Kennedy Shield Semi Final: Mayo 2-0 West Cork Mayo took on West Cork in the semi final of the Kennedy Shield in showery conditions this morning, looking to book their place in the final tomorrow. Mayo took the game to West Cork from the onset and fired their first warning shot when Thierry Baba leapt like a salmon to head Simon Vahey’s corner wide; Baba’s ability to leap for headers at defensive and attacking situations certainly haven’t gone unnoticed throughout the week. The impressive Dylan Munnelly set up Baba a minute later and once again, the ball sailed wide off the post. Mayo once again looked dangerous from set pieces when Simon Vahey’s corner fell to Aiden Gaughan, whose initial shot was blocked on the line. The ball fell for Jack Mullarkey and it zoomed wide past the post. There was no respite as Aiden Gaughan dinked the ball in but the keeper was equal to the task. Once again, Mayo caused havoc from corners; the first one by Jack Mullarkey was touched onto the post by Luke Honan and the West Cork defence scrambled the ball away at the expense of another corner, once again taken by Mullarkey, with a West Cork defender getting a flick on before Nathan Moran came around the back to head over. Mayo opened up their opponents once more with intricate play between Nathan Moran and Aiden Gaughan saw the latter playing the ball square, Luke Honan supplying the little dummy before Jack Mullarkey smacked one low that the keeper did well to get down on. Mayo finally took the lead on 27 minutes through brilliant play from Aiden Gaughan, Luke Honan, Dylan Munnelly and Simon Vahey. Vahey put in the right wing gross for Munnelly to head home and it was nothing less than what Mayo deserved for all their possession and territory. West Cork responded by winning two corners, the first producing a save from Ryan Corrigan and the second nearly put away, just wide of the near post. Mayo did have another corner just before the break and the West Cork keeper did well to palm away Jack Mullarkey’s kick. Mayo went up 1-0, looking very comfortable and assured. Mayo began the second half looking for the killer second goal and were quickly on the march to get it when Oisin Mullen set up Simon Vahey, and he smashed the ball across the West Cork goalmouth. West Cork did have a long range strike that went over the crossbar, but Mayo resumed their attacks with Luke Honan setting up Simon Vahey for a dangerous cross shot that worried the South Westerners. West Cork mounted another rare attack when they switched play from left to right and the final shot was dealt with by Ryan Corrigan. Mayo demonstrated their threat from set pieces once more when Thierry Baba’s curling free kick picked out James Finnerty and his header was saved. Mayo then demonstrated some quick, counter attacking football following a West Cork corner. The quick break saw Luke Honan getting on the ball and he set up Aiden Gaughan and the latter’s shot was saved by the keeper. Aiden Gaughan went from pulling the trigger to loading the bullets when he fed in Dylan Munnelly, and the West Cork keeper brilliantly saved at his feet. From the resulting corner, Jack Mullarkey whipped the ball in, a West Cork defender flicked the ball on for Thierry Baba to out-leap everybody to head the ball in to make it 2-0 on 57 minutes, and it was really a matter of time that a set piece was going to pay dividends. Mayo then settled for what they had and West Cork could only muster two half chances after that, as Mayo comfortably saw out the game as deserving 2-0 winners. Mayo now face NECSL (North East Counties Schoolboys League) in the Kennedy Shield Final with kick off at 11:00 tomorrow morning. This is the eight consecutive final that Mayo are involved in various competitions at the Kennedy Cup. NECSL came from 2-0 down to beat the South Dublin Football League 4-2. It will be a stern challenge for the kids tomorrow morning but they will be up for it and they will enjoy and learn from their experience. Mayo: Shane Hegarty, Oisin Mullen, Gavin Durcan, Louis Commins, Simon Vahey, Jack Mullarkey, Nathan Moran, Thierry Baba (Capt.), Aiden Gaughan, Dylan Munnelly, Luke Honan. Subs: Ryan Corrigan-Shane Hegarty, James Finnerty-Simon Vahey, James McGrath-Luke Honan, Aaron Murphy-Dylan Munnelly, Michael Keane-James McGrath.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:50:56 +0000
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