O'Callaghan's Mills/Bodyke have reached the county U21B final after a hard fought win against Ballyea. The amalgamation were the better side throughout, but were made work hard for the win by a physically strong Ballyea side. Playing with a strong breeze in the 1st half Seanie Doyle registered our 1st 2 scores, 1 from a placed ball and 1 from play. Cormac Murphy then chipped in from midfield with a point before Doyle scored another free. Kevin Drost was a significant blow to the Mills/Bodyke side when he had to leave the field injured before the 1st water break. Jamie O'Donnell who had been injured for the quarter final replaced Drost. Stephen Donnellan who had been playing well at wing forward moved back to wing back and O'Donnell went to right half forward. Shortly after Seanie Doyle took a quick free, played a 1-2 with Fionn Slattery and drilled to the Ballyea net to put the Mills/Bodyke 1-4 to 0-2 pts up at the water break. After the water break Cormac Murphy and Jamie O'Donnell extended the lead with 2 good points from play, but Ballyea finished the half strongly and at half time the score was 1-6 to 4 pts.

Ballyea with the wind behind them in the 2nd half , had reduced the deficit to 3 pts 12 mins into the 2nd half, but just before the water break, Seanie Doyle added another free and Jamie O'Donnell scored his second point since coming on to leave the score 1-9 to 7pts at the 2nd water break. Ballyea were reduced to 14 on the resumption and from here on in the Mills/Bodkye never looked like losing with Colm Cleary and Thomas Wiley getting on the scoresheet and Doyle punishing any indiscipline from frees,. Full time score 1-14 to 10pts. There were fine displays from our lads, with Ronan Kelly and Keith Donnellan solid in the full back line, Stephen Donnellan was outstanding and worked very hard, Mikey McMahon tidying up in the half back line, Cormac Murphy causing problems with his incisive runs, Fionn Hickey was everywhere as usual, and Colm Cleary showed his class in the 2nd half. Darragh Moroney and Stephen Marsh also did well when introduced.

We now look forward to a county final against Crusheen Tubber which is down for next Sunday 19th December.

Team, Jack Minogue, Ronan Kelly, Keith Donnellan, Cormac Treacy, Kevin Drost, Sean Wiley, Mikey McMahon, Fionn Hickey, Cormac Murphy, Stephen Donnellan, Seanie Doyle, Fionn Slattery, Thomas Minogue, Colm Cleary, Tiarnan Slattery. (Jamie O Donnell for Drost, Darragh Moroney for T Minogue, Thomas Wiley for O'Donnell, Stephen Marsh for F Slattery)