Fast start puts Mallow on way to semis

From the fifth minute Mallow led Dungourney, they never loosened their grip on that lead

Sat, 21 Sep, 2024 - 19:11

Eoghan Cormican, Pairc Ui Rinn

Cork Premier IHC quarter-final: Mallow 3-15 Dungourney 0-18

Mallow move on. They move to within an hour of premier intermediate county final involvement. Standing in their way are Watergrasshill.

Mallow move on to that county semi-final with confidence enhanced. They were convincing winners here. From the fifth minute they led. It was a lead they never loosened their grip on.

Mallow had as strong a start as they could have hoped for. And then they waned. Dungourney had as disastrous a start as they could have hoped for. And then they eventually got going.

The respective periods of dominance and dormancy balanced each other out to give a half-time scoreline of Mallow 1-9 to 0-10 in front.

Jack Leahy delivered the opening score of the quarter-final in the first minute. Dungourney would not score again for another 10 minutes, by which juncture their opponents had piled on 1-4.

Mallow drew massive energy from a Mark Tobin free, 65 metres out, that went all the way to the net on five minutes. Tobin followed with a point from play. Half-back Billy Murphy was next to swell their early lead.

Dungourney's James Ahern raeches for the sliotar from Mallow's Billy Murphy and Garett Lenihan during the Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC QF at Pairc Ui Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

That lead was at its chunkiest on 21 minutes. Sean Hayes’ sole first-half point from play of the four first-half points he struck pushed Mallow 1-8 to 0-3 in front. The eight-point advantage could have been more. Mallow finished the half with eight wides.

Dungourney, for their part, finished the half exceptionally strong. Shane Hegarty, Mike Leahy, John Ahern, and Jack Leahy (two frees) clipped five in succession to reduce the gap to 1-8 to 0-8.

Kelvin Cody Byrne and Leahy closed out the half with another two points to close that gap further.

Mallow sought to start the second period as they did the first - with a goal. Dan Sheehan went through. His trigger pull was prevented by a superb Dylan Healy hook.

Sheehan had Mallow's second goal eight minutes later. Tobin with the assist, the finish clinical. Five now the gap. 2-10 to 0-11.

Leahy and Hegarty pointed to bring Dungourney back within three. They’d get no closer over the closing 25 minutes. Leahy endured a difficult second period between shots sent wide and shots saved.

Mallow’s third goal on 47 minutes was a near carbon copy of their first. Pa Healy’s delivery from inside his own half went all the way to the net. They strolled from there.

Scorers for Mallow: S Hayes (0-8, 0-6 frees); M Tobin (1-3, 1-0 free); Dan Sheehan (1-2); P Healy (1-0); K Sheehan, B Murphy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Dungourney: J Leahy (0-9, 0-6 frees); S Hegarty (0-3); N McGrath (0-2); M Leahy, D Healy, J Ahern, K Cody Byrne (0-1 each).

MALLOW: P Buckley; M Kelleher, G Lenihan, R Sheehan; B Murphy, P Lyons, P Healy; Daniel Sheehan, S Copps; S Leneghan, M Tobin, K Sheehan; Dan Sheehan, D Hayes, S Hayes.

Subs: B Kingston for Murphy (31 mins, inj); L Malone for Daniel Sheehan (42); B Taylor for G Lenihan (64)

DUNGOURNEY: P Flynn; J McCarthy, M McGrath, D Healy; C O’Doherty, M Leahy, S Rohan; S Hegarty, N McGrath; N Motherway, J Leahy, John Ahern; James Ahern, K Cody Byrne, B Ahern.

Subs: S Geaney for J McCarthy (33); C Murphy for J Ahern (40); R Denny for B Ahern (38).

Referee: P O’Mahony