All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior B Football Semi-Final – Match Report

Patrician Academy through to All Ireland SFC final

Patrician Academy Mallow 5-8 Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon 1-9

Report by Paddy Ryan

In bitter cold wintry conditions at Heywood College Abbeyleix, Patrician Academy Mallow had a deserved win over Mercy School Ballymahon on Tuesday night in the All-Ireland Senior B FC semi-final.

Ballymahon had the opening score, a pointed free by Dylan Farrell. Patrician Academy hit the front when Conor Corbett had the first of his three goals. The Mallow side led for the rest of the game. Diarmuid Kelly had a point for the Leinster side. Academy took control and a series of well taken points by Conor McMahon, Conor Corbett, Eanna O’Hanlon and Brian O’Sullivan opened up a commanding lead 1-6 to 0-2. Good play by Jack Dillon and Conor Corbett led to a goal by Eanna O’Hanlon that opened up a lead 2-6 to 0-2. Dylan Farrell was denied by the post with David Kelleher with an injury time point giving Mallow an interval lead of 2-7 to 0-2.

On the resumption Ballymahon improved a lot. Academy hit for their third goal when Eanna O’Hanlon, Barry O’Shea and Brian O’Sullivan all combined well for Eoin Kelleher who netted 3-7 to 0-2. Ballymahon came back very strong. They used the short passing at speed to great effect and had a goal and six points in quick succession that left just five points between the sides 3-7 to 1-8. In the last 10 minutes the Mallow side took control in defence and midfield. Their attacks were in regular supply and two goals and a point by Conor Corbett sealed victory for them in the end by an 11 point margin. Academy are now through to an All-Ireland final meeting with Oughtarard (Galway) on Saturday March 30.

Scorers for Patrician Academy: Conor Corbett 3-2, Eoin Kelleher 1-1, Eanna O’Hanlon 1-1, Conor McMahon 0-2, Brian O’Sullivan 0-1, Barry O’Shea 0-1.

Mercy School: Dylan Farrell 0-3 (0-2 frees) Jamie Bermingham 1-0, Sam Maxwell 0-2, Diarmuid Kelly 0-1, Kevin Tansey 0-1, Ian Gilmore 0-1, Luke Gunning 0-1f.

PATRICIAN ACADEMY: Josh Murphy (Mallow) Oisin Carroll (do) Niall O’Riordan (do) Sean Kelly (Clyda Rovers) Jack Hadden (Mallow) Colm O’Shea (Kilshannig) Brian O’Sullivan (Castlemagner) Eanna O’Hanlon (Kilshannig, Kieran Twomey (do) Jack Dillon (Mallow) Barry O’Shea (Kilshannig) Eoin Kelleher (Mallow) Ben O’Connor (Clyda Rovers) Conor McMahon (Kilshannig) Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers)
Subs: David Walsh (Clyda Rovers) for Barry O’Shea (black card), Ciaran O’Sullivan (Kilshannig) for Ben O’Connor, Charlie Carroll (Mallow) for Colm O’Shea (black card), Michael Cogan (Kilshannig) for Jack Hadden.

MERCY SCHOOL BALLYMAHON: Bryn Peters (Rathcline) Ronan Keane (Ardagh) Matthew Gunning (Milltown) Ian Gilmore (Rathcline) Cian Belton (Clonguish) Jason Coughlan (Tang) Diarmuid Kelly (Carrick) Richard Prior (Rathcline) Sam Maxwell (Ballymore) Jamie Bermingham (NewtownCashel) Conal McKiernan (Tang) Rory Howlin (Grattan Og) Oran Kenny (Rathcline) Dylan Farrell (Kilashee) Kevin Tansey (Rathcline)
Subs: Dylan Cody (Ardagh) for Rory Howlin, Cronan Flood (Rathcline) for Kevin Tansey, Luke Gunning (Milltown) for Jamie Bermingham, Adam Ryan (Keenagh) for Diarmuid Kelly.

Referee: Seamus Mulhaire (The Heath)