Courcey Rovers nail four two-pointers to move past Shamrocks into Carrigdhoun semi

Courcey Rovers 0-12 (0-4-4) Shamrocks 0-8 (0-2-4) 

Courcey Rovers proved far too strong for Shamrock in the Procure.ie SE JAFC at Belgooly on Sunday.

An outstanding performance in the first half from Paddy Galvin, who kicked seven points in the opener, set up a semi-final meeting with last year’s beaten finalists Carrigaline, as neighbours Ballinhassig and Ballygarvan face off in the other pairing.

In truth, both sides provided plenty of intensity but the shooting in front of goal left a lot to be desired, particularly as the Ballinspittle outfit could only register a total of two points over the second half.

There had been no difficulty at the outset as two early Paddy Galvin points, including a two-point free, settled any early nerves for the Ballinspittle men.

James Coakley stretched the lead on five minutes as he added another score to his side’s total.

Shamrocks reduced the deficit 0-4 to 0-2 after 14 minutes as Cian Lynch and David Herlihy found the target.

But the Shamrocks’ work was undone after 16 minutes as Olan Crowley kicked a superb two-pointer.

With Shamrocks unable to break down the Courcey defence, a brace of two-pointer frees from Galvin had his side leading by 0-10 to 0-2 with ten minutes to the break.

A Lynch free just before the interval reduced the arrears to seven as the sides went in at the break, 0-10 to 0-3.

Two early points from Galvin and Conor Crowley pushed the advantage to nine for Courceys, before an outstanding two-point score from David Herlihy had the margin back to seven, and Cillian Hayes shaved another point off his opponents’ advantage.

With scores hard to come by, as both sides were guilty of poor shooting, the difference remained 0-12 to 0-6 with ten minutes left.

A score finally arrived from Mark Hitchmough on 54 minutes, but it was all too late as Courceys now take their place in the semi-final.

Scorers for Courcey Rovers: P Galvin 0-8 (0-1 f, 3 2pt f), O Crowley 0-2 (1 2pt), C Crowley, J Coakley 0-1 each.

Shamrocks: D Herlihy 0-3 (2pt), C Lynch 0-2 (2f), M Hitchmough 0-2 (2pt f), C Hayes 0-1.

COURCEY ROVERS: W O’Reilly; B Whyte, K Collins, C Morgan; J O’Callaghan, M Collins, C Daly; C Roche, M O’Donovan; O Crowley, DJ Twomey, D Coakley; J Coakley, P Galvin, O’Neill.

Subs: L Collins and C Crowley for M O’Donovan and J O’Callaghan (HT), R O’Callaghan for C Daly (38), B Ryan for D Coakley (49), T O’Sullivan for J O’Neill (57).

SHAMROCKS: C Corkery; G Ronayne, F Herlihy, K May; C Hayes, C Kidney, D Herlihy; S Foy, M Hitchmough; R Barrett, D Flaherty, J Bartlett; C Lynch, C Collins, C Caffery. 

Subs: A Grady for C Collins (15 inj), A McCarthy for J Bartlett (42), S Downey for C Caffery (59).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers)