St. Michaels 4-13, Moylagh 1-09    

Not many would have envisaged a 13 point victory for St. Michaels over Moylagh in this second round match on Sunday afternoon in Carnaross. By half time this contest was hanging very much in the balance as the Carlanstown Kilbeg men led by just three points.                                        

Shane McDonnell was most certainly one of the many stars of the show and from the start his tally of 2-5 was vital for David Wright's side. His razor sharp right boot kept St. Michaels ticking over in the opening half and he linked the play brilliantly with the likes of Davy Lynch, Paddy Clarke and Ray Reilly to name but a few. 

The game was only two minutes old when McDonnell split the posts from a free, Moylagh cancelled that one out from play before McDonnell found the target again with two excellent efforts from play. Davy Lynch won the next kick-out, soloed half the pitch and popped it over for a three point lead on ten minutes. However Moylagh rallied again to leave just two between the sides before Jamie Farrelly palmed a high ball down to Oran Meehan who duly obliged with his opening score of the match and to leave his side with a two point advantage at the first water break. 

Farrelly was also the provider for the games opening goal as he delivered to McDonnell who blasted to the net for his sides only score of the second quarter. Moylagh posted two further points, one from a free which left them trailing by 0-5 to 1-5 at the interval, a scoreline which could have been all so different but for two brilliant saves by Shane McCormack between the St. Michaels posts. 

Moylagh opened the scoring with two early points in the new half, however that's as good as it would get for Moylagh as St. Michaels kicked into another gear and sent out an early statement of intent.. Ray Reilly (0-2) and Oran Meehan both split the posts, the latter having been put through after another great run by Davy Lynch. Moylagh then lost a man to a black card. Substitute Ciaran Lynch won a Moylagh kick-out before playing a one-two with Reilly and sending a pile-driver past the stranded Moylagh keeper for a 2-8 to 0-7 lead on 37 minutes. 

McCormack was at his best again in the second half as he pulled off a couple of fine saves to keep Moylagh at bay although they did beat him for their only goal of the match in the 59th minute by which stage the game was over as a contest.
McDonnell (0-2), Reilly and Davy Lynch all added points before the second water break to lead 2-12 to 0-9. 

Sam Briody, Christopher Drew, Ben Reilly and Matthew Halpin all put in a tremendous effort in defence while Paddy Clarke had another great game and was ably assisted by his colleagues around the middle third, Felim O'Reilly, Mark Stafford and Ronan Lynch. 

After the restart Meehan sent over his third minor before he was put through by O'Reilly for a well taken goal and it was left to McDonnell to cap a fine afternoon's work with his second major and final score of the match to book a place in the quarter final v Walterstown.  

St. Michaels: Shane McCormack; Christopher Drew, Matthew Halpin, Ben Reilly; Sam Briody, Ronan Lynch, Paddy Clarke; Mark Stafford, Felim O'Reilly; Davy Lynch (0-2), Shane McDonnell (2-5), Ray Reilly (0-3); Patrick Tobin, Oran Meehan (1-3), Jamie Farrelly. Subs:  Ciaran Lynch (1-0) for Tobin, Ciaran O'Reilly for Halpin, J.B. O'Reilly for Stafford, Matthew Halpin for Briody.                                                                                                                                                     

Referee: Joey Curley. 

Report: Pascal Reilly PRO.

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