Holders Lough Rovers retained the Cormac O’Connor Butchers & Foodhall Flor McCarthy Cup

Lough Rovers 2-17 (2-1-15)

St Michael’s 1-3 (1-0-3)

Holders Lough Rovers retained the Cormac O’Connor Butchers & Foodhall Flor McCarthy Cup, as they defeated St Michael’s, in a one-sided decider at Ballinlough.

Wayward shooting was to prove costly for St Michael’s in the opening half, but to their credit, they created the game’s first goal-scoring opportunity midway through the second half. 

In the final quarter Lough Rovers’ exposed St Michael’s at the back to score the game’s decisive goal before the second half water break.

Lough Rovers opened the scoring with a point by Jordan O’Connor.

St Michael’s had their moments in the opening quarter, but Peter Leneghan’s shot rebounded off the upright in the sixth minute.

James Walsh opened St Michael’s account with a point from play, before St Michael’s found themselves pinned back.

Emmett Sheehan added two unanswered points, to leave Lough Rovers leading 0-3 to 0-1 at the first half water break.

Lough Rovers continued to have St Michael’s on the back foot as Sheehan slotted over his third point from play. Jerry Cornin stretched the margin to five points, as he landed the game’s only two-pointer from a free.

Derek Gosnell tagged on a point from play for St Michael’s before Lough Rovers took a grip on proceedings. Sheehan got two points including one from a free. Chris Falvey and Rory Shine also added further points, as Lough Rovers led by 0-10 to 0-2 at the interval.

Lough Rovers held St Michael’s scoreless in the third quarter, while, St Michael’s net-minder Dale O’Neill was pulling off some spectacular saves. Lough Rovers’ only scores in this period came courtesy of a 45 by Cronin and a free by Falvey.

In the 46th minute, Dave O’Keeffe exposed holes in the St Michael’ defence to score the game’s opening goal. This gave Lough Rovers a lead of 1-12 to 0-2 at the second half water break.

St Michael’s missed the first scoring opportunity of the final quarter as Jack Lenihan’s shot hit off the upright and drifted wide of the posts.

St Michael’s Ruairí Fee traded points with Falvey. Gavin Duggan added a further point for Lough Rovers.

With the game effectively over as a contest, St Michael’s Mike Russell set up Walsh for their goal, which reduced the margin to 1-14 to 1-3, three minutes into stoppage time.

Lough Rovers had St Michaels back on the defensive as Sheehan scored a further two points. Falvey also added his fourth point.

With time almost up, O’Keeffe capitalised on a defensive error to score his second goal.

Scorers for Lough Rovers: E Sheehan 0-7 (0-1f); D O’Keeffe 2-0; C Falvey 0-4 (-01f); J Cronin 0-3 (1 2pt f, 0-1 45); J O’Connor, G Duggan, R Shine 0-1 each.

St Michael’s: J Walsh 1-1; D Gosnell, R Fee 0-1 each.

Lough Rovers: C Murphy; N O’Sullivan, J Cronin, E Downing; D O’Keeffe, G Duggan, D Ward; A Broderick, I King; R Shine, E Sheehan, J O’Connor; C Flavey, D Holland, I Raymond.

Subs: A Buckley for Cronin (49), D Arundel for Falvey (58), R Moloney for Sheehan (60+)

St Michael’s: D O’Neill; C Crowley, C Coyne, J Cleary; J O’Farrell, J Lenihan D Corkery; S O’Sullivan, P Leneghan; D O’Sullivan, C Griffin, J Walsh; S Morrissey, D Gosnell, R Fee.

Subs: B Lenihan for Griffin (15), E Smith for Morrissey (51, inj), M Russell for Fee (55).

Referee: Cathal Egan (St Nicholas).