St Michael's beaten by Beál Átha'n Ghaorthaidh but through to Division 2 League final
Tempers fray between Beál Átha'n Ghaorthaidh and St Michael's in Mahon. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
BEÁL Átha'n Ghaorthaidh completed their McCarthy Insurance Division 2 Football League campaign with a win over second placed St Michael’s in a competitive clash at Mahon on Sunday.
Michael’s are already guaranteed a place in the final against Clonakilty but they can have few excuses following this defeat as they were outbattled for long periods.
The home side got two good scoring opportunities in the opening minute but both attempts were well off target. Credit to the Muskerry side they held their composure and captain Eanna O Duinnin kicked a monstrous point in the fourth minute against the wind to edge them ahead.
Michael’s were sloppy with their passing and shooting and they were punished further three minutes later when Con Lynch spilt the posts from a placed ball.
Despite having the aid of the wind it took Michael’s 11 minutes to open their scoring courtesy of a Billy Cain point.
For some strange reason Michael’s were lethargic but the returning Tadgh Deasy should have done better in the 13th minute when he had a one-on-one with the Beál Átha'n Ghaorthaidh keeper but his shot failed to hit the target.
To be fair the visitors battled like trojans and three points from Donagh Shorten, Matt Riordan and Seamus O’Tuama gave them a four point lead in the 18th minute. Shorten added his second point a minute later before a mini brawl saw three players receive yellow cards but it didn’t deter the visitors as they kept kicking points for fun commanding a seven point lead entering the final minute.
Indeed it could have got worse for the Blackrock outfit but somehow Donagh Shorten couldn’t find the target with a goal at his mercy but they deservedly went in at the break commanding a 0-9 to 0-2 lead.
It was competitive in the opening exchanges but Sean Lucey increased the Beál Átha'n Ghaorthaidh lead just 44 seconds into the restart. Gradually Michael’s began realising they were in for a thrashing if they didn’t respond and they did start winning more possession.
In a good 12-minute period they kicked five unanswered points as the deficit was reduced to four points with Beál Átha'n Ghaorthaidh now looking a side firmly on the ropes.
Michael’s Cork U20 panellist Luke O’Herlihy looked the real deal and his stunning point brought only two points between the teams midway through the half.
To be fair Beál Átha'n Ghaorthaidh didn’t panic and Con Lynch kicked a free and 45 to steady the nerves with stalwart Liam Shorten also on hand when he returned from the bench to add two more crucial white flags.
Despite a late goal, St Michael’s were always chasing the game as Beál Átha'n Ghaorthaidh secured the win.
F Leahy 1-1, L O’Herlihy 0-4 (0-1 f), K Hegarty 0-2, B Cain, R O’Shaughnessy, T Deasy 0-1 each.
C Lynch 0-4 (0-1 f, 0-1 45), L Shorten 0-4, C Lynch 0-3 f, D Shorten 0-2, S Lucey 0-2.
M Burke; F Leahy, A O’Callaghan, J Golden; B Cain, D Meany, R Kavanagh; E Hickey, R O’Shaughnessy; M Carroll, A Murphy, K Hegarty; T Deasy, L O’Herlihy, D O’Sullivan.
L Grainger for M Carroll (h-t), E O'Donovan for B Cain (43).
M O’Connor; J O’Donoghue, C O Duinninn, G O’Leary; D O’Callaghan, E O Duinnin, L Creedon; C Lynch, S Lucey; C Twomey, D Shorten, S Moynihan; M Riordan, S O Tuama, L Shorten.
D O’Leary for L Shorten (26), L Shorten for S Moynihan (40), M Riordan for G O’Leary (55).
Dave Daly (Brian Dillon's).
