Maynooth come good in second half to set up final clash

Maynooth 2-18

Éire Óg Corra Choill 1-16

A storming Maynooth second half saw the side from the north of the county book their place in the UPMC SHC final and a date with six-in-a-row chasing Naas.

Sunday's semi was an absolutue cracking contest between two fine sides.

Éire Óg Corra Choill dominated for most of the first half looking sharper and more up for it than their opponents. However after, no doubt, some stern words at the break, Maynooth came out with all guns blazing outscoring their opponents in the second half 2-12 to 0-6.

It was Maynooth who opened the scoring with a fine point from Daniel O'Meara, however it was Éire Óg Corra Choill who dominated most of the half putting their opponents under a lot of pressure from the word go.

Scott Cramer leveled it however it was noticeable that the ÉÓCC man was limping and that led to him being replaced soon after but re-appeared in the second half.

Cian O'Reilly edged the Prosperous/ Caragh side in front but David Eustace found Cathal McCabe who leveled it up again.
A lovely ball in from Cormac Byrne saw Cian O'Reilly being pushed and Liam Dempsey did the rest from a placed ball.
Cathal McCabe had the sides level for the third time on 12 minutes.

A couple of wides from Maynooth followed before a lovely effort from Ciaran Flanagan tied it up for the fourth time.
Gary Johnson set up Pa Freeman and the corner forward made no mistake and a minute later Liam Dempsey (free) had two between the sides.

Éire Óg CC were getting on top at this stage and went further ahead when Liam Dempsey put over another free with Niall Cramer quickly adding another and the lead was out to four on 22 minutes.

Daniel O'Meara cut that back with a point but Jack Higgins hit a beauty before Paul Dolan, after Alo Hackett found Cian O'Reilly who found Dolan who fired to the net.

A yellow for Liam Dempsey (fortunate it was not a deeper colour) and Cormac Nolan before Dempsey added another free; Kevin Dunne replied to leave the half-time score reading Éire Óg Corra Choill 1-10 Maynooth 0-6.

On the resumption Maynooth came out as if possessed with three quick points, two from Cathal McCabe, and one from Cormac Nolan.

Liam Dempsey replied with a free, Cian Forde responded with a similar score; Dempsey with another free and Eoin Kelleher for Maynooth left it 1-12 to 0-11 on 41 minutes.

Liam Dempsey caught a lovely ball in the danger area, was fouled and he popped over the free.

It was hotting up at this stage with both giving it their all.

Kevin Dunne reduced the lead with a point before 'keeper Sean Bean, found Cathal McCabe who set-up Dunne and the big no. 14 fired to the net to leave just a point between them.

A Paul Dolan effort came off the upright; Liam Dempsey put two between them before Cathal McCabe (free) followed by a Ciaran Flanagan point had the sides level at 1-14 apiece.

Flanagan picked up a yellow, Liam Dempsey edged his side back in front but Kevin Dunne struck again, a ball in by Daniel O'Meara saw Dunne gain possession before blasting to the net giving Maynooth the lead for the very first time, 2-14 to 1-15.

Cathal McCabe added a free and while Liam Dempsey converted another free it was Maynooth who finished the strongest with points from Kevin Dunne and two Cathal McCabe frees to win on a final score line of Maynooth 2-18 Éire Óg Corra Choill 1-16.

A close, exciting and for the neutral a very enjoyable championship encounter, whether Maynooth can test Naas in the final is another kettle of fish though but for now the boys from north Kildare will be more than happy to have made it through to their first final since they last there three years ago, when they tested Naas well into the second half before giving way.

Having said that Maynooth will go into the decider on the first Sunday in November, at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, with no expectations as all the pressure will be on the six-in-a-row chasing boys from the county town.

MAIN MAN
Kevin Dunne
Two Maynooth men in the running for this accolade with Cathal McCabe very effective scoring eight points in total but it was full forward Kevin Dunne who receives the honour on the day. His two second half goals were decisive and along with three points is tally was immense.

TURNING POINT
Like all games goals make the difference and this was no different and while Paul Dolan got the losers' first it was Kevin Dunne's two second half goals that proved the difference between the sides in the end.

REFEREE WATCH
A very entertaining and close encounter, with some tough exchanges at times and while the referee did let the game flow, which is always good to see, one felt he could have come down somewhat harder on one or two occasions.

WHAT NOW?
For Éire Óg Corra Choill the wait goes on for a senior title as Maynooth will now face up to Naas in the final on the first weekend in November.

Scorers: Maynooth, Kevin Dunne 2-3, Cathal McCabe 0-8 (5 frees), Daniel O'Meara 0-2, Ciaran Flanagan 0-2, Cian Forde 0-1, Eoin Kelliher 0-1, Cormac Nolan 0-1.

Éire Óg Corra Choill, Paul Dolan 0-11 (11 frees), Paul Dolan 1-0, Niall Cramer 0-1, Scott Cramer 0-1, Jack Higgins 0-1, Pa Freeman 0-1, Cian O'Reilly 0-1.

ÉIRE ÓG CORRA CHOILL: Alo Hackett; Conor Sullivan, Michael Begley, Cormac Byrne; Padraic Cribbin, James Dolan, Niall Cramer; Gary Johnson, Daniel Murray; Jack Higgins, Liam Dempsey, Scott Cramer; Pa Freeman, Paul Dolan, Cian O'Reilly. Subs: Sean O'Neill for Scott Cramer (13 minutes); Scott Cramer for Padraic Cribbin (40 minutes); Kevin Connor for Pa Freeman (44 minutes).

MAYNOOTH: Sean Behan; Eoin Kelleher, Matt Eustace, Cian Forde; Ronan Dunne, Mark Butler, David Eustace; Ciaran Flanagan, Cathal McCabe; Conor O'Grady, Michael Hogan, Daniel O'Meara; Kevin McNeill, Kevin Dunne, Cormac Nolan. Subs: Sean Higgins for David Eustace (half-time); Luke Murnane for Michael Hogan (half-time); Harry Dunne for Kevin McNeill (42 minutes); Mickey Gillick for Cormac Nolan (47 minutes).

REFEREE: Brian Kearney.