Iveleary seal promotion with strong second half in Rockchapel

Rockchapel 0-13 (0-1-11)  Iveleary 0-15 (0-0-15)
Iveleary cemented promotion from the McCarthy Insurance Group FL Division 3 following a hard-earned victory away to Rockchapel.

In damp conditions, the visitors demonstrated their grit by recovering from a poor first-half display. Trailing by four points at the break, the Inchigeela side utilised a numerical advantage after a Rockchapel black card in that 10-minute spell to shoot six points without reply.

Though Rockchapel rallied to force parity, late points from Kevin Manning and Cathal Vaughan secured Iveleary their sixth win in the campaign.

At the outset, Rockchapel settled into the proceedings quickly, enjoying a definite grip from the work-rate of Eamon O’Callaghan, Brian Carroll, Seamus Hickey and Ewan Murphy. That allowed good ball for Jimmy McAulliffe, Jack Curtin and Ciarán Curtin to kick the opening four points.

Iveleary took aime to settle, Jack Sweeney and Cathal Vaughan pointing only to incur a setback, Manning picking up a black card for a foul on Ciarán Curtin and conceding a penalty. From the resultant spot kick, Jack Curtin blasted over the crossbar to allow Rockchapel enjoy a 0-8 to 0-4 advantage at the interval.

The sides traded points to Kevin Collins and Seán O’Riordan on the restart before Rockchapel lost defender Pat Curtin on a black card infringement. That allowed Iveleary to grab the reins of control, cranking up their game through the positive efforts of Daniel O’Donovan, Conor O’Leary, Manning and O’Riordan.

Upfront, Cathal Vaughan, Ian Jones and Brian Cronin caused the alarm bells to ring with a sequel of points to edge ahead 0-11 to 0-9. Back to a full complement of players, Rockchapel refused to yield, Ewan Murphy posted the game’s lone two-pointer prior to John Walsh nudging the hosts ahead.

Iveleary stemmed the tide, Ian Jones on target to force parity, defender Manning adding a lead point. During the latter stages, Iveleary threatened, Sweeney denied by the woodwork before Vaughan added a point.

Try as they might, Rockchapel could not break down a competent Iveleary rearguard, at the end of the extended hour, there was no disputing Iveleary's triumph to set up a league Division 3 final against Clyda Rovers.

Scorers for Rockchapel: J Curtin 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 p), C Curtin 0-2, E Murphy 0-2 tp, J McAulliffe 0-2, J Walsh, K Collins 0-1 each.

Iveleary: C Vaughan 0-5 (0-3 f), I Jones, A O’Donovan, S O’Riordan 0-2 each, J Sweeney, K Jones, B Cronin, K Manning 0-1 each.

IVELEARY: J Creedon; B Murphy, D O’Donovan, D O’Riordan; K Manning, S O’Leary, S O’Riordan; C O’Leary, B O’Riordan; A O’Donovan, C Vaughan, K Jones; B Cronin, I Jones, J Sweeney.

ROCKCHAPEL: C Murphy; P Curtin, E O’Callaghan, K Collins; J O’Callaghan, B Carroll, Cormac Curtin; S Hickey, E Murphy; J Walsh, Ciarán Curtin, J McAuliffe; S Geaney, J Curtin, E Collins. 

Subs: N Linehan for S Geaney, N O’Callaghan for J Curtin.

Referee: Colm Maher (Buttevant)