East Cork GAA

Match Report

Two goals in the second quarter by William Joyce, who also had six points to his credit for the hour, proved vital in Fr O’Neills victory over Courcey Rvs in this Ulster Bank Co Premier 2 Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final which was played in Mayfield on Saturday afternoon last.

At both stages Fr O’Neills were behind which made Joyce’s intervention crucial and saw them go into the break leading by two points and this gave them the confidence to up their game in the second half which saw them strike over some neat points and limited their opponents to two points leaving them to run out deserving winners despite Courcey Rvs gallant efforts to redress the situation.

In what was a most entertaining encounter brimful of top class hurling Fr O’Neills were first on the scoreboard with a point from Fergal Duffy. Courcey Rvs with stirling displays from Stephen Nyhan in goal, Craig Minihane, Daire Lordan and Gary Minihane began to come more into the game and with a point from Ronan Connery and two from Gary Minihane they stormed into the lead. A point from Joyce reduced the deficit but Courcey Rvs maintained their momentum and with further points from Simon Holland, Daire Lordan and Connery they led 0-06 to 0-02 by the 15^th minute. Fr O’Neills halted their progress two minute later with a second point from Joyce and in the 23^rd minute they drew level when a perfect pass from Ken Hegarty found Joyce and he made no mistake in finding the net with a powerful drive. Courcey Rvs replied with points from Lordan and Holland to regain the lead but in the dying minutes of the half after a point from Liam O’Driscoll reduced the deficit Joyce struck for goal number two. A shot from Duffy was brilliantly saved by Nyhan but the rebound fell to the vigilant Joyce who rattled the net to see his side go in at the break leading 2-04 to 0-08.

On the resumption the margin was reduced to the bare minimum when Holland had an early point for Courcey Rvs but unfortunately for them they were not to score again until the final minute as Fr O’Neill upped the tempo of the game. Driven on by the performances of Alan Hayes, Tony Motherway, Liam O’Driscoll, Mark Hayes and Joyce they took control and with points from TJ Kenneally, Mark Hayes and Joyce they led 2-07 to 0-09 at the three-quarter stage. Although their opponents tried their utmost to get back into contention there was to be no stopping the “East Cork” side as they maintained their offensive. Further points from Duffy, Joyce and Gavin Foley saw them copper-fasten their position and although Courcey Rvs had a late point from Lordan the result was in no doubt at this stage and with the scoring being completed with a point from Joyce Fr O’Neills ran out worthy winners on the final scoreline of 2-12 to 0-10 and will now await the winners of Eire Og and Shandrum in the Final.

Scorers: Fr O’Neills William Joyce 2-06 (0-02 frees); Fergal Duffy 0-02;

Liam O’Driscoll, TJ Kenneally, Mark Hayes and

Gavin Foley 0-01 each.

Courcey Rvs Daire Lordan 0-03 (0-2 frees); Simon Holland 0-03;

Ronan Connery 0-02; Gary Minihane 0-02.

Teams: Fr O’Neills Donough O’Flynn; Conor Broderick, John Barry, Barry

Hayes; John Bailey, Alan Hayes, Tony Motherway; Liam

O’Driscoll, Mark Hayes; TJ Kenneally, Noel O’Driscoll,

Ken Hegarty; Fergal Duffy, William Joyce, Robert

Cullinane.

Subs: Gavin Foley for Ken Hegarty

Sean Dunne for Tony Motherway

Darragh Sexton for Fergal Duffy

Courcey Rvs Stephen Nyhan; David O’Sullivan, Brendan Dalton,

Ciaran Moloney; John Collins, Liam McCarthy, David

Lordan; Simon Holland, Craig Minihane; Colm Daly,

Daire Lordan, Liam O’Keeffe; Sean O’Brien, Ronan

Connery, Gary Minihane.

Subs: James O’Neill for Liam O’Keeffe

Olan Crowley for Sean O’Brien

Jack O’Reilly for Ciaran Moloney

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwin (Eire Og)