Division 1 FL: Clinical St Finbarr's outgun short-staffed St Michael's

St Michael’s 1-7 (1-1-5)

St Finbarr’s 0-17 (0-3-11)

It was always going to be a tall order for St Michael’s in their penultimate McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League clash, as they hosted St Finbarr’s in Mahon on Thursday evening without 11 regulars.

That manager Pat Doyle was the only togged player not used told the full story of the home side’s depleted squad. But credit where it's due – St Michael’s gave everything in a gutsy, hard-fought performance.

Trailing by five at half-time, Michael’s came out firing. Dan Meaney pointed from close range two minutes into the restart, and Scott O’Sullivan’s beautifully lofted ball was stylishly converted by Luke O’Herlihy.

O’Herlihy struck again in the 37th minute with another peach, cutting the deficit to 0-9 to 0-7 – game on.

But Michael’s would be their own worst enemy from there. A bout of dissent handed momentum back to the visitors.

Steven Sherlock edged the Barrs three clear again, and O’Herlihy’s two-point free struck the upright – the third time Michael’s were denied by the woodwork.

Sherlock then knocked over two frees, stretching the lead to 0-12 to 0-7, until the goal gave Michael’s a lifeline. Kyle Leahy soared to claim a restart and fed Tom Grainger, who drove forward and set up Domhnall Cremin for a close-range finish with 48 minutes played.

But, as they’ve done all league, the Barrs kept their composure.

Kyle Leahy, St. Michael's, Jamie Burns, St. Finbarr's scrap for possession. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Wing-back Bill O’Connell pointed after a neat setup from Fionn Crowley, before Cillian Myers Murray floated over a beauty from outside the arc. That made it 0-15 to 1-7.

Donal Conroy palmed over late on, and Myers Murray added another to seal a deserved seven-point win. He was particularly impressive, as was Adam Lynne in midfield – but St Michael’s made them work hard for it.

Despite their limited numbers, the home side were only five down at the break – a testament to their work rate. They might even feel frustrated it wasn’t closer.

It was a slow burner. Neither side had a shot on target until Sherlock opened the scoring in the sixth minute, adding another from a '45 soon after.

Crowley and Myers Murray followed up, pushing the Barrs into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead before O’Herlihy landed a fine free from distance. Sherlock replied instantly with his own orange flag from play, stretching it to 0-7 to 0-2.

Kyle Leahy, St Michael's, battles for the high ball with Ciaran Doolan, St Finbarr's. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Michael’s were desperately unlucky in front of goal – three times denied inside the space of three minutes. Sam Murphy’s palmed effort was cleared off the line. Leahy hit the crossbar. Then Leahy was again denied by a brilliant close-range save from Darragh Newman in the 19th minute.

A free from O’Herlihy broke that spell, but Sherlock responded with two excellent scores, showing his class.

Adam Hennessy did manage a vital point before the break, narrowing the deficit to 0-9 to 0-4 at half-time. While the hosts would mount a challenge on the resumption, spearheaded by the impressive Leahy and O’Sullivan – their opponents were simply too strong.

Scorers for St Michael’s: L O’Herlihy 0-5 (1 tpf, 0-2 f), D Cremin 1-0, A Hennessy, D Meaney 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: S Sherlock 0-9 (0-4 f, 1 tpf), C Myers Murray 0-5 (2 tp), B O’Connell, D Conroy, F Crowley 0-1 each.

ST MICHAEL’S: M Whelan; L Carroll, D Corkery, S Keating; T Grainger, D Meaney, S O’Sullivan; M White, K Leahy; S Murphy, E Hegarty, D O’Sullivan; D Cremin, L O’Herlihy, A Hennessy.

Subs: A Nolan for D O’Sullivan, L Fogarty for Cremin (both 60), J Heylin for S O’Sullivan (60+2), L Twohey for Hennessy (60+4).

ST FINBARR’S: D Newman; S Ryan, J Burns, A O’Connor; B O’Connell, C Dennehy, F Crowley; C Doolan, A Lynne; S Kirby, C Myers Murray, T O’Keeffe; D Conroy, S Sherlock, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: C Lyons for Dennehy (34 inj), L Hannigan for O’Keeffe, C Barrett for O’Sullivan (both 38), J Kennefick for Ryan (42).

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers)

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