Mallow manager Andrew Cashman pleased to have Shane Merritt and Sam Copps back

It may have felt like a disappointing result in many ways for Andrew Cashman’s men, but Mallow performed well and could have just as easily come away with the win, in a game where they wouldn’t always be classed as favourites.

“It's a difficult one to process,” Andrew begins. “I suppose in that situation, we’re obviously quite happy with the first half, even though we felt we probably left a bit out there.

“We had a four point lead at half time, with the hill and with the wind and we were really disappointed with the goal we conceded in that first half in particular, because I felt the attitude was top class, the work rate was brilliant.

“We did a lot of things right in that half, obviously credit to Valley Rovers, they’re a club I admire greatly,” he says. “They've been a senior team for longer than we have, and they've competed at that top table for a long period and you could see why in that second-half, they really dug deep and they kept chipping away at us.

“Fair play to them, but we'll take it, we'll move on and all we're thinking about now is St Finbarr’s in three weeks.

LESSONS

“We’ll go away and we’ll study the video, we’ll get feedback from the players and we’ll gather our own thoughts, it’s probably rash to make conclusions so close after what was an emotional event in the mixer like that.

“We’re proud of the boys for digging in, but we’re disappointed with the last couple of scores. There were a couple of decisions that didn't go our way too, which we were disappointed with.

Our goal was to come here and win. Unfortunately, we didn't do it. But at the same time, we didn't lose either, so it's bittersweet. 

While Mallow may have fallen short in picking up the win – there were a lot of positives about their performance, particularly from Matty Taylor and Stephan O’Callaghan.

“Stephan in particular is a guy, he's on the road a long time with us and he's one of those guys you just wish you had more of him in the group,” Cashman explains. “A really good footballer, but fantastic attitude. His application today was top class, he fought so hard that he almost crawled off the pitch there at the end when we changed him.

“Matty does what Matty always does. He's been a phenomenal player for this club and this team and a real leader for us.” The game also marked the returns of both Shane Merritt and Sam Copps – two crucial players that did well after lengthy spells on the sideline.

“I'm delighted for the lads first and foremost, it's a lonely place certainly in Shane’s place where it was a significant long term injury.

“Shane is a leader in our group and so I’m delighted for him to get back out onto the pitch and get back and complete his recovery, same with Sam Copps, he’s had a long year with the U20s.

“ It was probably disappointing at the end of that campaign for him and again he had a setback a couple of weeks ago with ourselves. So it’s great to get these guys on the pitch, they're both leaders for us.”