Mallow take down the Barrs to avoid relegation playoff
Mallow's marquee forward Sean McDonnell in action against Douglas. Picture: David Keane.
Mallow recorded a thrilling one-point win over St Finbarr’s in Kilworth on Sunday but it was not enough to keep their interest alive in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier SFC, they did however move out of relegation.
Reigning champions St Finbarr’s, despite not playing with their usual purpose and intent, go through to the quarter-finals against Carbery.
Although it must be noted Brian Hayes, recovering from injury, was only introduced late on and they were minus the unavailable Ian Maguire. Luke Hannigan also departed with an ankle injury.
In group 1, Carrigaline take the automatic semi-final spot on six points, with St Finbarr’s (+8) second, Douglas (-10) third, and Mallow (-9) fourth.
Mallow, shorn of Matty Taylor, turned this game around in the second quarter when they trailed 2-4 to 0-3.
It started when Bill Myers intercepted what could have been a third Barrs goal, and when the ball was worked down the field Pádraig Britton split the posts.
Michael O’Rourke, who had set up wing-back Britton, teed it up again for Seán McDonnell. Mark Tobin and Sam Copps followed. And in the third minute of stoppage, McDonnell kept going and going until he smashed the net, they headed to the dressing room to a rapturous reception, 2-4 to 1-7.
They didn’t delay getting back out on the field either, and duly kicked two big scores, the first was a two-pointer from O’Rourke and O’Rourke drew a foul for Tobin to convert.
Steven Sherlock pulled one back, but Mallow did a wonderful job in twice blocking Sherlock.
Another sublime strike from O’Rourke kept the north Cork side three in front.
Copps thwarted a William Buckley effort before Britton grabbed his second point, the margin four in the 45th minute.
Buckley was always menacing and he raised an orange flag to close the gap.
Three minutes later Sherlock kicked a brace, one from a free to tie proceedings, 2-9 to 1-12.
The movement of substitute John Wigginton Barrett was telling and he put the Barrs into the lead.
Tobin kept the Mallow scoreboard ticking. Level once more.
A McDonnell free edged Mallow ahead three minutes from time.
St Finbarr’s brought in Brian Hayes, but they had to wait until the 62nd minute for a Rickey Barrett equaliser.
As the ball moved up and down, over and back, substitute Kevin Sheehan was fouled and the same player curled over the winner from the right flank.
The Barrs got the ideal start when Buckley’s attacking move in the second minute yielded a goal going in off the unfortunate Gearóid Daly. Soon after a goal from Sherlock set up by Cillian Myers Murray put them 2-1 to nil to the good.
They led by seven after 22 minutes but Mallow had other ideas.
S McDonnell 1-3 (0-2 f), M O’Rourke (1 2pt), M Tobin (0-1 f) 0-4 each, P Britton 0-2, S Copps, K Sheehan (f) 0-1 each.
S Sherlock 1-3 (0-1 f), W Buckley 1-2 (1 2pt), R Barrett 0-4, B O’Connell, J Wigginton Barrett 0-1 each.
K Doyle; B Myers, P Lyons, S Copps; T Kiely, G Daly, P Britton; S Merritt, E Barry; D Copps, S McDonnell, M O’Rourke; M Tobin, C Mullins, J Dillon (c).
A Bolster for E Barry (38 inj), K Sheehan for C Mullins (40), J Loughrey for D Copps (55).
D Newman; S Ryan, A O’Connor, C Scully; F Crowley, C Doolan, E Dennehy; L Hannigan, J Burns; W Buckley, B O’Connell, T Egan; R Barrett, S Sherlock (c), C Myers Murray.
D Quinn for L Hannigan (24 inj), J Wigginton Barrett for B O’Connell (43), B Hayes for E Dennehy (58), I O’Callaghan for R Barrett (62 inj).
David Murnane (Macroom).
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