DIARMUID SHEEHAN

Premier 1 Minor Hurling Championship Round 1
St Finbarrs   1-17
Charleville   1-11
A clinical display of free taking from Philip Kelleher proved to be the difference between St Finbarrs and Charleville in the Rebel Og P1 MHC game in Mallow last night.
The city side’s talisman bagged 1-10 from the dead ball with some of the strikes coming from very impressive distances and angles.
Kelleher’s display may have shown that he could easily be a senior free taker of the future but it also showed he has undoubted talent in open play.
Kelleher may have kept his side going throughout the harder times in this fixture but he wasn’t the only Barrs’ player to impress on the night.
Midfield partner James Goulding, centre forward Colm Keane and right half forward David Scannell all showed they are very capable at this level with Keane bagging two classy points and Scannell adding a hat-trick of scores.
Other city players well worth a mention was the full back line of Stephen Goggin, Sam Ryan and Cian Walsh with keeper Eoin Comyns and centre back Ian Maguire also playing well.
Charleville may have come out on the wrong side of the final score-line but they did put in a very credible effort against the victors.
Cork minor James O’Brien was their leading light as he showed his full array of talents against a well marshalled rearguard.
O’Brien, who knocked over four points from right half forward was ably assisted up front by centre forward John Madigan, left full forward Darragh Fitzgibbon and left half back James Fitzgerald. Keeper Jamie Maloney also looks like a real solid performer even though he won’t be happy with his own part in the St Finbarrs’ goal.   
Charleville started this game at a real high tempo and raced into a four point lead with less than four minutes on the clock thanks to an early free from Fitzgibbon and a well taken goal from Madigan.
Two minutes later they were nearly in again but were denied by a great double save from Barrs’ keeper Comyns.
The boys in blue got on the scoreboard soon after and managed to keep with their opponents till the break – only trailing by two at the turn (1-7 – 0-8) – this despite the Seandun boys racking up eight more wides than their opponents.
The second half was better for the winners as they passed the Avondhu side – despite adding another six wayward efforts to their worrying tally.
With time running out, a long range free from Kelleher on 56 minutes made its way passed the Maloney to end this game as a contest.
With Charleville still in the competition the result won’t be too disheartening for them but for all other sides in the competition it would be wise to look out for the Barrs.
Scorers for St Finbarrs: P Kelleher 1-10 (all frees); D Scannell 0-3 (0-1f); C Keane 0-2; M Twomey, B Ramsey 0-1 each.
Charleville: J Madigan 1-1, J O’Brien 0-4 (0-1f); D Fitzgibbon, J Fitzgerald (2f) 0-2 each, G Kelleher, D Butler 0-1 each.
ST FINBARRS: E Comyns; S Goggin, S Ryan, C Walsh; D Quinn, I Maguire, L Arslan; J Goulding, P Kelleher; D Scannell, C Keane, M Twomey; E Dennehy, K Hodgins, G O’Sullivan. Subs: B Ramsey for G O’Sullivan (ht). 
CHARLEVILLE: J Maloney; D Hederman, J Buckley, G Mullins; C Casey, G Kelleher, J Fitzgerald; B O’Connell, D Butler; J O’Brien, J Madigan, T Keane; D Casey, J Barry, D Fitzgerald. Subs: A Dennehy for T Keane (42).
Referee: D Carroll (Kanturk)