First-half goals are crucial as Mullahoran continue fine run

SFC round 3

Mullahoran 2-10

Kingscourt Stars 0-10

Paul Fitzpatrick at Dolan Park

First-half goals from Daithi Sheils and Cormac O’Reilly made the difference as an impressive Mullahoran got the better of Kingscourt Stars in this clash at Virginia on Sunday afternoon.

The Dreadnoughts have had to overcome adversity in this campaign, with injuries - Ray Lynch is unfortunately out for the year and Gavin Brady missed this game with concussion – and absentees, as well as a fiendish draw which pitted them against Cavan Gaels, Ramor United, Kingscourt and, next, Crosserlough but they have coped admirably.

Mullahoran were the hungrier side here and out-worked the Stars, for whom leader Padraig Faulkner got injured in the warm-up and, while he battled manfully in the first half, had to go off early in the second. By then, Mullahoran were eight points up and in complete control and from there on, they kept the Stars at arm’s length.

The highlight of the match was a brilliant individual goal from Cormac O’Reilly, who along with Enda O’Reilly proved a great ball-winning – and finishing – outlet for the winners but Mullahoran won the important battles all over the field.

There wasn’t much between them early on. Two frees from minor Michael McKeon nudged the Stars in front but Mullahoran showed their intent in the sixth minute when Ryan O’Reilly kicked an exceptional individual point when Kingscoiurt were set up defensively and there didn’t appear to be much on.

Mullahoran put together a sublime move for their second, Sheils sending a long crossfield ball to Enda O’Reilly, who laid off for Shane Sheils to point with a first-time effort from the left.

Enda O’Reilly added the next from a free after turning over the ball but Kingscourt levelled when Barry Tully found McKeon, who spectacularly fielded and converted the resulting mark.

The first goal arrived on 15 minutes when Mullahoran, who utilised the long, high ball to great effect, sent one in through Ryan O’Reilly, Cormac O’Reilly broke it and Daithi Sheils finished powerfully to the bottom corner.

Cormac then fired over a great strike off the left after good work from namesake Enda to make it 1-4 to 0-3. Kingscourt were out of sorts, with Faulkner and McKeon both off-target from simple placed ball chances, although McKeon did land a terrific free from 40 metres and the unusually subdued Jordan Morris tacked on another.

A 45-metre Cormac O’Reilly free and a closer-range effort from Enda O’Reilly made it 1-6 to 2-5 and just before half-time, the crucial second goal arrived.

The lively Tom Harten picked out Cormac O’Reilly in the right corner, he beat two defenders as he sped along the end-line and finished to the top right corner with the left boot for one of the goals of the championship.

Mullahoran started the second half brightly with Ryan O’Reilly fisting over after another well-worked team move. Kingscourt’s first score of the second half came six minutes in when Peter Corrigan fed John McCullough to make it 2-7 to 0-6 but a 40-metre Enda O’Reilly free cancelled that one out.

Morris responded with a free but Mullahoran were still dominating and after a period of heavy pressure, got their reward when Cormac McKeogh side-stepped a challenge and split the posts.

A melee broke out which caused a delay of a few minutes but, in reality, the result was beyond doubt at this stage, even with Mullahoran down to 14 men following a straight red card for Colm O’Reilly.

A free from Morris, one from play by sub Barry Reilly followed, with young sub Conor Sharpe kicking a confident point for Mullahoran.

Kingscourt had the final say with a stylish effort from Morris but it was too late for the Stars to rally and they now go into the final round against Ballyhaise with their season hanging in the balance, especially with Faulkner an injury doubt (and county panellist Paddy Meade a long-term casualty).

The Stars have had injuries to deal with and while they opened with a good draw against Gowna and beat Killygarry, this was their least impressive performance to date.

For Mullahoran, Crosserlough await but advancement to the quarter-finals is guaranteed and the fact they are unbeaten against good sides represents notable progress given they only stayed up on the last day last season in a relegation play-off.

Mullahoran: Evan Byrne, Senan Sheils, Colm O’Reilly, Matthew Hynes, Shane Sheils (0-1), Killian Brady, Cormac McKeogh (0-1), Caoláinn O’Reilly, Dominick Cadden, Edward Dalton, Enda O’Reilly (0-3f), Ryan O’Reilly (0-2), Tom Harten, Cormac O’Reilly (1-2, 1f), Daithi Sheils (1-0)

Subs: Conor Sharpe (0-1) for S Sheils (40), Patrick Harten for E O'Reilly (51), Paul Brady for Cormac O'Reilly (59)

Kingscourt Stars: Tom Martin, Aaron Shekleton, John McCullough (0-1), Cormac McAvinney, Michael Pienaar, Barry Tully, Odhran Cunningham, Peter Corrigan, Padraig Faulkner, Sean Burke, Ciaran Dermody, Cormac Yore, Jordan Morris (0-4, 3f), Michael McKeon (0-4, 2f, 1m), Conor Ward

Subs: Caoimhin Magee for P Faulkner (33), John Oates for S Burke (35), Barry Reilly (0-1) for C Yore (47), Cian Shekleton for M McKeon (53)

Ref: Barry McMenamin