PIHC: Mallow boss Vince Morrissey praises his side's composure after win over Dungourney

The walls were seemingly closing in on Mallow two weeks ago, but now they are in the last four of the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC.

The Avondhu side defeated Dungourney on Saturday evening in Páirc Uí Rinn on a scoreline of 3-15 to 0-18 in a quarter-final tie which Mallow controlled in truth, as they will now face Watergrasshill.

Mallow were relegated from the SAHC 12 months ago and had lost their first two group games this year until a 4-18 to 4-16 win over Éire Óg in the final group match catapulted them from being on the brink of the relegation play-off to second spot on scoring difference resulting in a place in the knockout stages.

Mallow manager Vince Morrissey has gone through every possible emotion in his first season at the helm, as he hailed his players after the six-point win over Dungourney.

“We are thrilled with the win,” he says post-match.

“It’s a huge achievement. We came in as underdogs this evening and we will be more underdogs the next day against Watergrasshill. This evening is all about absorbing the win. As I said earlier this week, the goal at the start of the year was to avoid relegation, so we are in that mode now of anything is possible.

“Goals win games. We dipped slightly. We were disappointed going into the dressing room with our last ten minutes of the first half. Maybe it was a little bit of nerves. We didn’t have that execution mode to kill the game off, but Dungourney are a really good team and got such high-quality points. I want to thank them for a magnificent game. I have massive respect for them.

“We kept Dungourney at arms-length throughout I thought. Our full-back line did excellent inside. They were like a shield in there. It was very difficult to penetrate our full-back line in the last ten minutes. We are delighted with the composure of the team because that’s the next level mentality we need to be hurling at.” 

Mallow played the majority of Saturday’s game like a side who hadn’t a worry in the world. It was a workmanlike performance. The team in red and yellow have been underdogs in every championship game they have played this year. They are in the semi-final now looking for a third successive win in two weeks’ time.

Before that, their footballers face Muskerry next Sunday in the Premier SFC quarter-final. Everything is rosy in the garden around Carrigoon at the moment.

“We know we have to work hard and train hard for Watergrasshill,” Morrissey said.

“But look, when you see the stats for dual clubs, it can be done. We have a great relationship with the football management and vice versa. It’s a cohesive, proper cooperation relationship and now it’s all about rest and recovery. It’s all about freshness this time of year so look, we are absolutely thrilled with how things are going in both codes.”