IAHC: Mayfield through to quarter-final and send Cloughduv into relegation playoff

Mayfield 3-16 Cloughduv 3-16 

Mayfield are through to the Co-Op Superstores IAHC quarter-finals after securing a draw with Cloughduv in real a helter-skelter championship game at Ballincollig.

With Lisgoold topping the group, this was effectively a knock-out game and it didn’t disappoint. A draw was good enough to see Mayfield advance but they gave their supporters a few scary moments as Cloughduv went three points clear midway through the second half which would have put them through on scoring aggregate. Instead, the Muskerry side ended up in a relegation final with Aghada.

Mayfield’s talisman Nicky Kelly was magnificent throughout scoring some excellent frees and crucially scoring a penalty.

Cloughduv’s Mark Verling was the other marque player from this game scoring 2-8 in total and he registered the opening score with a placed effort. Mayfield replied with an excellent long-range point from MJ Coffey and a Nicky Kelly free. The northside outfit dominated the opening exchanges and a terrific pass from Kelly resulted in a tap-in goal from Patrick Duggan. Further points from Fanahan McSweeney and MJ Coffey ensured Mayfield led by 1-4 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.

Cloughduv eventually settled and a point from Odhran O’Driscoll and a brace of placed efforts from Verling reduced the gap to the minimum. The sides were level after a well-taken score from Donal Cronin. But four points without reply from Mayfield though Kelly (2f) and Daniel O’Gorman ensured they led by 1-9 to 0-8 at the break.

On resumption, Cloughduv got a perfect tonic when Odhran O’Driscoll billowed the net and Eoghan Clifford followed up with a monster point from distance. A long-range free from Verling went all the way to the net and suddenly Cloughduv were in front by three. Mayfield went the length of the field and were awarded a penalty which Kelly nailed, 2-11 apiece.

Cloughduv drove on again and points from Verling (free), Brain McNabola and Kevin Walsh swung qualification in favour of the Mid Cork outfit. To be fair Mayfield didn’t panic and Kelly landed an excellent free. Both sides missed glorious goal chances as the tension really mounted. 

Crucially Mayfield’s MJ Coffey caught a ball among a cluster of players and buried it to the net. Further points from Dave O’Neill and Kelly sealed the result as a late injury-time penalty from Mark Verling wasn't enough as Mayfield advanced to meet Erins Own.

Scorers for Mayfield: N Kelly 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-6 f), MJ Coffey 1-2, P Duggan 1-0, D O’Neill 0-2, F McSweeney, D O'Gorman, D Malone, K Punch 0-1 each.

Cloughduv: M Verling 2-8 (1-5 f, 1-0 pen), O O’Driscoll 1-1, D Cronin, B McNabola 0-2 each, E Clifford, K Walsh, W Ahern 0-1 each.

MAYFIELD: A Hegarty; D Lucey, B Punch, B O’Leary; D O’Gorman, E O’Sullivan, K Punch; S O’Donovan, D O’Neill; D Malone, N Kelly, MJ Coffey; F McSweeney, T Horgan, P Duggan. 

Subs: K Cussack for P Duggan (40), S Kelly for D Malone (45), J Horgan for B O’Leary (45).

CLOUGHDUV: C Crowley; P O’Leary, A Twomey, S Curzon; E Clifford, J Walsh, A Murphy; S Barry, O O’Driscoll; M Verling, E McNabola, P O’Driscoll; C O’Driscoll, D Cronin, B McNabola. 

Subs: K Walsh for E Mc Nabola (40), S O’Donoghue for D Cronin (40), W Ahern for S Barry (45), J Devine for P O’Driscoll (45).

Referee: A O’Regan (Kilbrittain).