Premier SFC: David Buckley drives Newcestown to victory over Mallow

Newcestown 0-19 (0-3-13)

Mallow 1-13 (1-2-9)

David Buckley spearheaded a late Newcestown surge as their victory over Mallow at Macroom on Friday night left them on the verge of a McCarthy Insurance Group premier SFC knockout spot.

While a point from Cárthach Keane had put the Carbery side ahead by 0-14 to 0-13 with 54 minutes on the clock, a goal from former Cork player James Loughrey pushed Mallow two ahead with just three left to play. Newcestown did not panic, though.

When Richard O’Sullivan was fouled close to the left sideline, it afforded Buckley a chance to level. By that stage, he had a six-point tally to his name, once again making the case that a Cork squad without him in it could never be better than one with him, and he perfectly measured his kick to leave it 0-16 to 1-13 with the scoreboard showing 59:22.

On the kickout, it was Buckley who claimed possession after a scramble and when he was fouled, his attempt to tap and go was frustrated – that provided a far easier opportunity to put them back in front; 61:06 gone.

Michael McSweeney, Newcestown, tracking Sean McDonnell, Mallow. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

The momentum with them, Newcestown kept pressing and a superb comeback was completed when, after a foul on Jack Meade, Buckley repeated his two-point trick from the left, leaving him with a total of 0-11.

Should county champions Castlehaven beat Valley Rovers on Saturday night, Mallow, semi-finalists last year, would be out – no club other than the ‘big three’ of the Haven, St Finbarr’s and Nemo has made the last four twice under the new system.

For Newcestown, a Haven win would guarantee them knockout football with a game to spare – quite the luxury given their dual commitments, but scarcely a fluke given how they had to earn the win.

An entertaining first half never saw a lead of more than a point, with Tadgh Twomey’s score for Newcestown just before the whistle leaving it 0-8 each.

Goal chances in that opening period were at a premium - the only half-chance was when Séamus O’Sullivan got his fist to a Buckley long-range free that dropped short but he couldn’t divert it.

Mallow shaded the midfield exchanges but Newcestown’s defending was excellent, exemplified by how early sub Niall Murray twice effected perfectly timed tackles for turnovers.

Michael O'Rourke of Mallow holds possession under pressure from Newcestown's David Buckley. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Seán McDonnell had the first score after half-time and though Séamus O’Sullivan replied after a good Newcestown move, Mallow began to get the upper hand. Only a flying block by Paul Kelly denied Michael O’Rourke a goal on 36 but Shane Merritt stroked over the resultant 45 and then Kevin Sheehan profited from good work by Jack Dillon to open up the first two-point lead of the game, 0-11 to 0-9 after 39.

Buckley’s point halved that deficit though and, with Eoghan Collins and Seán O’Donovan beginning to get on top in the middle, Newcestown pushed on again. Buckley’s strength – and Daire McAree’s buildup – had them level before Luke Meade, influential throughout, kicked a two-pointer for 0-13 to 0-11.

McDonnell replied to that in kind before Keane put Newcestown back in front but 38-year-old Loughrey, not on long, was the beneficiary of clever play by Matty Taylor and Sam Copps – as well as the only instance in the game of slack Newcestown marking – as he found the net.

It put them in a strong position, but Newcestown had the stronger finish.

Scorers for Newcestown: D Buckley 0-11 (2 2ptf, 0-3 f), L Meade 0-3 (1 2pt), S O’Sullivan 0-2, T Twomey, C Keane 0-1 each.

Mallow: S McDonnell 0-5 (1 2pt, 1 2ptf), K Sheehan 0-3 (0-1 f), J Loughrey 1-0, M O’Rourke 0-2, E Kelleher, E Stanton, S Merritt (45) 0-1 each.

NEWCESTOWN: C White; P Kelly, C O’Donovan, J Kelleher; G O’Donovan, M McSweeney, C Dinneen; S O’Donovan, W Collins; L Meade, T Twomey, D Buckley; N Kelly, R O’Sullivan, S O’Sullivan.

Subs: N Murray for C O'Donovan (17, injured), J Meade for Kelly, D McAree for Twomey (both 39), C Keane for S O'Sullivan (47).

MALLOW: K Doyle; G Daly, P Lyons, B Myers; T Kiely, M Taylor, J Glynn; S Merritt, A Bolster; E Stanton, J Dillon, M O’Rourke; K Sheehan, S McDonnell, E Kelleher.

Subs: J Loughrey for Stanton (42), S Copps for O’Rourke (49).

Referee: D Murnane (Macroom).

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