Cork panelist Hugh O’Connor key to Robert Emmets securing place in Duhallow U21 Football Final 

Robert Emmets 3-11

Croke Rovers 1-6 

A sharper Robert Emmets produced a second-half surge to power past Croke Rovers in the Duhallow U21F Cork County Qualifier semi final at Banteer. 

Crucially, the Newmarket and Lismire combination capitalized on the availability of county senior panelist Hugh O’Connor on emerging a source of inspiration to his colleagues.

Not part of the Cork match day panel against Westmeath in the Allianz NFL Division 2 contest allowed O'Connor to concentrate on club duties. 

And when it mattered, the county player demonstrated his capabilities, moved outfield, broke Croke’s early dominance and stormed forward to shoot crucial scores on a regular basis.

Favoured by the breeze in the opening half, Rovers enjoyed the initial upperhand, James O’Riordan and Cormac O’Sullivan pointing before Max O’Sullivan netted a goal. 

With O’Connor deployed to midfield, the alteration brought about a steady improvement, Conor Sheahan found the net before a point from O’Connor squared the game.

Back came Crokes, points from Cormac O’Sullivan and Fionn O’Connor helped secure a 1-6 to 1-4 advantage at half time.

Unfortunately for Croke Rovers, they failed to add to their interval tally on the turnover, Emmets proceeding to boss the proceedings with Hugh O’Connor and Kevin Daly points forcing parity. 

All the momentum resided with Emmet’s now, apart from the county player, Darragh O’Keeffe, Jack O’Connor, Brion O’Keeffe and Sheahan caught the eye.

A probing ball from Daly saw Ciarán Lynch finish to the net with main marksman O’Connor adding to the tally. 

Croke’s found difficulty to cross into the opposing half and faulty shooting impacted, which allowed Emmet’s remain on the ascendency, Sheahan and O’Connor obliged.

The one way traffic continued in favour of Emmets, a foul on Ethan Hourigan won a penalty, O’Connor blasted powerfully to the corner of the net. For a fancied Croke Rovers, winners of last season’s divisional championship in December, the game had petered out in disappointing fashion.

Emmets advance to the decider on a meeting against Dromtariffe-Kanturk next weekend, their prospects on progressing to represent Duhallow in the county championship may well depend on the release of O’Connor from county duties.

Scorers for Robert Emmets: H O’Connor 1-8 (1-0p, 0-3f), C Sheahan 1-1, C Lynch 1-0, K Daly, R Lynn 0-1 each.

Croke Rovers: C O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2f), M O’Sullivan 1-0, F O’Connor, J O’Riordan 0-1 each.

ROBERT EMMETS: C O’Riordan; S Bourke, R Lynn, G Fleming; A McCarthy, J O’Connor, K Daly; M Lane, D O’Keeffe; B O’Keeffe, C Sheahan, E Hourigan; C Lehane, H O’Connor, C Lynch. Subs. E Goggin for G Fleming, K Saville for E Hourigan, G Cottrell for C Lehane, R Withers for K Lynch.

CROKE ROVERS: Conor O’Sullivan; M O’Brien, T Fitzmaurice, A O’Leary; J O’Riordan, R Heffernan, R O’Leary; S Cronin, A Lynch; J McCarthy, Cormac O’Sullivan, F O’Connor; S Carver, E Magner, M O’Sullivan.

Referee: S O’Rourke (Ballydesmond).