) both saw red in second-half stoppage.

It mightn’t have been the most gripping of games, but that will matter little to the mid Cork club, who trailed 0-4 to 0-8 after a low-scoring opening half.

When play resumed, a transformed Aghabullogue - after making two influential changes that saw Billy Casey and Brian Dineen come into the fray - went on a scoring spree.

Matthew Bradley took over the free-taking, whilst their forward unit clicked into gear with the tenacious John Corkery leading the charge.

Bradley and Shane Tarrant would share 12 points between them.

Aghabullogue regained the lead in the 50th minute through Paul Ring, 0-10 to 0-9, and they continued to hold the advantage right to the end.

In that second-half, they outscored Mayfield 13 points to three. With sweepers operating at either end, Aghabullogue had plenty of momentum, including a well organized defensive system.

In a low-key opening-half, the first score from play didn’t arrive until the 23rd minute from Bradley - worth the wait though, as it was a wonderful over the shoulder strike.

Nicky Kelly was flawless from frees for Mayfield, his overall contribution of nine points not enough on this occasion.

Colm Gillespie drew a magnificent save from Mayfield net minder Richard O’Keeffe too before the break.

Equally at the other end, Mayfield had a green flag opportunity when Shane Duggan’s effort was diverted for a ’65, which Nicky Kelly converted to put them four in front.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: S Tarrant (0-4 frees) and M Bradley (0-5 frees) (0-6 each), P Ring and J Corkery (0-2 each), B Dineen (0-1).

Scorers for Mayfield: N Kelly (0-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 ’65), D Malone and S O’Donovan (free) (0-1 each).

AGHABULLOGUE: F Foley; T Long, C Timmons, Jerome Corkery; T J Buckley, P O’Sullivan, M Dennehy; N Barry Murphy, S Furey; M Bradley, P Ring, J Foley; John Corkery, S Tarrant (Capt), C Gillespie.

Subs: B Casey for N Barry Murphy, B Dineen for C Gillespie (both half-time).

MAYFIELD: R O’Keeffe; S Keegan, B Punch, D Lucey; D O’Donovan, S O’Donovan, K Punch; D O’Neill, E O’Sullivan; D Malone (Capt), N Kelly, M J Coffey; F McSweeney, S Kelly, S Duggan.

Subs: P Duggan for M J Coffey (45), D O’Gorman for K Punch (56), A Mullery for D Malone (57), T Horgan for S Duggan (58).

Referee: Pat Lyons (Bishopstown).