St. Michaels 2-14, Nobber 1-15   

St. Michaels exceptional second half performance and recovery capped by a late goal by Shane McDonnell gave them a deserved win in this local derby played in Nobber on Friday evening. The visitors thrilling turnaround - they were 6 points adrift at the interval and looked down and out as Nobber called all the shots in that opening half, leaves them unbeaten after having played five rounds.     

Oran Meehan got them off the mark with a point on two minutes, however Nobber had four points on the board before St. Michaels got their next score, a Shane McDonnell point from a free on 14 minutes. Nobber picked off two more points before St. Michaels were awarded a penalty for a foot-block on Ray Reilly, McDonnell's penalty effort was well saved by the Nobber 'keeper but the deflected save fell kindly for McDonnell who sent it back past the scrambling keeper to the back of the net to make it 1-2 to 0-7 after 23 minutes. That goal was soon cancelled out by Nobber when some confusion in the St. Michaels square five minutes later resulted in the ball being poked to the net from close range to restore their five point lead, they added two more points before McDonnell capped his first half scoring with a pointed free in the third minute of added time for his side to trail by 1-03 to 1-09 at the break.                                                  

The second half started at a blistering pace, J.B. O'Reilly made another great catch from a kick-out in the middle of the field and went on his customary solo run, finishing it off with a well taken point, Ronan Cassidy did likewise with another great effort for the winners before Nobber had cancelled them both out from two frees by the 39th minute. A minute later Ray Reilly and Davy Lynch linked up with Peter O'Connell who sent a peach of a point over from the middle of the field, points from Ciaran and Davy Lynch followed before McDonnell reduced the deficit to two points on 44 minutes.

Nobber replied immediately with a point before O'Connell sent another of his kicks high and accurate when on the run from the 45m line splitting the Nobber posts once more, O'Connell then took a short '45 to Ciaran Lynch who turned and jinked before reducing the deficit to a single point. The same player sent over two more frees to put his side one in front, however Nobber halted the rolling tide and drew level again from a free with 7 minutes remaining, in a frantic last few minutes Nobber earned a free which Brian Farrell converted for the lead in the second minute of added time. Nobber looked home and hosed, however Shane McCormack's long kick-out was well fielded by J.B. O'Reilly who again went on a run, this time he was fouled and Ciaran Lynch sent in a dangerous delivery from the resultant free along the side-line and with players stretching every sinew to get a touch in front of the Nobber 'keeper, and so it was that Shane McDonnell's touch sent it to the back of the net for the winning score three minutes into stoppage time.

This was a hard earned victory for Ciaran Conlon and Jim Greene's charges, a tale of two halves, but the team thoroughly deserved their victory for their second half performance and the players enjoyed it, you could tell as much as they made their way off the Nobber pitch in groups of two or three, chatting excitedly and grinning from ear to ear.                                                         

St. Michaels: Shane McCormack; Alan Reilly, Jamie Reilly, Mark Stafford; Ronan Cassidy (0-1), Matthew Halpin, Christopher Drew; Peter O'Connell (0-2), Felim O'Reilly; J.B. O'Reilly (0-1), Davy Lynch (0-1); Ronan Lynch; Ray Reilly (0-1), Oran Meehan (0-1), Shane McDonnell (2-3).                                                                                                                                                  Subs: Thomas O'Brien for Mark Stafford injured 30 minutes, Ciaran Lynch (0-4) for Ronan Lynch 35 minutes, Johnny Reilly for Ray Reilly 52 minutes.                                                   

Referee: Colm McManus.  

Report and photo Pascal Reilly.

Nobber Report

St Michaels 2-14 Nobber 1-15

In a game of contrasting fortunes the Michaels came away with both points from this very competitive League match at Nobber on Friday evening

After an even enough opening Nobber forged ahead and dominated the opening period turning over 1-9 to 1-3 at the break.

During this period Nobber could do no wrong with the lively Karl Casserly slotting over 4 good points, 1-2 from Fiachra Mcentee, 2 from Brian Farrell and a well taken 45 from Alan Farrell.

The visitors just managed to stay in touch courtesy of a 24th minute penalty which they duly converted

On the resumption fortunes changed where as Nobber had a positive approach in the first half they were now found wanting and with the Michaels  showing a greater hunger they slotted over 11 points between the 32nd and 54 th minutes to lead by 1.

Brian Farrell replied for Nobber with points in the 37th,38th 44th 53rd 56th and 61th minutes to put the homeside ahead by one.

Again fortune smiled on the visitors when in the 62nd minute a speculative lob in to the Nobber square following the concession of a needless free found its way to the net to see the Michaels home by two

Nobber scorers: Brian Farrell 0-8, Fiachra McEntee 1-2, Karl Casserly 0-4, Alan Farrell 0-1

Nobber: D Hutchinson, T McEntee, P Meade, B Cassidy, B Heffernan, N Farrell, J Condra, A Farrell, S O Brien, D Lambe, D Shields, R Hughes, K Casserly, F McEntee, B Farrell. Subs: Gerard Campbell for Shields, Colin Clarke for Hughes, Eanna Fagan for T McEntee

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