Bill Cooper among goals as Youghal see off Mayfield in IAHC relegation decider

Youghal 3-14 Mayfield 1-16

Salvation for Youghal as they got the better of Mayfield in their Co-op Superstores IAHC relegation play-off at Ovens on Friday night.

It was a battle right to the end and it was only when their keeper, Oisin Walsh, scored two late long-range frees that they were safe. Credit to both sides, they gave it everything, but Youghal’s three goals were big scores as they avoid the drop.

Mayfield opened the scoring when David O’Neill pointed, with Youghal replying through Oisin Hill and James Murray, the latter one of their stars on the night. Nicky Kelly hit two for Mayfield, either side of an Eddie Scanlon score, to put them 0-4 to 0-2 in front.

Murray then hit three frees in a row, before Youghal scored the first goal. The legs may not be as fast as they were, but the brain is, as Bill Cooper reacted to a long ball to find the back of the net, to make it 1-5 to 0-4 after 20 minutes.

Again, Mayfield hit back with Kelly on target twice, along with Calvin O’Donovan to put only a point in it.

Murray made it two, but two late points from Kelly had the sides level at half-time, 1-6 to 0-9.

Three minutes into the second half and Cooper turned provider as Cian Coleman Butler scored Youghal’s second goal to put them two points up, 2-6 to 0-10.

With 40 minutes gone, they took a firm grip on the game, when Brett Moloney set up Oisin Hill for their third goal as they stretched their lead.

Again, Mayfield battled back and with five minutes to go there was only a point in it, 3-11 to 1-15.

Alan Frahill O’Connor made it two, before Luke Malone made it a one-point game again. But then up stepped Walsh when he was needed with the two late scores to see his side win and retain their status and break Mayfield’s hearts.

Scorers for Youghal: J Murray 0-6 (0-4 f), O Hill 1-3, B Cooper 1-1, C Coleman Butler 1-0, B Lynch, A Frahill O’Connor 0-1 each, O Walsh 0-2 f.

Mayfield: N Kelly 0-10 (0-7 f, 0-3 65), C O’Donovan 1-1, E Scanlon 0-2, D O’Neill, K Punch, L Malone 0-1 each.

YOUGHAL: O Walsh; O Terry Foley, C Geary, M Farrell; M Breathanach, B Nicholson, R McMahon; F Hill, J O’Mahony; C Coleman Butler, B Moloney, C O’Mahony; O Hill, B Cooper, J Murray.

Subs: S O’Brien for M Farrell (29 inj), A Frahill O’Connor for C Coleman Butler, B Lynch for B Moloney (both 50), N Roche for C O’Mahony (56).

MAYFIELD: A Hegarty; S Keegan, B Punch, L Malone; D Hayes, E O’Sullivan, K Punch; S O’Donovan, D O’Neill; D Malone, N Kelly, MJ Coffey; F McSweeney, C O’Donovan, E Scanlon.

Subs: K Cusack for D Hayes (40), S Kelly for D Malone (50), A Mullery for C O’Donovan (60).

Referee: Brian Coniry, Crosshaven.