27-09-2003

Mountmellick 0-9, Courtwood 0-4

Thirteen scores in an entire game, and just four of those in the second half doesn’t exactly set the blood racing.

When Mountmellick and Courtwood came together to play off for a place in the intermediate football semi-final one would have expected a game of some entertainment - not so.

This was a non-inspiring, listless and tedious affair and if the Arles/Killeen spies were in Timahoe on Saturday evening I feel they went home early. There was little to keep them there.

This was a shocking dis-play from a Courtwood side who had aspirations of going places this year. Whatever went wrong on the night this was by far there worst performance of the year.

And while Mountmellick were delighted to have advanced to the last four they too will be aware that there will need to be a huge improvement if they are to go all the way.
Having totally dominated for the hour they will have to look back and query just how they managed to score only nine points. It certainly does not bode well for the semi-final meeting with Arles/Killeen.

It was almost embarrassing to watch the space afforded to Mountmellick as the swept forward in waves. Midfielder Jarleth Challoner was in awesome form fielding excellently and distributing intelligently. Alongside him was Willie Flanagan to form a great partnership.

In defence goalkeeper Donie O’Mahony was in top form making a couple of good saves including a penalty. Darren Young was a solid full back with Mark Turner and Keith Payne impressing in the halfback line.

Up front Niall Lynch and Aidan Challoner were best.

Courtwood were totally bereft of ideas. They had no shape and at times were simply marked absent. Certainly county minor Niall Donoher made his presence felt but all too often was left to do it all himself.

Mick Hogan and Eamon O’Connell did their best to stem the tide in defence but after that their champions were few and far between.

Jarleth Challoner and Donoher swapped frees early on before Mountmellick took control. Points from Lynch, Challoner and James Donoher had them in the driving seat.
Steven Miller pulled one back for Courtwood but another brace from Challoner extended the advantage. However, while dominating affairs Mountmellick did not kill off Courtwood who finished the scoring in the first half with a superb Niall Donoher point.
If anything the second half was inferior to the first. Both teams seemed to be just going through the motions - Mountmellick assured of success and Courtwood unable or incapable of doing anything about it.

Challoner and Lynch increased the gap to five points with Challoner getting his sides last point in the 48th minute.

There was little or no scoring opportunity in the final 12 minutes although Courtwood did win themselves a penalty when Miller put Adrian Mulhare through only to have his effort foot blocked by O’Mahony. Referee Liam Territt immediately pointed to the penalty spot but O’Mahony got down well to deny Donoher.

Courtwood eventually managed to get a second half score when Thomas Behan popped over a point on the hour to round off the scoring.

Mountmellick: Donie O’Mahony; John Lalor, Darren Young, Niall Molloy; Michael Lalor, Mark Turner, Keith Payne; Willie Flanagan, Jarleth Challoner (0-6); Niall Lynch (0-2), Aidan Challoner, Tom Minehan; James Donoher (0-1), Thomas Gormley, Dara Hanlon. Subs: Donnacha O’Mahony for Minehan.

Courtwood: Niall Miller; Eddie Kinsella, Mick Hogan, Padraig Wilson; Michael O’Connell, Eamon O’Connell, Thomas Behan; Adrian Mulhare, Paddy Wilson; Aidan Ryan, George Doyle, Steven Miller (0-1); Kevin Flynn, Niall Donoher (0-2), John Fenlon. Subs: Tommy Dunne for Flynn, Enda Dunne for M. O’Connell.
Referee: Liam Territt.