Gabriel Rangers set up Glanmire semi in titanic tussle with Mitchelstown
Gerald O'Callaghan, Gabriel Rangers, goes to ground after he was fouled on his way to the goal by Eoghan Geary, Mitchelstown. Picture: Larry Cummins
Gabriel Rangers progressed to the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Intermediate A Football Championship semi-finals after beating Mitchelstown in this titanic tussle in Kilmurry on Sunday afternoon.
This was a Trojan collective effort from Gabriels who will now face Glanmire in the last four next weekend.
Mitchelstown, who had their Adelaide Crows AFL star Mark Keane available, went toe to toe with their opposition for large spells but on this occasion came up just short.
Gabriels started well and got the opening three points of the game, including a gem of a score by Keith O’Driscoll from a tight angle. While the impressive Mark Cronin opened his scoring tally with a well-taken point just moments earlier.
Mitchelstown’s Cork fooballer Cathail O’Mahony showcased his accuracy with a succession of scores from frees to level the game up at 0-4 apiece after 15 minutes played.
Shane Beston put Mitchelstown then ahead with a point after a clever pass by Keane to set him up.
Gabriels responded to level again through James O’Regan, before Cronin edged the Ballydehob and Schull-based side back in front. At the break, the sides went in level at 0-7 each and everything still up for grabs, as Magee and Cronin exchanged points.
Luka Bowen edged Gabriels back into the lead with a score early into the second half.
Keane got a much needed Mitchelstown point on 40 minutes. But Gabriels were playing like a side possessed with winning, as O’Regan landed a pair of points to edge his side back in front at 0-11 to 0-8 after 45 minutes played on the clock.
Dylan Price and O’Mahony reduced the deficit for Mitchelstown as this duel headed into the last ten minutes.
However Gabriel Rangers kept their foot in the accelerator and that man Mark Cronin put over further points to keep his side in the driving seat, edging towards the end of normal time.
Gabriels were reduced to 14 men in stoppage time when David Roycroft was shown a second yellow, as Keane saw a goal chance for Mitchelstown saved well by Liam Hegarty in the Gabriels goal. But it mattered not as the West Cork side advanced after a thrilling battle.
M Cronin 0-6 (0-5 f), J O’Regan 0-4 (0-1 f, 0-1 m), L Bowen, P O’Driscoll, K O’Driscoll 0-1 each.
C O’Mahony 0-4 (0-3 f), P Magee 0-2 (0-1 f), S Beston, M Keane, J Sheehan, D Price 0-1 each.
L Hegarty; L Hodnett, D Regan, D Roycroft; D O’Shea, K O’Brien, K O’Sullivan; K Roycroft, S Kelleher; L Bowen, G O’Callaghan, P O’Driscoll; M Cronin, J O’Regan, K O’Driscoll.
J O’Brien for O’Shea (38), R O’Neill for Cronin (47, temp), Cronin for O’Neill (54).
L Hannah; K Roche, F Herlihy, E Geary; J O’Sullivan, S Beston, S O’Sullivan; M Keane, C Hyland; S Kenneally, J Sheehan, D Price; C O’Mahony, P Magee, D Flynn.
D Dineen for Price (50), S Walsh for Kenneally (60).
Pat O’Leary (Kilmurry).
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