Premier SFC: Magnificent Mallow stun St Finbarr's as late Jack Dillon goal proves crucial

Mallow: 2-12 

St Finbarr’s: 2-10 

A cracker in Grenagh as Mallow stunned St Finbarr’s to claim a famous win in an entertaining McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC tie on Saturday afternoon.

This second group game in Group 3 had absolutely everything and will live long in the memory bank for those who witnessed this hugely enjoyable contest. The crucial score arrived after 54 minutes when Jack Dillon scored a wonder goal to push Mallow two points clear. They didn’t look back after that. 

It was a funny game in the sense that both sides enjoyed periods of dominance without ever kicking on, but Mallow were rewarded for their hunger and tigerish play. In the end, it was 13-man Mallow who held on against 14-man St Finbarr's. The Mallow supporters didn't want to leave Grenagh. A magical day for all involved with the North Cork club.

They now sit joint top with Valley Rovers on three points with St Finbarr's third on two points. Douglas are bottom with no points and now can't finish in the top two, going into the final group games in four weeks' time.

Seán McDonnell was the main man for the winners, landing 1-6, but it was a brilliant team performance with Matty Taylor’s experience playing a key role in the closing stages.  

St Finbarr’s were too reliant on Steven Sherlock as he finished up with 1-7, as a lack of scorers came back to cost them.

Mallow were competitive from the off as they set the tone and got the first score after four minutes following a McDonnell point. Taylor extended Mallow’s lead with an excellent long range effort in what was an aggressive start from the team in red and yellow.

St Finbarr’s settled to a certain degree and an Eoin McGreevy white flag after seven minutes was a timely score for them. The impressive McDonnell converted a free for Mallow, but they rode their luck after 14 minutes when heroic Mallow defending denied their opposition a couple of goal chances in a matter of seconds in a goalmouth scramble with Ian Maguire having two goes but Mallow put their bodies on the line.  

The sides shared the next four points as the North Cork team led 0-5 to 0-3 with 10 minutes to the break. Against the run of play, the Barrs goaled after 25 minutes, John Wigginton-Barrett gave a gorgeous pass across the square and it was easy for Sherlock who palmed the ball into the net. 

The city club turned the screw, hitting 1-2 without reply. The second goal coming after 30 minutes through a tidy finish from defender Colm Scully. Mallow did land the last two points of the half, Taylor and McDonnell (free), 2-5 to 0-7 at half-time.

On the resumption, Sherlock curled over a beauty for St Finbarr’s before McDonnell tapped over a pair of frees in two minutes as Mallow kept in touch. St Finbarr’s were reduced to 14 players after 40 minutes when the goal scorer Scully picked up a second yellow card.

Mallow were enduring a purple patch and another McDonnell free left just two points in it. A Sherlock mark was a timely score for the Togher club, 2-7 to 0-10 after 43 minutes.

It was all level with 13 minutes to the end when following a driving run, McDonnell unleashed a powerful shot to the net. The sides swapped white flags until a Sherlock free nudged his side in front.

A huge score came after 54 minutes when Dillon finished to the net for the eventual winners, a great finish, 2-11 to 2-9. St Finbarr’s sub Cillian Myers-Murray fisted over before Mallow were then down to 14 players after 61 minutes when Ryan Harkin picked up a second yellow card.

Mallow sub Kevin Sheehan pointed, which was his second, but Mark Kelleher got a black card three minutes into added time as Mallow were now hanging on. They survived to claim a famous win. 

Mallow will meet Douglas in the final group game while the Barrs take on Valley Rovers.

Scorers for Mallow: S McDonnell 1-6 (0-5 f), J Dillon 1-0, M Taylor, K Sheehan 0-2 each, M Tobin (f), P Hennessy 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: S Sherlock 1-7 (0-4 f, 0-1 m), C Scully 1-0, W Buckley, E McGreevy, C Myers-Murray 0-1 each.

MALLOW: K Doyle; B Myers, P Lyons, E Barry; J Glynn, S Copps, M Taylor (c); S Merritt, S O’Callaghan; J Dillon, R Harkin, S McDonnell; M Tobin, M Kelleher, P Hennessy.

Subs: K Sheehan for M Tobin (48), E Stanton for P Hennessy (53).

ST FINBARR’S: D Newman; J Burns, F Crowley, C Scully; C Lyons, A O’Connor, C Doolan; I Maguire (c), B Hayes; W Buckley, E McGreevy, E Dennehy; J Wigginton-Barrett, E Twomey, S Sherlock.

Subs: B O’Connell for E McGreevy (41), C Myers-Murray for J Wigginton-Barrett (53).

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).