St. Michaels/Nobber 4-11, Ballinlough 2-11                                                              

The St. Michaels / Nobber combination picked up the U-15 Group F cup on Wednesday evening in an absolute thriller, but they were pushed all the way by a Ballinlough side who came from six points down to draw level with ten minutes remaining. 

It was edge of your seat stuff for the large attendance in the well turned out Páirc Naomh Chiarán in Carnaross. Denis Briedis opened the St. Michaels / Nobber scoring with a pointed free in the opening minute but a couple of minutes later Ballinlough made a dream start to put their noses in front with a well struck goal. Both sides traded early points with Fionn Nulty and James Hanratty putting points on the board for the combination side, then on twelve minutes Nulty struck for his sides first major when he sent a rasping shot past Alex Smith in the Ballinlough goals, Tadgh Shannon Smith split the posts with a fine solo effort, Sean Gaynor then put Hanratty through and he tapped over from close range. 

Ballinlough went through a barren 20 minute spell where the St. Michaels / Nobber defence cut off any attempt of attack on their goals restricting the losers to just two minors for 22 minutes of play. St. Michaels / Nobber however were strong in the middle third of the park with Conall McEntee and Tadgh Shannon Smith's high fielding and distribution a joy to behold together with the work rate of Paddy O'Sullivan and Fionn Nulty. The winners finished the half with Nulty breaking through for his second major and their final score of the half came when Shannon Smith rose highest in the middle to collect the kick-out and gave the perfect pass to the outstanding Hanratty who split the posts for a 2-6 to 1-4 interval lead.  

Ballinlough were first to trouble the scoreboard operator in the new half with a point but up at the other end substitute Tom Regan hit the back of the Ballinlough net two minutes later, Ballinlough replied with a minor, Shannon Smith did likewise which was cancelled out with a fine effort from Ballinlough. Hanratty again split the uprights from play but a succession of scores including a green flag from Ballinlough made the game all square at 3-8 to 2-11 on 52 minutes, but unfortunately for the losers that's where the comeback ended as the combination side regained their composure and points from Hanratty (2) and McEntee (1) and a second goal from Regan put the icing on the cake for the winners.                                                                                                             

St. Michaels/Nobber: Markas Gudziwvas; Jake O'Reilly, Denis Briedis (0-1), Conor Murray; Thomas Clinton, Paddy O'Sullivan, Aodhán O'Reilly; Tadgh Shannon Smith (0-2), Conall McEntee (0-1); Denis Briedis, Fionn Nulty (2-1), Harry Finnegan; Eoin Curtis, James Hanratty (0-6), Sean Gaynor.        

Subs: Paddy Norris for Denis Briedis, Tom Regan (2-0) for Sean Gaynor, Adam Kiernan for Eoin Curtis.    

Referee: Adrian Corcoran 

Report and photo: Pascal Reilly PRO.    

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