Corn Ui Mhuiri Football – Mercy Mounthawk 4-16 High School Clonmel 0-7

Corn Ui Mhuiri Under 18 ½ A Football

Mercy Mounthawk 4-16 High School Clonmel 0-7

Report by Ed Donnelly (info.munster@gaa.ie)

Mercy Mounthawk from Tralee earned the first victory in the 2016/2017 Corn Ui Mhuiri competition by virtue of a comprehensive 21 point victory over last year’s finalists High School Clonmel. Played at Mallow GAA Complex on a dry, brisk afternoon, Mercy Mounthawk began strongly with a point from play in the opening minute from Bobby O’Regan. This was quickly followed by three further points before High School Clonmel got their opening score, a point from play by wing-back Manus McFadden in the 12th minute. The Mercy Mounthawk dominance was pronounced at this stage and corner-forward Rory O’Connor was denied by two excellent saves by Aidan Tobin in the High School Clonmel goal to keep the deficit at manageable levels. Mercy Mounthawk midfielder had his side’s third goal chance in the 23rd minute and while the Clonmel defence could do nothing on this occasion, his shot sailed just over the bar for the final point of the opening half, leaving the interval score at 0-8 to 0-3 in favour of the Kerry school.

Mercy Mounthawk were in no mood to let the Clonmel side back in to this game and rattled off the first four points of the second half before the first goal arrived, courtesy of wing-forward Michael Walsh in the 40th minute. From the resultant kickout, Mercy Mounthawk were again on the attack before the Clonmel defence fouled Rory O’Connor at the expense of a penalty which was expertly dispatched by Bobby O’Regan. With the score now reading 2-12 to 0-3, the game was well and truly over as a contest as both schools began to ring the changes.

The final quarter saw Mercy Mounthawk add two further goals from corner-back Padraig Mahony and full-forward Dara Devine and despite some late efforts by Clonmel to score a consolation goal, it wasn’t to be as the Tralee based school ran out 4-16 to 0-7 winners.

Mercy Mounthawk: Brian O’Regan; Padraig Mahony (1-0), Shane Walsh, Donagh McMahon; Colm Carmody, Sean Collins (0-1), Fergal Barry (0-1); Ciaran O’Reilly (0-1), Michael Linnane; Sean Griffin, Bobby O’Regan (1-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), Michael Walsh (1-0); Rory O’Connor, Dara Devine (1-6, 0-2 frees), Eoin McElligott (0-4)
Subs: Diarmuid O’Connor for Carmody (45m), Richard O’Flaherty for O’Connor (52m), Eoin O’Malley for Linnane (52m), Rory Murphy for Devine (53m), Fiachra Ennis for Griffin (53m)

High School Clonmel: Aidan Tobin; Dean McMurrow, Oisin O’Dwyer, Shane Egan; Jamie Grant (0-2), Conor McGrath, Manus McFadden (0-1); Luke Fogarty, Ben Owens; Sean Maher, Shane O’Meara, Michael Farrow; Michael Murphy, Cian O’Sullivan (0-2 frees), Sean Martin (0-1 free)
Subs: Aaron Phelan for Farrow (35m), Conor Foley (0-1) for McElligott (42m), Keenan Bowe for McMahon (42m), Ian Foley for Murphy (52m), Jamie Roche for Fogarty (59m)

Referee: Kevin Walsh (Clare)