St. Michaels 1-9
Dunderry 0-10

St. Michaels defied all the odds with this fully deserved victory over Dunderry on Sunday evening last in Kilskyre and in doing so took revenge for last years defeat to the same opponents at the same venue and stage of the competition.

From the off, it was evident that this young St. Michaels side with a sprinkling of experienced players were up for the challenge. They took to their task immediately and were well rewarded by a 1-5 to 0-2 lead with only 17 minutes on the clock.

The goal on 17 minutes came from an exquisite kick pass from Ben Farrell over the heads of the Dunderry backs and into the hands of the awaiting Kevin Cassidy who duly rounded the advancing keeper and shot to the back of the net.

Dunderry weren't allowed to settle and were finding it difficult to curtail the St. Michaels attacks which were being set up by, and involving the hard working midfielders Ciaran Lynch 0-5 and Felim O'Reilly, they fed quality ball into the forwards where Ciaran's brothers David 0-2 & Ronan, the Farrell brothers Ben & John and cousins Ronan & Kevin Cassidy 1-0 were causing havoc with their off the ball running and running at the Dunderry defence and although they played with the advantage of the "hill" in the first half, St. Michaels held a merited and fully deserved 1-7 to 0-3 lead as the half time whistle sounded.

A team of Dunderry's calibre weren't going to lie down and die and the expected onslaught arrived in the second period as they took control at midfield and it was backs to the wall for St. Michaels and although they were held to just two second half points from Ronan Cassidy and John Barry O'Reilly their victory was founded on a resolute defence led by keeper Paul McCormack who's point blank save midway through the second half went a long way in helping to win this match.

Mark Stafford, Philip Rogers, Daithi Reilly, James Farrell, J.B. O'Reilly and the Briody brothers Robert & Sam all showed great tenacity while sticking to their tasks, they restricted Dunderry to shooting from long range which resulted in many wide balls. St. Michaels did however create their own second half chances one of which came from Kevin Cassidy who after rounding the keeper seen his shot come off the bottom of the post and back into his hands but his second attempt was deflected out field.

This was a victory that rewarded persistence and manager Tom Halpin's belief in his squad as his reaction on the sideline at the final whistle told its own story as he leapt in the air with joy, his expectations for this team were beginning to come together but he is acutely aware that one swallow never made a summer.

ST. MICHAELS: Paul McCormack, Mark Stafford, Philip Rogers. Daithi Reilly, Sam Briody, James Farrell, Robert Briody, Felim O'Reilly, Ciaran Lynch 0-5, Ronan Cassidy (0-1), Ben Farrell, David Lynch 0-2, Ronan Lynch. John Farrell, Kevin Cassidy 1-0. SUBS: John Barry O' Reilly 0-1 for Ben Farrell 40 minutes, Daithi Regan for Sam Briody 50 minutes. Peter O'Connell for Ciaran Lynch 56 minutes. Tweet

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