Mayfield defeated holders Ballyphehane to claim the Cork City Council MacSwiney Cup

Mayfield 3-13 (3-1-11)

Ballyphehane 2-12

Mayfield defeated holders Ballyphehane to claim the Cork City Council MacSwiney Cup in a hard-fought decider, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough on Tuesday night,

The opening half, saw Mayfield net-minder Eoin Cusack pull off a spectacular save to deny Ballyphehane an early goal, while early in the second half, Ballyphehane had three unanswered pointed frees. 

Two goals for Mayfield in the final quarter were to prove decisive.

Craig Murphy opened the scoring with a point for Ballyphehane within a minute of the throw-in. 

Paul Condon replied with a pointed free for Mayfield.

Alex Cummins tagged on a point from play to restore Ballyphehane’s advantage, before Mayfield seized the initiative. 

Condon and Nicky Kelly got a point each to put Mayfield in front for the first time in the contest. 

This was followed by the game’s only two-pointer by Joey Gibson, which stretched the margin to 0-5 to 0-2.

Ballyphehane equalised when Ethon Varian set up Jamie O’Sullivan for the game’s opening goal in the 12th minute. 

Adam O’Donoghue added a point to put Ballyphehane ahead by the minimum, but this was cancelled out by Condon’s second free for Mayfield. This left the sides level at 1-3 to 0-6 at the first half water break.

In the second quarter, Condon, Gibson and MJ Coffey each scored points for Mayfield. 

Murphy replied with three points, including two from frees for Ballyphehane and Jamie O’Sullivan also got a point.

The final action of the opening half saw Dan Lucey set up Shane O’Donovan for a fisted goal, to leave Mayfield leading 1-9 to 1-7 at the interval.

Calvin O’Donvan got a point for Mayfield within a minute of the restart, before Mayfield found themselves pinned back as Murphy pointed three frees for Ballyphehane.

In the 41st minute, Varian set up Shane Keating for Ballyphehane’s second goal, which gave them a lead of 2-10 to 1-10.

Condon slotted over his third pointed free for Mayfield, before Jamie O’Sullivan responded with a point from play for Ballyphehane.

Mayfield were awarded a penalty, from which Condon drilled home Mayfield’s second goal in the 50th minute. 

This tied the scores at 2-11 apiece at the second half water break.

Jamie Geasley got Ballyphehane’s only score of the final quarter, before wayward shooting was to be their undoing.

Lucey replied with Mayfield’s only point from play of this period.

Mayfield continued to have Ballyphehane on the defensive as Condon set up Shane O’Donovan for his second goal in the 59th minute.

Condon pointed another free deep into stoppage time.

Scorers for Mayfield: P Condon 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-4f); S O’Donovan 2-0; J Gibson 0-3 (1 2pt); N Kelly, C O’Donovan, D Lucey, MJ Coffey 0-1 each.

Ballyphehane: C Murphy 0-7 (0-5f); J O’Sullivan 1-3; S Keating 1-0; J Gelasey, A Cummins, A O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

Mayfield: E Cusack; A Walsh, B O’Leary, L Malone; J Gibson, J Courtney, C Moynihan; S O’Donovan, D Malone; N Kelly, MJ Coffey, D Clogan; D Lucey, D O’Donovan, P Condon.

Subs: C O’Donovan for D O’Donovan (13, inj), R O’Keeffe for Coffey (h/t) L Foley for A Walsh (43).

Ballyphehane: L Towler; J O’Broen, G Gleasley, T Walsh; J Thompson, D Morre, S Keating; C O’Brien, E Varian; C Murphy, T O’Sullivan, A O’Donoghue; J O’Sullivan, A Cummins, R Wyse.

Sub: S Fielding for Thompson (51, inj).

Referee: Peter Finnegan (Douglas).