Injuries to key players scupper Mount St Michael's, Rosscarbery in All-Ireland semi

St Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen 3-18 Mount St Michael’s, Rosscarbery 0-11 

An All-Ireland B semi-final saw Mount St Michael’s come off second best against St Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, in a clash at University of Limerick’s North Campus last Saturday.

A trio of goals were largely the difference, while Rosscarbery couldn’t find the scoring touch in a one-sided second half. The Munster champions couldn’t overhaul a strong Mayo school, who will meet Cnoc Mhuire, Granard of Longford, in the final.

Mike Keohane, along with Enda Favier, oversaw this run to the All-Ireland semi-final for Rosscarbery and he was in reflective mood shortly after the final whistle, accepting that his side were second best on the day.

“It was disappointing. We didn’t get going in the first half and maybe we had seven or eight minutes, where we had a couple of two pointers, that kept us in it," admitted Keohane.

“We knew coming in that St Nathy’s were a good team. Unfortunately, and it isn’t making any excuses, we were missing three very talented footballers from the Munster final. 

"We are a small school and it does make a difference. Having said that, you must look at the Nathy’s team, they were very, very good. They were very good from the start, we can have no complaints," conceded Keohane.

Short Cork U20 Dylan O’Neill, Jerome McCarthy and Joe O’Donovan through injury, the Cork school had to dig deep into their reserves against a side who can call upon players from Mayo and Roscommon underage panels.

A run of 0-6 to 0-2 approaching half-time gave Mount St Michael’s hope, but they couldn’t get any closer than the three points they trailed by at half-time.

“In the second half, we had a two-pointer chance early on, it would have cut it to two. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference but maybe it would have kept us in it for a while longer.

“You look at our team, we finished it with two Third Year Students on the field, and this is U19.5 football, so that is the difference. 

"But we are very proud to have come out of Munster, we did have a good period, maybe we could have got a couple of scores.” 

"We were beaten by the better team. They’ve given great commitment, not alone for this year but for two or three years now. We still have a Cork Colleges final against Youghal to come."

Scorers for St Nathy’s: D Casey 0-8 (2pf, 2f), O Frain 0-4, R O’Sullivan, C Moriarty, D Duffy 1-0 each, J Cassidy, S Buckley (2p) 0-2 each,
N Gill, R Coleman 0-1 each.

Mount St Michael’s: R Hayes 0-6 (0-3 f), L O’Neill 0-4 (2 2pf), J McCarthy 0-1.

St NATHY'S: P Gaynor (Western Gaels); H Dooney (Ballaghaderreen), L Boyle (Kilmovee), J Kilroy (Ballaghaderreen); J Cassidy (Western Gaels), D Duffy (Kilmovee), P Gilligan (Ballinameen); O Frain (Kilmovee), S Buckley (Ballaghaderreen); J Puncheon (Ballaghaderreen), D Casey (Ballinameen), A Duffy (Ballaghaderreen); R O’Sullivan (Ballaghaderreen), M McTeigue (Ballinameen), C Moriarty (Ballaghaderreen).

Subs: C Gallagher (Western Gaels) for Kilroy (half-time); N Gill (Western Gaels) for Duffy (48); P O’Dowd (Eastern Harps) for Gilligan (53); L Freyne (Western Gaels) for Puncheon (60); R Coleman (Ballaghaderreen) for O’Sullivan (60).

St MICHAEL'S (Carbery Rangers unless stated): C Campbell; M McCarthy (Kilmacbea), B Sheehy (c), R Fitzpatrick; D Scannell, C Buchanan, S Cuinnea; J McCarthy, P Tobin; O O’Donovan (Kilmacbea), R Hayes, M McCarthy; L O’Neill, S Lane, J McCarthy (Kilmacbea).

Subs: J O’Donovan (Kilmacabea) for Lane (45); C Ó Dinnabháin for M McCarthy (48); S Murphy for Fitzpatrick (53).

Referee: Evan Horan (Kerry).