Crusheen consolidate senior status & Mills enter relegation final

*Photograph: Ruthie Griffin.

CRUSHEEN consolidated their senior status for 2027 when sending O’Callaghans Mills into the relegation final.

Crusheen 1-21
O’Callaghans Mills 0-22
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

A thrilling relegation semi-final on Saturday afternoon ended with Crusheen sealing their senior status for 2027.

In a contest in which both sides enjoyed periods off dominance, the advantage of having an extra man helped the Crusheen men get over the finish line.

Twenty minutes into this tie the Mills were dealt a huge blow when Niall Melody picked up a second yellow card for a tackle on Oisin O’Donnell and this ended his involvement in the tie. His first yellow card had been issued in the thirteenth minute.

Crusheen made the better start to this one and led 0-4 to 0-0 after as many minutes.t was 0-7 to 0-5 when the sending off and, as in so many occasions in the past when a team loses a player, the response from the Millls was impressive. Hey finished the half with four unanswered points to lead 0-11 to 0-9 at the interval.

With wind advantage in the second half the Cusheen men had levelled by the sixth minute when the score was 0-13 each.

At the three quarter stage, it was 0-18 to 0-16 to O’Callaghans Mills. With the margin down to the minimum five minutes later there was a crucial moment in the tie. Crusheen goalkeeper Donal Tuohy pulled off a marvellous save from Seanie Boyce. Crusheen launched an attack and the outstanding Rian O’Donnell found the net at the other end. Conor O’Donnell added a point and Crusheen were a goal clear with nine minutes remaining.

It was tit for tat from here to the finish and with the game in injury time Donal Tuohy again came to his side’s rescue with another superb save from Seanie Boyce.

In what was a strong team performance Tuohy, Cian Dillon, Ross Hayes, Diarmuid Mullins, and the outstanding Rian O’Donnell played key roles for the winners.

Conor Cooney, Aidan O’Gorman when he returned to centre back, Fionn Hickey, Seanie Boyce and Liam Murphy did well.

All photographs by Ruthie Griffin.

Scorers Crusheen: Ross Hayes (0-9, 7 frees), Rian O’Donnell (1-3); Conor O’Donnell (0-3); Oisin O’Donnell (0-2); Cian Dillon, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Luke Ketalaar, Fergus Kennedy (0-1) each;

Scorers O’Callaghans Mills: Jacob Loughnane (0-7, 5f); Killian Nugent (0-5, all frees); Liam Murphy (0-3); Cormac Murphy, Seanie Boyce, Fionn Hickey (0-2) each; Aidan O’Gorman (0-1) each

Crusheen;

1: Donal Tuohy

2: Ciaran O’Dohesrty
3: Gavin O’Brien,
4: Tadhg Dean;

25: Cilléin Mulllins,
6, Diarmuid Mullins,
7: Cian Dillon;

8: Éanna Mc|Mahon
11: Oisin O’Donnell;

9: Jamie Fitzgibbon,
6: Ross Hayes,
15: Rian O’Donnell;

13: Conor O’Donnell
14: Fergus Kennedy
10: Luke Ketalaar;

Subs:
21: Ian O’Brien for C. O’Dohertsy (39);
22: James O’Sulllivan for E. McMahon (41);

O’Callaghans Mills;
1: Killian Nugent;

19: Ciaran Cooney,
3: Conor Cooney
4: Keith Donnellan;

5: Aidan Fawl
2: Niall Melody
7: Seán Cotter;

8: Fionn HIckey
9: Cormac Murphy;