Highfield vs Kanturk

Highfield 26 Kanturk 0

It was back to the South Munster League on Saturday, Feb 18, for a semi-final meeting with Kanturk. Highfield played with the benefit of a strong wind in the first-half.

Highfield settled into this game from the kick-off, showing good handling as well as line-out and driving maul work. With 7 minutes on the clock, Marc O’Connell had a great take at the line-out and Barry O’Hea picked the ball from a resulting ruck to gallop over from 20m ( or was it 50m ! ) to score under the posts. Sean Quaid added the extra points to give Highfield an early 7 – 0 lead.

Highfield secured the re-start, Niall O’Sullivan, Sean Quaid and James Ryan all carried the ball, before Jamie O’Donnell-Fitzgerald gathered to run in from 30m to score under the posts. Sean Quaid was again successful with the conversion to extend the Highfield lead to 14 points.

After opening up an early lead, Highfield allowed Kanturk to come back into the game and establish some attacking positions within Highfield territory. It was a measure of the handling of both sides that the game was 15 minutes old before the first scrum took place.

The elements played their part in the opening half as well – the strong wind discouraged Kanturk from kicking for goal on several occasions, while despite the favourable wind, Highfield failed to find touch with a number of penalties, thereby handing the initiative back to Kanturk. Despite the endeavour, neither team managed to register a further score during the balance of the first-half – leaving the half-time score 14 – 0 , in Highfield’s favour.

The half-time break saw the introduction of Peter Duffy, Brian Bullman and Basie Olivier. Highfield found themselves playing into a wind that seemed to have strengthened during the interval. An early penalty kick to Highfield was off target, while Kanturk used the wind to gain huge ground with clearance kicks. The second-half was 12 minutes old before the first score was registered, with Sean Quaid breaking some weak tackles, to score under the posts. He duly scored the conversion to extend the Highfield lead to 21 points.

Highfield failed to kick-on from here and it was Kanturk who started to get the upper-hand in terms of possession and territory, but they failed to make the break-through. Indeed Highfield were next to score – Jamie O’Donnell-Fitzgerald crashing over from close-range, following some great work from both forwards and backs, with Dylan Philpott and Sean Quaid prominent in the move. There appeared to be some debate about the success of the conversion, so to ‘err on the side of caution’, this left the scoreline at 26 – 0 and so the score remained to the final whistle, despite the premature end of Dylan Philpott’s involvement in the game, having been shown ‘yellow’ in the 26th minute.

Despite Kanturk’s efforts, they were always chasing this game and the scoreline probably did them an injustice, not reflecting the possession and territory they enjoyed for spells in the match.

Highfield’s reward is a final meeting with the winners of the Cobh Pirates / Bandon tie.

Thanks to all you who lent their support, which was much appreciated.

Once again, a special ‘Thank You’ to Amy O’Hea for her photographic skills.

Next match is at home to Crosshaven on Saturday, February 25. Kick-off @ 1:45; this is the Pan-Munster Q/F, with the winners having the privilege of hosting Shannon-St.Marys in the semi-final.

Squad on the day:
Brian Bullman, Brian Corcoran, Martin Cronin, Kyle Deasy, Stephen Delaney, Peter Duffy , Stephen Hallissey, Ciaran Haughney, Patrick Hayden, Fionn McCarthy, Donal Moriarty, Michael Morris, Marc O’Connell, Cillian O’Connor, Jamie O’Donnell-Fitzgerald, Barry O’Hea, Robert O’Keeffe, Basie Olivier, Niall O’Sullivan, Dylan Philpott, Sean Quaid, James Ryan. Also in attendance: Niall O’Byrne, David O’Sullivan.