Minor football: Barrs top group after city derby against St Michael’s

St Finbarr’s 0-11 St Michael’s 1-7

ST Finbarrs are safely through to the semi-finals of the Premier 2 MFC as they made it three wins out of three in Group two with this hard-fought 0-11 to 1-7 victory over a spirited St Michael’s side in Mahon.

A late penalty from the clinical Luke O’Herlihy kept Michael’s in with a chance until the last seconds but the Barrs, led by the excellent Ethan Twomey, hung on to seal their place in the last four. 

They'll now meet Castlehaven in the semi-final. Jack Cahalane, the Barrs' marquee hurling forward plays his football with the Haven, so he'll be heading into Togher in strange circumstances for that clash.

The Barrs came into this game in a confident mood having won their first two games against the other two clubs in this group; Kanturk and more recently, Carrigaline.

They started brightly here as two converted frees from midfielder Ethan Twomey and centre-forward Ben O’Connor saw them ahead two points to no score by the seventh minute although they ought to have been further ahead but a couple of wides allowed Michael’s to stay within touching distance.

Only a win here would give Michael’s a chance of progressing to the semis and they would level terms by the 12th minute thanks to two well-struck frees of their own from Luke O’Herlihy. O’Herihy would score their only other point before the half time break but by that stage, they trailed 0-5 to 0-3 - they also saw captain Tom McCarthy dismissed - with Adam Buckley helping the Barrs with two long-range overs.

The Barrs used the extra space efficiently as they scored six of the next nine scores of the match - including two superb kicks from William Buckley — to ensure they were ahead 0-11 to 0-6 heading into the closing stages. 

But Michael’s refused to give up and a late free from O’Herlihy before he expertly dispatched a penalty into top left corner gave them hope but it was too little too late.

Scorers for St Finbarr's: E Twomey 0-5 (0-4 f), B O’Connor 0-2 f, A Buckley and W Buckley 0-2 each.

St Michael’s: L O’Herlihy 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-6 f), O McCarthy 0-1.

ST FINBARR'S: C Sexton; S Kennedy, JJ O’Connor, M Ryan; R O’Sullivan, R Fitzpatrick, M Nason; E Twomey, B Cunningham; C Doolan, B O’Connor, G Gowen; R Doyle, A Buckley, W Buckley.

Subs: F Crowley for G Gowen (47), S Osubar Kennedy for E De Burca (47), D Kennedy for R Doyle (54), A O’Regan for B O’Connor (57), S Crowe for E Twomey (57).

ST MICHAEL’S: M O’Connell, S Ahern, D Cronin, C Hanley; R Kavanagh, T McCarthy, O McCarthy; M Ludgate, R O’Shaughnessy; E O’Sullivan, J Jackson, E De Burca; L O’Herlihy, D McPolin, O Gribbon.

Subs: T Grainger for D McPolin (h-t), J Duggan for E O’Sullivan (44), B Leahy for R O’Shaughnessy (61), C Neal for O McCarthy (61).

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).