Cork SHC Divisional/Colleges semi-final: Imokilly 5-24 Avondhu 0-12 As opening gambits in championship hurling go, Imokilly’s in Fermoy on Sunday evening was as impressive as it gets. They easily dismissed the challenge of Avondhu to qualify for the final of the Divisional/Colleges section of the Co-op Superstores Cork SHC. Muskerry await them in that decider in three weeks, but all evidence points towards the fact that the East Cork barony will once again have a major say in the destination of the Seán Óg Murphy Cup.
Here they were shorn the services of three stars of Cork hurling – Seamus Harnedy, Ciarán Joyce and Diarmuid Healy were all injured – but the truth is that they weren’t missed at all. Another rising star, Jack Leahy hit 0-10, Daire O’Leary lorded proceedings at centre-back, Timmy Wilk kept tabs on Stephen Condon while Shane Hegarty and Bill Cooper controlled the middle of the field. That allowed the likes of Adam Murphy and Mike Kelly to fill their boots.
Avondhu fell five points short last season against Imokilly, and the feeling was that if they were to narrow that gap, they would need to make the most of the wind at their backs in the opening period. However, they didn’t as they had seventeen first half wides, six of which were balls that were overhit and rolled harmlessly over the end line. Colin O’Brien and Liam Cronin were game, but Imokilly had too much quality.
Murphy had 0-3 on the board inside nine minutes, while goals from Darragh O’Brien and Desmond made it 2-7 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, Darragh O’Flynn with Avondhu’s score. A couple of points from the impressive Mark Lenehan and Condon helped their cause coming up to the break, but further goals from Murphy and Kelly meant that the contest was over at the interval as Imokilly held a 4-10 to 0-6 advantage. Imokilly took the third quarter by 0-7 to 0-3, O’Leary with two fabulous scores, as they kept control of proceedings.
Leahy clipped over two beauties after that, while Lenehan struck his third for Avondhu. Aghada’s Will Leahy then hit 0-2 off the bench and as the large crowd shuffled for the exit, Kelly struck for goal number five. Five goals and a five-star performance.
They will take stopping. Scorers for Imokilly: J Leahy (0-10, 0-5 frees), M Kelly (2-2), A Murphy (1-3), S Desmond (1-1), D O’Brien (1-0), S Hegarty, D O’Leary and W Leahy (0-2 each), L O’Shea and K O’Neill (0-1 each). Scorers for Avondhu: S Condon (0-5, 0-3 frees), M Lenehan (0-3), C O’Brien (0-2, 0-1 free), D O’Flynn and S Kileen (0-1 each).
IMOKILLY: E Davis (St Catherine's); T Wilk (Cobh), M Russell (Aghada), C O'Brien (c) (St Ita's); J McCarthy (Dungourney), D O'Leary (Watergrasshill), J Cronin (Lisgoold); B Cooper (Youghal), S Hegarty (Dungourney); D O'Brien (St Ita's), M Kelly (Castlemartyr), A Murphy (Watergrasshill); L O'Shea (Lisgoold), S Desmond (Watergrasshill), J Leahy (Dungourney). Subs: K O'Neill (Watergrasshill) for Cooper (37), W Leahy (Aghada) for O'Brien (41), S O'Donoghue (St Catherine's) for Murphy (42), C Geary (Youghal) and P Cummins (Russell Rovers) for Cronin and McCarthy (both 52). AVONDHU: D O'Sullivan (Harbour Rovers); F Hickey (Araglen), B Cotter (Kilavullen), B Carey (Araglen); D O'Reilly (Ballyhooly), L Cronin (Killavullen), J Fogarty (Harbour Rovers); J O'Sullivan (Ballygiblin), S Kileen (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels); C O'Brien (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels), D O'Flynn (Ballygiblin), D Sheehan (Mallow); J Magner (Killavullen), M Lenehan (Buttevant), S Condon (Harbour Rovers).
Subs: E Cotter (Killavullen) for Sheehan and M Tobin (Mallow) for Magner (both h/t), C Buckley (Clyda Rovers) for Hickey (42), E Buckley (Ballyhooly) for O'Sullivan (52), B Lombard (Ballyhooly) for Condon (58). Referee: Mark Maher (St Finbarr's). A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
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