Mounthawk get Coachford gut check but overcome adversity in Corn Uí Mhuirí clash
Cian O'Gara of Mercy Mounthawk and Colm Gillespie of Coachford College in action at John Mitchels.
Mercy Mounthawk continued their winning ways against Corn Ui Mhuiri debutants Coachford College at a wet John Mitchels GAA Complex Tralee today. This was due to have been the opening round game in Group 1 but the weather intervened and so the game went ahead after a toss of coin for home venue with Mounthawk winning that too.
Kerry minor and Austin Stacks man Paddy Lane, with his unerring accuracy from frees, was the main difference between the sides as he posted another 0-9.
But this was perhaps the gut check that Mercy Mounthawk required. Credit to Coachford for taking the Tralee side head-on and having them under the cosh at stages thanks to the surging runs of centre back Ryan Hanley.
Both sides adapted well to very heavy underfoot conditions. Poor conditions made holding possession a precarious chore.
Mounthawk never looked like losing this game but Coachford never let get them too far in front either. Mounthawk wouldn't put the Cork outfit away until the final quarter after Coachford's outstanding corner back Brendan O’Sullivan was showed a second yellow in the 44th minute.
This was at a time when Coachford were on top, thanks to a David McDonald goal in the 43rd minute and two frees from Aaron O’Sullivan to close the gap to just three (0-10 to 1-4). Mounthawk's Paddy Lane converted two more frees to give his side breathing space in the 50th and 54th minutes. Lane and Noah Townsend set up Niall Collins for a 59th minute goal that sealed the win.
The opening quarter was littered with errors and turnovers as two Paddy Lane points and one from the industrious Odhran Ferris gave Mounthawk led 0-3 to 0-1 after fifteen minutes with Aaron O’Sullivan converting a free for Coachford’s sole first half score.
Mounthawk kicked on the second quarter as Coachford lost 7 of their 11 kick-outs and Paddy Lane punished some poor discipline at back from Coachford with two more frees and a point from play while Tomas Kennedy kicked a superb effort as Mercy Mounthawk led 0-7 to 0-1 at half time.
Two early points from Tomas Kennedy and Lane had Mounthawk in pole position until that Coachford goal that saw the Cork school threaten to upset the odds. However, the sending off and Paddy Lane ensured that Mounthawk would remain unbeaten and will now face Ps Chorca Dhuibhne next week with Dingle needing to win to stay in the competition.
Coachford College will face and should be strong for Coláiste Chríost Rí the weakest team in the group so should make the knock-out stages.
P Lane (0-9, 8fs), N Collins (1-0), T Kennedy (0-2), O Ferris (0-1) Coachford College.
A O’Sullivan (0-5fs), D McDonald (1-0).
M Tansley (Austin Stacks); B Meehan ( Kerins O’Rahillys) , G O’Riordan (Ardfert), B Sharp (St Pats Blennerville); O Murphy (Churchill), J Murphy (Austin Stacks), P O’Halloran (Austin Stacks); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), C O’Gara (Churchill); S Corkery (John Mitchels), O Ferris (Ardfert), N Collins (Ballymacelligott); P Lane (Austin Stacks), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys), J Hoare ( Kerins O’Rahillys).
S Lynch (Ballymac) for J Hoare (37), K Sheehan (Na Gaeil) for S Corkery (44), N Townsend (Austin Stacks) for C O’Gara (54), O McGibney (Churchill) for B Meehan (55), T O’Sullivan (Ardfert) for N Collins (59).
D Kearney ( Donoughmore); T O’Reilly (Inniscarra), T Lyons ( do), B O’Sullivan ( Aghabullogue); K O’Connell ( Donoughmore), R Delaney ( Canovee), C Thompson ( Aghabullogue); C Gillespie ( Aghabullogue), S O’Hanlon ( Donoughmore); Odhran O’Connell ( Aghabullogue) , M Murphy ( Iniscarra), Oisin O’Connell ( Aghabullogue); D McDonald ( Donoughmore), A O’Sullivan ( Aghabullogue), G Coleman ( Canovee).
M O’Leary (Kilmurry) for C Thompson (37), C O’Driscoll (Canovee) for G Coleman (58).
E Walsh (Rathmore).
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