Impressive Imokilly hold off Fr O'Neills to reach Premier SHC semi-finals
Imokilly's Adam Murphy gathers the sliothar as he is shadowed by Eoin Motherway of Fr O'Neills during the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC quarter-final at Midleton. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC semi-final against Blackrock awaits Imokilly after they overcame Fr O'Neills in Sunday's quarter-final at Midleton.
While the champions of 2017, 2018 and 2019 were strong favourites for this clash, it was far from a hammering; equally, though, there was never a sense that an upset was in the offing. Despite the large crowd at Clonmult Memorial Park, the atmosphere was subdued for the most part, especially as Imokilly converted a 0-13 to 0-8 half-time lead into an 0-18 to 0-11 advantage by the 44th minute, benefiting from a greater scoring efficiency.
However, Fr O'Neills were given hope as a Declan Dalton free - his 10th point of the game - was followed by a goal, John Millerick's delivery well claimed by Billy Dunne, who fired a shot to the top corner, leaving three points in it, 0-18 to 1-12. It was as close as they came, though - Imokilly were seven in front after Jack Leahy's seventh and eighth points in quick succession in the closing minutes.
At the back for O'Neills, Ger Millerick excelled - albeit with the lament that would have benefited from having another one of him, further out. At the other end, more goals were necessary and Timmy Wilk had to get a great block on a Dunne effort, yielding a 65. When Daniel Harrington's delivery from that was won by Dalton, he was adjudged to have been fouled for a penalty, which he drilled home.
His subsequent point had it back to three again but Imokilly powered on, with subs Darragh O'Brien and Mike Kelly on the scoresheet along with the impressive Dáire O'Leary while Diarmuid Leahy added his fourth of the day. O'Neills won another penalty at the death but Eoin Davis saved brilliantly from Dalton and Imokilly advanced.
They had led all through, apart from the game's opening score by Dalton in the first minute. However, while the senior A champions of 2022 had some good early possssion, they were unable to take full advantage of the opportunities that came their way.
A goal might have put Imokilly on the back foot – a driving run from Billy Dunne created a half-chance for John Millerick, whose effort was blocked, and soon after that Jason Hankard’s pulled effort was unlucky to skew wide.
Amid all of that, Imokilly – as is their wont – steadily built their tally, with Séamus Harnedy (two), Seán Desmond, Jack Leahy (free) and Shane Hegarty all on target as they moved into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the 12th minute.
With only a couple of long-range frees from Dalton – who got little change from Ciarán Joyce in open play - interrupting the flow, it was 0-9 to 0-3 with 20 minutes on the clock as Imokilly moved through the gears. The pick of the points was a lovely move involving Bill Cooper, John Cronin and Diarmuid Healy, finished by Desmond for his second, while Dáire O’Leary sent over a good effort, too.
Fr O’Neills didn’t allow the lead to grow any further than that and two Dalton free from his near his own 45 had the lead was reduced to four, 0-11 to 0-7, with as many minutes of normal time left in the first half. He was to score one more, a sideline cut, though that was sandwiched by two fine points from Imokilly corner-forward Adam Murphy as Imokilly retired with a 0-13 to 0-8 advantage.
They augmented that on the restart and Leahy might even have had a goal, Paudie O'Sullivan saving from him. They didn't need a green flag in the end, with their point-scoring proficiency enough to see them through despite being tested by O'Neills in the final quarter.
J Leahy 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), D Healy 0-4, A Murphy, S Desmond 0-3 each, S Hegarty, D O’Leary, S Harnedy, 0-2 each, D O’Brien, M Kelly (0-1 f), K O’Neill 0-1 each.
D Dalton 1-12 (1-0 penalty, 0-10 f, 0-1 sl), B Dunne 1-0, John Millerick, C Broderick 0-1 each.
E Davis (St Catherine’s); T Wilk (Cobh), M Russell (Aghada), M McGrath (Dungourney); D O’Leary (Watergrasshill), C Joyce (Castlemartyr), J Cronin (Lisgoold); S Hegarty (Dungourney), B Cooper (Youghal); B Lawton (Castlemartyr), D Healy (Lisgoold), S Harnedy (St Ita’s); A Murphy (Watergrasshill), S Desmond (Watergrasshill), J Leahy (Dungourney).
K O’Neill (Watergrasshill) for Cooper (29, injured), M Kelly (Castlemartyr) for Lawton (55), D O’Brien (St Ita’s) for Leahy (60).
P O’Sullivan; M Millerick, G Millerick, E Motherway; M O’Keeffe, D Harrington, C O’Connor; Joe Millerick, K O’Sullivan; P McMahon, D Dalton, J Hankard; C Broderick, John Millerick, B Dunne.
P Hassett for McMahon (47), R Kenneally for Hankard (51), R Cullinane for Joe Millerick (57), M Wall for Broderick (59).
B Barry-Murphy (Aghabullogue).
App?
