Muskerry JAHC Q-Final

Kilmichael: 3-12

Blarney: 3-11

A fantastic Conor Cotter point deep into injury time sealed Kilmichael’s passage into the Muskerry JAHC semi-final, after a dramatic victory over Blarney in the quarter-final at Coachford on Friday night.

This contest had many twists and turns, with both sides having periods of dominance. After 13 minutes, Blarney led 0-4 to 0-3, until they raised a green flag. Eugene McCarthy, who started the game impressively, sent a long ball into the box, and it went all the way to the net. Craig Sykes split the posts, immediately after the goal, to push his side 1-5 to 0-3 clear.

Kilmichael rallied, and in a hectic six minutes, the winners scored 2-1. The inspirational Peter Kelleher with the two goals, while Conor Cotter dissected the posts, 2-4 to 1-5, with five minutes to the break. Blarney were then reduced to 14 players, after Eugene McCarthy received a second yellow.

Kilmichael pointed through Shane Masters, but Blarney showed great resolve and led at the break. They posted 2-1 in first-half injury time. Sean Harrington with the two goals and the point. 3-6 to 2-5 at the break.

After the third quarter, Blarney led 3-8 to 2-8, until Kilmichael sub Brendan Kelleher delivered a teasing ball into the box, and it somehow trickled into the net. The momentum was with the winners, and they scored three points on the trot. Peter Kelleher with a brace of points and another excellent Conor Cotter effort, 3-11 to 3-8, approaching the 60^th minute.

Blarney despite down a player for the majority of the game, never gave up, and raised three white flags in an extraordinary four minutes of injury time. It look destined for a replay, until Conor Cotter sent over a sublime point.

Kilmichael will meet Ballincollig/Iveleary in the semi-final.

Scorers for Kilmichael: P Kelleher 2-4 (0-3f), B Kelleher 1-0, C Cotter 0-3, C Foley 0-1, S Masters 0-1, B Cotter 0-1, S Prendeville 0-1, M Masters 0-1.

Scorers for Blarney: S Harrington 2-3 (0-3f), E McCarthy 1-2, C Sykes 0-2, R O’ Donovan 0-1, V O’ Mahony 0-1, B Jordan 0-1, E O’ Mahony 0-1.

Kilmichael: S O’ Leary, L Hennigan, J O’ Mahony, K O’ Leary, S Foley, J O’ Riordan, K Kelleher, B Cotter, C Cotter, J McCarthy, P Kelleher, C Foley, M Masters, S Prendeville, S Masters.

Subs: B Kelleher for J McCarthy (38).

Blarney: R O’ Shea, S O’ Brien, J Barrett, D McPolin, E Mullane, V O’ Mahony, A O’ Shea, M John-Shine, R O’ Donovan, S Harrington, C Sykes, C Hegarty, B Jordan, C Buckley, E McCarthy.

Subs: E O’ Mahony for C Hegarty (HT).

Referee: John Horgan (Gleann na Laoi)