CRAUGHWELL 1-21 PEARSES 0-15: Craughwell were in control for long spells of this game, but Pearses without Cyril Donnellan, were still in with a shout with five minutes of normal time to go. The influence of Niall Healy for Craughwell and a powerful finish by last year’s County Finalists, yielding 1-4, seen them run out nine-point winners.
Both teams employed sweepers from the off, making it more difficult for both sets of forwards. Kerrill Hardiman sweeping for Pearses and Fergal Healy for Craughwell. Despite 7 wides, Craughwell led 0-7 to 0-3 after 24 minutes, Niall Healy and Keelan Cullinane leading the way. A strong finish to the half seen Pearses draw level, but a Healy free left the minimum between the sides at half-time, 0-8 to 0-7.
With the wind in the second half Pearses were well positioned. However the switch of Mark Horan to midfield for Craughwell was important and Niall Healy again was key, hitting 4 points from play in the second half. Mainly through the accuracy of Tomas Flannery, Pearses had kept in touch and there was just two between the sides (0-17 to 0-15) with five minutes to go. The Craughwell scoring burst in the closing stages, capped by a Michael Farrell goal in the fifth minute of injury time, made sure of the result.
Pearses: F Flannery; A Bellew, T Kenny, R Lally; D Wynne, K Hardiman (0-1), C Raftery; J Gelston (0-1), L Murphy (0-1); R Bellew (0-1), E Ward (0-2), T Flannery (0-9, 8f); G Lally, C Ward, B Sweeney. Subs used: E. Cunniffe, R O’Neill, S Raftery