Millstreet pushed all the way by Dromtariffe in Cork SFL Division Five game

Millstreet 2-10

Dromtariffe 1-9 

A close tussle between the near neighbours before Millstreet collected the spoils from Dromtariffe in the opening round tussle to the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork County Football League Division 5 campaign at Millstreet.

No surprise given the commencement of a new campaign, the outcome was always likely to be settled by a small margin, territory that Millstreet exploited at key stages. Dromtariffe without a couple of regulars didn’t make it easy for the hosts.

Millstreet parading some of their successful u21 team from Duarigle Gaels, looked a more formidable force and at key stages, they played comfortably within themselves to emerge deserved victors.

Understandably on a first day outing, both sides were slow to settle, Dromtariffe took encouragement from the play of Jamie Kelleher, Brian O’Keeffe, Darren O’Connor and Daniel O’Keeffe. 

Two points apiece from the O’Keeffes’ put the visitors on the scoreboard.

Gradually, Millstreet played their way into contention and received a confidence booster when midfielder Patrick Dineen flicked home a goal to enjoy a 1-3 to 0-4 advantage at the interval. 

Millstreet added to the tally on the resumption only for Dromtariffe to bounce back and gain reward with a Gavin Downey goal.

However Millstreet refused to panic and regained control from the influence of Robbie O’Sullivan, Kevin Crowley, Michael Thornton, Alan O’Leary and Dineen. 

A fine move opened up the Dromtariffe defence for Colm O’Leary to net.

Dromtariffe pared back the margin with a pair of points from Evan Murphy to ensure the contest remained up for grabs. 

A feature from the second half was that when Dromtariffe did manage to string together a couple of scores, Millstreet simply put their foot on the gas to maintain their advantage from points by O’Leary, Thomas Walsh and Hickey.

Credit Dromtariffe for plugging away, points from Brian and Daniel O’Keeffe left just two between the teams. 

There was time to complete the revival but despite applying pressure, they failed to do so as Millstreet saw their task to a successful conclusion on late points from Colm O’Leary and Harry Linehan.

In their next assignment, Millstreet look ahead to a meeting against Mitchelstown while Dromtariffe take on Kinsale.

Scorers for Millstreet: P Dineen 1-2, C O’Leary 1-1, A O’Leary 0-3 (0-2f), Hugh Linehan, T Walsh, S Hickey, Harry Linehan 0-1 each.

Dromtariffe: B O’Keeffe 0-4 (0-2f), D O’Keeffe 0-3 (0-1f), G Downey1-0, E Murphy 0-2 (0-1f).

MILLSTREET: C Twomey; P O’Connor, E O’Mahony, R O’Sullivan; P Sheehan, K Crowley, Harry Linehan; P Dineen, S Hickey; C O’Leary, A O’Leary, M Thornton; Hugh Linehan, P Moynihan, E O’Sullivan. 

Subs: T Walsh, C Lehane, D O’Donovan.

DROMTARIFFE: D Mann; D Murphy, J Kelleher, R Daly; S Coyne, J Murphy, B Murphy; S Buckley, B O’Keeffe; F McKee, E Murphy, G Downey; D O’Leary, D O’Keeffe, D O’Connor. 

Subs: G O’Keeffe, D Crowley.

Referee: W King (Kilbrin).