After long wait, Watergrasshill book final date with Carrigaline

Mallow lost Ronan Sheehan to a red card late in the opening half.

Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC semi-final in Castletownroche Mallow goalkeeper Padraig Buckley clears away from the advancing Brendan Lehane (Watergrasshill) in the Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC semi-final in Castletownroche. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Cork Premier IHC semi-final: Watergrasshill 4-16 Mallow 1-14 

A LONG semi-final wait for both sides because of dual championship commitments but Watergrasshill finally got the job done in Castletownroche on Saturday, booking a Cork PIHC final date with Carrigaline after an emphatic but hard-earned victory over a tenacious Mallow side who lost Ronan Sheehan to a red card late in the opening half.

In fairness to Mallow they battled hard and trailed by just a point entering the final quarter, 1-10 to 0-12. But three goals, a second from Pàdraig O’Leary and one apiece from Brendan Lehane and sub Ciarán O’Leary proved too much for a flagging Mallow side who had given their all.

Watergrasshill boss Eddie Enright wasn’t overly-enthusiastic afterwards but pleased his side are in the final. “Mallow are a decent side and put us under considerable pressure. Losing a man was always going to put them under pressure and the spaces opened up for us in the second half. Seven weeks waiting for a game is a difficult ask but we kept our composure and finished well in the end.” 

‘Hill certainly thundered into the game and had a goal and a point on board inside five minutes, Adam Murphy pointing a ‘65 and Pàdraig O’Leary finding the net at his second attempt. Keeper Aidan Foley then sent over a long free and it took a fine save by Mallow keeper Pàdraig Buckley to deny them a second goal.

But slowly Mallow found their feet with a Sean Hayes free and a super Billy Murphy point but it was still Watergrasshill in the lead after the opening quarter 1-4 to 0-3.

Watergrasshill were wasteful in the second quarter and Mallow, now playing with a far higher intensity, were well up for the match. Mark Tobin and another Hayes free put the pressure on Watergrasshill and it was level pegging by the 25th minute, 1-6 to 0-9. Ronan Sheehan was then dismissed two minutes later for an off-the-ball incident and although Liam Foley put the Hill in front again with a super point, Hayes’ sixth conversion had the sides level at the break 1-7 to 0-10.

Watergrasshill, with three starters and one second-half substitute in Imokilly’s SHC final victory over Sars last weekend in their line-up, went back in front with a super Adam Murphy point two minutes after the restart. Although they were never headed, Mallow were intense and physical and stuck to their task. Hayes kept firing over the frees for Mallow and just a point separated the sides entering the final quarter, 1-10 to 0-12.

Then Watergrasshill took off. Adam Murphy hit two fine points and then a vital second goal, Murphy’s first effort was saved but Pàdraig O’Leary following up fired home the rebound. Sean Desmond soon added another point and then came goal number three in the 51st minute, sub Ciaràn O’Leary on target and it was game over.

Goal number four was a beauty, a powerful run through the middle by centre back Daire O’Leary set up Brendan Lehane and he made no mistake. Sub Stephen O’Callaghan did find the net for Mallow late on but Watergrasshill were the masters despite being so wasteful in the opening half.

Scorers for Watergrasshill: A Murphy 0-7 (0-4f, 1.65); P O’Leary 2-0; B Lehane, C O’Leary 1-1 each; A Foley (0-1f), D O’Leary, D McCarthy, M O’Driscoll, A Spriggs, L Foley, S Desmond 0-1 each.

Mallow scorers: S Hayes 0-8 (0-7f, 1.65); S O’Callaghan 1-0; M Tobin 0-3; K Sheehan (1.65), Dan Sheehan, B Murphy 0-1 each.

WATERGRASSHILL: A. Foley; S. Field, D. McCarthy, D. Roche; M. O’Driscoll, D. O’Leary, K. O’Neill; I. O’Callaghan, A. Springs; L. Foley, S. O’Regan, P. O’Leary; B. Lehman, S. Desmond, A. Murphy.

Subs: C. O’Leary for O’Callaghan (ht), P. Cronin for Spriggs (42m), C. Healy for Foley (47m), J. McCarthy for O’Driscoll (57m), P. O’Regan for O’Neill (57m).

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

Subs: B. Kingston for Kelleher (40m), F. O‘Neill for Murphy (49m), S. O’Callaghan for K. Sheehan (59m), R. Kelleher for Tobin (59m).

Referee: Wayne King (Banteer).