Charleville 3-16 Mallow 0-13

AS the preparations continue for their forthcoming Cork third-round tie against Glen Rovers, Charleville received a timely boost yesterday in Buttevant when captain Alan Dennehy accepted the RedFM Division 2 hurling league silverware.

Ben O’Connor’s team delivered an accomplished performance, the only concern he will have is a hand injury picked up by Darragh Fitzgibbon before the interval that necessitated the Cork star being taken to hospital. The foul by Ronan Mills saw him receive a red card, leaving Mallow with 14 men for the second half.

Last year’s Premier intermediate champions Charleville signalled their intent from early on despite playing into the teeth of a strong wind. They moved 0-8 to 0-3 ahead before Gavin Kelleher struck for the opening goal in the 21st minute. The full forward netted after being set up by a cross field ball from Aaron O’Connor after good work by Mark Kavanagh.

Mallow finished the half strong hitting points from Cormac Murphy and two from placed balls courtesy of Sean Hayes.

Mallow needed a big improvement in the second half but with Cormac Murphy going off injured and also being a man down, they faced an uphill task.

Although Charleville were up against the wind and the driving rain, they piled on the pressure.

They completely bossed upon the resumption, outscoring Mallow 2-4 to 0-2 during the third quarter. Andrew Cagney the main man, his double goal strikes putting the game beyond Mallow’s reach. The scoreboard read 3-12 to 0-8 mid way through the second half.

Darragh Moynihan and Sean Hayes got a couple of scores back for Mallow, but soon after their options were reduced when Hayes had to retire injured. Charleville, meanwhile, were dominant in a lot of positions and while the contest petered out to its inevitable conclusion, they popped over closing points from Brendan Casey and Kelleher.

Mallow’s Charlie Carroll (0-4) had the final say. While they were unsuccessful in this derby showdown, they have PIHC to look forward to against Ballinhassig or Inniscarra.

They are also in the Division 2 football league final on Friday when they take on Castlehaven.

Scorers for Charleville: A Cagney 2-4 (0-2 f), G Kelleher 1-2, D Fitzgibbon 0-3 (0-1 f), K O’Connor 0-2, C Carroll, M Kavanagh, S Gleeson, B Casey, C Buckley 0-1 each.

Mallow: S Hayes (0-3 f, 0-1 65), C Carroll 0-4 each, C Murphy, P Lyons 0-2 each, D Moynihan 0-1.

CHARLEVILLE: C Collins; D Butler, F Cagney, M O’Flynn; B O’Connell, A Dennehy (c), C Carroll; K O’Connor, M Kavanagh; D Fitzgibbon, T Hawe, S Gleeson; A O’Connor, G Kelleher, A Cagney.

Subs: C Buckley for D Fitzgibbon (28 inj), B Casey for A Dennehy (52), S Buckley for T Hawe (57), K Cagney for A O’Connor (57), D Hedderman for B Casey (63 inj).

MALLOW: B Carey; N O’Riordan, F O’Neill, J Healy; R Mills, D Moynihan, P Healy (c); P Lyons, J O’Hanlon; D Hayes, C Carroll, K Mills; S Hayes, S O’Callaghan, C Murphy.

Subs: P Herlihy for S O’Callaghan (23), R Harkin for C Murphy (36 inj), G Sweeney for J O’Hanlon (54), D Buckley for S Hayes (55 inj).

Referee: Ciarán O’Regan (Ballyhea).