Hazelwood through to Munster Semi-Final
Hazelwood College 2-12
Borrisokane 2-8
Hazelwood College scraped to victory in this quarter-final of this Munster “A” Vocational Quarter Final against Borrisokane. The game was played in Ballina, Co. Tipperary and conditions though far from perfect were as good as you could expect at this time of year.
Hazelwood started brightly but did not make the most of their possession and though they dominated the opening quarter keeping Borrisokane scoreless, they only managed to put two points on the board themselves through Michael Fitzgibbon and Jerry Lane. The tide of play began to change direction – marked by two quick points from Borrisokane’s full forward, a Tipperary minor. Jerry lane relieved some pressure with a pointed free to put Hazelwood one up again. The next ten minutes were all Borrisokane though, they scored 2- 2 without reply and Hazelwood were grateful for another pointed free from Jerry Lane just before the break. This left the score at half time 2-4 to 4 points in favour of Borrisokane. Hazelwood had struggled around the middle third of the park but they had played against a slight wind in the first half.
A return to dominance around the midfield area and a grittier attitude pushed Hazelwood on to produce a far better second half. The newly introduced Jamie Coughlan scored a point within the first minute. Borrisokane immediately responded with a point. Hazelwood were beginning to exert pressure though and Jamie Coughlan scored 1-1 – the goal a well placed shot past the keeper, to close the gap. Borrisokane again responded with two points of their own. There was now fifteen minutes gone in the second half and Hazelwood were desperately chasing the four point gap. Jamie Coughlan scored again only for borrisokane to reply, the margin still four points with twelve minutes to go. This was to be last time Borrisokane scored, however. First Jamie Coughlan pointed a sideline cut, which Jerry lane followed up with a goal and a point in quick succession. Kevin Noonan then added another point to leave three in it for what was an anxious last ten minutes, during which Borrisokane had a few goal chances snuffed out. It was left to Paddy Sheehy to put the game beyond doubt with a point in injury time. Hazelwood face reigning champions and favourites Roscrea in the Semi- Final. First up should be the Limerick schools Semi-Final V Ard Scoil Ris.
Team and Scorers:
K. O’ Callaghan, B. Lynch, J. Coughlan, B. Naughton, J. Barrett, T. O’Flynn, M. Brosnan, S. Sheehan, J. Kiely, K. Lacey (0-1), P. Sheehy (0-1), I. Carroll, J. Lane(1-4, 0-2 frees), K. Noonan(0-1), M. Fitzgibbon (0-1)
Subs: C. Mulcahy, J. Coughlan (1-4, 0-1 sideline), B. Noonan, M. Whelan, R. Egan, S. O’Riordan, D. McCarthy, D. Coleman, C. Morrissey, P. Hassett, D. Egan, D. Collins, D. Boyce, P. Herlihy, P.Lane
