Morrissey the last-gasp hero
Mercy Colleges 2-9 Pres Athenry 0-13
A goal in the dying moments from full-forward Eoin Morrissey gave the amalgamated Mercy Colleges from Galway victory over defending champions Presentation Athenry in Kinvara.
Morrissey was marshalled expertly by Athenry full-back John Martin throughout, but he still managed to register 2-1 from paltry possession to send his side into the decider against Portumna.
The accuracy of Jason Flynn and Athenry's outstanding Cathal Keane lit up the opening half, until Morrissey flicked the ball past Aodhan Keane in the 28th minute to give Mercy a 1-7 to 0-7 lead at the break.
Keane landed three frees from his own half against the wind to draw Athenry level with just five minutes remaining, but Morrissey got the vital touch to scramble the winner for John Hardiman's determined outfit.
Scorers -- Mercy Colleges: J Flynn 0-7 (6f), E Morrissey 2-1, L Euniacke 0-1. Presentation Athenry: C Keane 0-11 (10f), D Concannon, M Morris 0-1 each.
Mercy Colleges -- G Loughnane; D McManus, C Nevin, S Maloney; L Euniacke, S Caulfield, P English; C Dillon, A Moran; J Flynn, J Egan, C Quinn; S Keown, E Morrissey, G Cooney. Subs: M O'Brien for Cooney (42), D Sweeney for Maloney (43), K McHugh for Egan (57), C Kelly for Moran (62).
Presentation Athenry -- A Keane; P Hannon, J Martin, D Farrell; K Culkin, D O'Halloran, S Kilduff; S Hynes, D Concannon; C Henry, C Hardiman, M Morris; C Keane, R Doyle, A Higgins. Subs: B Burke for Culkin (23), C Shaughnessy for Morris (42).
REF -- K Egan.
Irish Independent
