Mallow squeeze past Éire Óg on points scored after an epic eight-goal thriller
Mallow's Pa Healy is tackled by Aghabullogue's John Buckley and Cillian Timmons. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Following what was a simply astonishing encounter, Mallow progressed to the knockout stages of the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship after this win over Éire Óg in Grenagh on Sunday afternoon.
Alongside Ballincollig, Mallow edged through from this group on the basis of points scored. They were level on one win each with Éire Óg and Aghabullogue. The Ovens side and Mallow had -7 scoring difference each and Aghabullogue -13 but Mallow had more scored.
From the first whistle to full-time, this was a phenomenal duel. Mallow produced a rip-roaring start and they led 2-5 to 0-1.
Points from Mark Tobin and Kevin Sheehan got them up and running. That was before they found the back of the net through an instinctive finish by Sean Hayes.
An Eoin O’Shea score for the Muskerry side duly followed. But then Mallow got a second goal when Denis Hayes converted to the net.
Midway through the opening half Éire Óg started to rally and Colm O’Callaghan got a goal through an impressive driving run into the Mallow defence.
At the break it was Mallow who held the advantage at 2-13 to 1-9, as they added to their scoring tally courtesy of scores by Tobin and Hayes.
Éire Óg got the opening four scores of the second half to reduce the deficit down to just three points. Mallow then responded to get another goal, when Sheehan blasted high to the net when the sliotar fell to his path.
Éire Óg then saw Matt Brady get his marching orders for a second yellow card, as Mallow hit for a fourth goal when Dan Sheehan slotted home as they now led 4-16 to 1-14.
Then Éire Óg set up a breathtaking finale as they hit for three goals in succession through a Joe Cooper brace and O’Shea.
A Hayes free was the last score and it turned out to be the difference in the end, with Mallow now meeting Dungourney and Éire Óg out.
S Hayes 1-6 (0-5 f), M Tobin 0-6 (0-3 f), D Hayes, K Sheehan, D Sheehan 1-2 each.
E O’Shea 1-11 (0-6 f), J Cooper 2-1, C O’Callaghan 1-0, D Foley, D Casey, O O’Shea, D Kirwan 0-1 each.
P Buckley; B Kingston, P Lyons, R Sheehan; B Murphy, S Copps, P Healy; D Sheehan, M Kelleher; S Leneghan, D Sheehan, K Sheehan; M Tobin, D Hayes, S Hayes.
L Malone for Murphy (41), G Lenihan for Leneghan (42), F O’Neill for Kelleher (59).
C Kelly; B Corcoran, M Brady, J Kelleher; C O’Callaghan, C McGoldrick, D Herlihy; E Kelleher, D McCarthy; D Casey, E O’Shea, D Kirwan; J Cooper, D Foley, O O’Shea.
B Hurley for E Kelleher, K Hallissey for Foley (both 52), D Dineen for O O’Shea (54).
Niall O’Neill (Midleton).
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