Dreadnoughts remain unbeaten after group stage

SFC round 4

Mullahoran 2-17

Ballyhaise 3-12

Eddie Halligan at Páirc Naomh Fionnán

Two late Cormac O’Reilly frees was enough to push Mullahoran over the line against a game Ballyhaise side in an enjoyable, high-scoring round four clash in Pairc Naomh Fionnan, Cornafean on Sunday last.

While both teams had already qualified for next weekend’s quarter-finals, the competitive instinct from remained intact which contributed to a physical yet a free-flowing contest. Mullahoran will be delighted to have backed up their impressive performances in the championship to date, especially against big guns Ramor and Gowna, with a victory to maintain their unbeaten record. They will carry that momentum into next weekend’s quarter final rematch with Ramor.

Ballyhaise twice showed great character to bounce back from being 1-5 to 0-1 down in the 16th minute in the first half and again at 2-9 to 1-6 early doors in the second half, but they could not get that decisive score to get in front and kick on to win their third game of the championship. Although Evan Crowe is an immeasurable loss to them, if Ballyhaise can improve on their injury situation, there is enough evidence to suggest that they can cause Kingscourt a few uncomfortable moments next weekend.

Mullahoran started well with Senan Shiels fisting over after a Cormac O’Reilly shot fell short in the first minute and Daithi Shiels soon added another, curling over from 20 yards out. Although Sean Óg Teevan got Ballyhaise up and running in the seventh minute with an excellent individual score, Ballyhaise still struggled to settle as they found the sweeping movements of a vibrant Mullahoran attack difficult to contain.

Centre-forward Tom Harten curled over from short range for Mullahoran before Enda O’Reilly swung over a brilliant left point effort from the two-point range to leave the Dreadnoughts in front at 0-5 to 0-1 by the 13th minute.

Mullahoran’s lead increased two minutes later when Harten found Senan Shiels roaming around the full-forward line, and after Shiels collected Harten’s punt pass, Harten raced onto Shiels return pass and after Gary O’Rourke superbly denied the initial shot, Harten grabbed the rebound and coolly slotted home to put his side seven in front.

Killian Brady replied instantly for Ballyhaise, but they had captain Aodhagan Watters to thank when his brilliant goal-line clearance denied Daithi Shiels a certain goal after Cormac O’Reilly and Tom Harten scorched through the Ballyhaise defence at ease with O’Reilly squaring to Shiels only to be intercepted brilliantly from Watters.

That moment seemed to ignite Ballyhaise as they hit 1-3 in a matter of minutes which included a stunning strike from 20 yards from Michael Brady that gave Mullahoran goalkeeper, Enda Harten, no chance. Eoin Clarke hit two points along with Padraig Moore in that brief spell, but just as it would seem Ballyhaise would finish the half strongly, they were dealt with a sucker punch when Mullahoran strung together a wonderful move that saw centre-back Cormac McGeough taking the assist of Dylan Byrne at pace to hammer home to the net.

Two quickfire and well taken scores from Enda and Cormac O’Reilly had Mullahoran 2-7 to 1-5 in front before a Brían O’Rourke free drew a good first half to a close.

The second half followed the same narrative as the first with a two-pointer from a free off the boot from Cormac O’Reilly put Mullahoran six up within the first minute, but once again Ballyhaise rallied, and a well-taken goal from Killian Brady, whose angled shot found its way to the top corner of the net, put the men in green and gold right back into the mix again.

Another O’Rourke free and a super Moore point on the loop, reduced the arrears to the minimum at 2-8 to 2-9 in 35th minute, but Mullahoran briefly stopped the Ballyhiase momentum when another Cormac O’Reilly two-pointer from a free and one from play by the same player put some daylight in between the teams once again.

A glorious score from Enda O’Reilly came soon after when he caressed a point from the outside of the boot from distance into the goals opposite the dressing room end to put five between them at 2-13 to 2-8, but for the third time, Ballyhaise came roaring back.

Eoin Clarke, who alongside Brian O’Rourke, began to get a stranglehold in midfield, curled over a beauty after good work from Teevan, and the arrears were reduced to the minimum, when Ben Smith sprinted up from centre-back and offloaded to Michael Brady who cracked in his second goal with fourteen minutes remaining.

Traded scores from Enda O’Reilly and a fisted Eoin Clarke point left the scores at 2-14 to 3-10 with nine minutes remaining as Ballyhaise threatened to equalize, but Mullahoran had the knack of getting the right score at the right time with Daithi Shiels easing the pressure somewhat with a good score in the 55th minute.

Clarke, who had an excellent game, responded again for Ballyhaise, but Cormac O’Reilly fired over two frees as the game entered injury time with Michael Brady blasting over with virtually the last kick of the game to put an end to the scoring of an enjoyable contest.

Mullahoran: Enda Harten, Sean Cadden, Colm O’Reilly, Aaron Plunkett, Paddy Harten, Cormac McGeough (1-0), Matthew Hynes, Senan Shiels (0-1), Killian Brady, Enda O’Reilly (0-5, 1 2pt, 1f), Tom Harten (1-1), Daithi Shiels (0-2), Dylan Brady, Cormac O’Reilly (0-8, 2 2ptf, 2f), Ryan O’Reilly

Subs: Conor Sharpe for Matthew Hynes; Luke Maguire for Aaron Plunkett

Ballyhaise: Gary O’Rourke, Fionan O’Reilly, Aodhagan Watters, Darren Reilly, Aaron Watson, Ben Smith, Cormac Clarke, Eoin Clarke (0-5, 1f), Brian O’Rourke (0-2, 2f), Colin McKiernan, Michael Brady (2-1), Sean Og Teevan (0-1), Stephen Kane, Padraig Moore (0-2), Killian Brady (1-1)

Subs: Jack Maguire for Cormac Clarke; Shane Briody for Stephen Kane