Mullinahone advanced to the semi final of the Hall Alarms South U21B football championship when they eventually overcame a determined challenge from Knockmealdown Gaels in a very entertaining game in Davin park last Saturday afternoon.
A Niall O'B
rien goal six minutes from time turned this tie in Mullinahone's favour but in truth, quite how it took so long to put clear daylight between themselves and the Gaels is a question that will concern Mullinahone's management.
Having started the game in whirlwind fashion, Mullinahone dominated possession but thanks to dogged defending and wayward shooting could not put the ball between the posts. In the first ten minutes alone they hit five wides, two from frees and three from play as well as lobbing three balls into Shane Fox's hands in the Gaels goal.
Indeed for all their dominance it took twelve minutes to register their first score when Thomas Collins pounced on a mistake in the Gaels defence to drive the ball to the roof of the net. By this time Knockmealdown had a point on the board courtesy of Andrew Fitzpatrick from their only attack.
One would have expected the goal to settle Mullinahone but it didn't, as their wayward shooting continued with three more wides in quick succession while the more efficient Gaels were gradually working their way into the game. By the 25th minute the teams were level 0-3 to 1-0 thanks to points from Andrew Fitzpatrick and Robert O'Brien.
Mullinahone took the lead through a Richie Morrissey point but Luke Murphy responded for the Gaels with an excellent score just before the half time break to leave the scores level at 0-4 to 1-1. But the more telling statistic of the half was the 11 to 2 wide count in Mullinahones "favour"
The second half was a much more even affair as Knockmealdown Gaels stepped up their intensity and work rate and one wondered if Mullinahone would rue their first half profligacy.
Gaels regained the lead through a Micael Murphy point but three minutes later Richie Morrissey equalised before Niall O'Brien set up Thomas Collins for a point and Richie Morrissey added another to open a two point lead for Mullinahone.
At this stage Mullinahone changed tactic with the introduction of Cathal Horan and Owen Fennelly and went for a more direct approach in an attempt to open the Knockmealdown defence.
Niall O'Brien stretched the lead with a point after being put into space by the impressive Richie Morrissey.
