Minor football: Macroom hold firm to secure Premier 2 title

Macroom 2-13 (2-1-11), Diarmuid Ó Murchu 1-5 (1-1-3)

It was joy at the second time of asking as Macroom won the Cork ETB Premier 2 MFC replay at Bishopstown on Saturday night.

They needed a late score in the drawn encounter to take it to a replay, and this time they made no mistake as they ran out deserving winners on the night.

They were pushed all the way by Diarmuid Ó Murchu, with the second goal coming in injury-time to seal their win, as they were led by the likes of Sam Leavy, Eoghan Healy, Dylan O’Shea, and Darragh Donovan.

Diarmuid Ó Murchu can’t be faulted for their efforts as they battled all the way to the finish, led by Oisin Buckley, Shane Flynn, and Donal Herlihy.

Billy Murphy opened the scoring for Macroom, with Dylan O’Shea adding a second, with two minutes played.

Billy Hanna got Diarmuid Ó Murchu off the mark, and Donal Herlihy pointed for the Shamrocks and Crosshaven amalgamation to see it level, 0-2 each, after 12 minutes.

Jack Leavy put Macroom back in front, with Joey Middleton replying to see the sides level again, but this proved to be Diarmuid Ó Murchu’s last score of the half.

Cathal Neville put Macroom back in front, and with 23 minutes gone, he found the back of the net to make it 1-4 to 0-3.

Macroom kept the pressure on, using the wind to their advantage, with Sam Leavy adding a point.

Rory O’Shea added another to make it 1-6 to 0-3, with five minutes to half-time.

Sam Leavy was on target again, with Neville getting the last score of the half, to see Macroom lead by 1-8 to 0-3 at the break.

It took until the 45th minute for the first score of the second half to arrive, and it was the boost that Diarmuid Ó Murchu’s needed.

Buckley bore down on goal, and his effort found the back of the net, to make it 1-8 to 1-3.

But Macroom responded in style with a two pointer free from O’Shea, followed by a point from Aled Hopkins, to get the three points back.

Donovan added another as they led by 1-12 to 1-3 with 55 minutes played.

Buckley scored a two pointer for Diarmuid Ó Murchu’s, but any hope of a late comeback were dashed in the 60th minute.

Sam Leavy beat several defenders to score Macroom’s second goal, and with it went any chance of a comeback.

O’Shea rounded off the scoring as Macroom win the Premier 2 title for the first time.

Scorers for Macroom: C Neville, S Leavy 1-2 each, D O’Shea 0-4 (1 2pt f), B Murphy, J Leavy, R O’Shea, D Donovan, A Hopkins 0-1 each.

Diarmuid Ó Murchu: O Buckley 1-2 (1 2pt), B Hanna, D Herlihy, J Middleton 0-1 each.

MACROOM: C O’Connor; R Fitzgerald, U Ó Tuama, T Hopkins; C Murray, E Healy, C Neville; J O’Shea, S Leavy; D Donovan, J Leavy, R O’Shea; D O’Shea, B Murphy, D Moss.

Sub: A Hopkins for J Leavy (50).

DIARMUID Ó MURCHU: H Murphy; J Ryan, D Joseph, B Hanna; M McGrath, S Flynn, F McSweeney; D Kelly, O Auzins; R Considine, D Herlihy, J Middleton; O Mansfield, C Mulcahy, O Buckley.

Subs: E Canty for R Considine (ht), O O’Brien for O Mansfield (44), C McCarthy for B Hanna (56), S O’Meara for M McGrath (60).

Referee: Jimmy Smiddy, Castlemartyr.