Mallow hit three goals to defeat Muskerry and reach Premier SFC semi-final

Mallow 3-15 Muskerry 2-11 

Mallow are into the last four of the McCarthy Insurance PSFC where they'll face Nemo after a well-deserved win over Muskerry in Kanturk on Sunday afternoon.

Kevin Sheehan, Sean McDonnell and Mark Tobin were hugely impressive going forward for Mallow with Sheehan bagging 2-1, Tobin 1-4 and McDonnell 0-6 – Muskerry really had no answer to that trio up front.

Matty Taylor at seven, Sam Copps at six and the full-back line of Bill Myres, Paul Lyons and Eoghan Barry all put in incredible shifts. Myres and Barry, in particular, shone as the pressure mounted.

For Muskerry, Liam O’Connor at 13 and Cork star Chris Óg Jones were on song, the pairing bagged 1-7 between them. Muskerry sub Mark Loughlin claiming the final goal on the game on the stroke of full-time.

Muskerry keeper Joe Creedon scored the first point but Mallow found their mojo soon after and hit the divisional side for a quick 1-3.

McDonnell bagged a free before setting up full forward Sheehan for the game’s first goal. Jack Dillon and Tobin then found the target as Mallow pushed early with a strong wind to their backs.

Tobin and Liam O’Connor traded scores as the elements and plenty of close marking led to a share of turnovers for either side. The second quarter was all Muskerry with points from Chris Óg Jones, O’Connor, Ian Jones and Liam Wall levelling this one up ahead of the interval. Mallow 1-6 – Muskerry 0-9.

Mallow flew from the traps after the break with Sheehan raising his second green flag on 33minutes, McDonnell again the provider.

McDonnell and Tobin were rampant as Mallow pushed for home.

For Muskerry, plenty goal chances late on, two goals scored, Chris Óg Jones with one on 47 minutes and a consolation late on from substitute Mark McLoughlin but Muskerry could have stolen this, despite the seven point gap, if they had managed to finish a couple more of those late chances.

Scorers for Mallow: K Sheehan 2-1; M Tobin 1-4, S McDonnell 0-6 (0-4 f), J Dillon 0-2 (0-1 45), M Taylor, M Kelleher 0-1 each.

Muskerry: C Óg Jones 1-2 (0-1 f), L O’Connor 0-5 (0-3 f), M McLoughlin 1-0 I Jones, J Creedon (f), L Wall, E O’Leary 0-1 each.

MALLOW: K Doyle; B Myres, P Lyons, E Barry; P Hennessy, S Copps, M Taylor; S Merritt, S O’Callaghan; J Dillon, R Harkin, S McDonnell; M Tobin, K Sheehan, M Kelleher. 

Subs: S Hayes fopr M Kelleher (42), E Stanton for R Harkin (45), E Kelleher for K Sheehan (55).

MUSKERRY: J Creedon (Uibh Laoire); J Murphy (Macroom), W Rohan (Kilmurry), D O’Donovan (Uibh Laoire); K Manning (Uibh Laoire), M Corrigan (Macroom), K O’Connell (Donoughmore); L Wall (Kilmurry), C Dodd (Canovee); S O’Riordan (Uibh Laoire), C Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire), A Quinn (Macroom), L O’Connor (Inniscarra), I Jones (Uibh Laoire), E O’Leary (Macroom). 

Subs: L Aisling (Kilmurry) for E O’Leary (42), J O’Mullane (Kilmurry) for D O’Donovan (44), M McLoughlin (Inniscarra) for S O’Riordan (46), D Morrissey (Donoughmore) for C Dodd (55), D Kelly (Naomh Aban) for L O’Connor (58).

Referee: Alan Long (Argideen Rangers).