Ballydesmond coast to win over Millstreet
Newmarket's John Lane and Mark Reidy attemnpt to seek out the ball against St Vincent's defenders in the Co. Premier IFC semi final at Ballyclough Credit: PICTURE: JOHN TARRANT
Ballydesmond 1-13 Milllstreet 0-3
INTERMEDIATE side Ballydesmond carried too much class and scoring power to dispose the interest of Millstreet in the Duhallow Cup played in a downpour at Millstreet last Friday night.
There was seldom a doubt regarding the outcome with Ballydesmond imposing their authority on the proceedings from an early stage. On doing so, Ballydesmond blended intensity and an impressive workrate with a first rate effort in front of the posts.
Ballydesmond enjoyed a promising start on a neat bout of play allowed Donal O'Connor find the net. Millstreet operated with a strong wind at their back and responded well with points chalked up by Michael Vaughan and Tadhg Collins.
Ballydesmond regained control and proceeded to establish themselves in no uncertain fashion. Defensively, Tim Howard, Denis and Donal Kelly coped well with Sean Kelleher and Jerry Healy on top at midfield. And the productivity of the winners attack pleased Ballydesmond from points to Donncha O'Connor, Niall Fleming and Paudie Breen that helped the visitors enjoy a clear 1-8 to 0-3 advantage at the break.
Wosening conditions ruled out any fluent play and though Ballydesmond slackened off, Millstreet faced a mountain to climb. Try as they did, the hosts failed to penetrate a stone walled Ballydesmond rearguard. Indeed Ballydesmond were rarely without possession and they put the game to bed from additional points to the experienced O'Connor and Fleming.
BALLYDESMOND: F O'Sullivan; T Howard, S Murphy, N O'Connor; Denis Kelly, Donal Kelly, L Murphy; S Kelleher, J Healy 01; Donncha O'Connor 0-5, C O'Keeffe, Donal O'Connor 1-0; P Breen 0-3, S Kelly 0-1, N Fleming 0-2 Subs: R Flynn 0-1 for Donal O'Connor, C Kearney for Breen, S Cronin for L Murphy, N O'Sullivan for Healy, J J Fleming for Donncha O'Connor
MILLSTREET: C O'Mahony; J Broxton, K Hickey, P Randles; D McCaul, L O'Connor, J Lehane; M Ellis, M Vaughan 0-1; B O'Flynn, M Murphy, C O'Callaghan; K Downey, T Collins 0-2, S Twomey Subs: S Cotter fo O'Mahony, O'Mahony for O'Callaghan
REFEREE: R Murphy (Lyre)
