St Michael's sink the Blacks
St Michael's finished strongest to get the better of Walterstown in the IFC encounter at Pairc Tailteann as they emerged with a 2-12 to 0-15 victory.
That outcome looked most unlikely up to the three-quarter stage, but then St Michael's found a rhythm and were boosted by a Shane McDonnell penalty goal awarded after Ciaran Lynch was hauled down by a black-card tackle from Walterstown custodian John Davis.
Walterstown were ahead by 0-14 to 2-6 at that stage, but managed only one more point, an added time score from Barry O'Connell, as they surrendered the initiative.
In a different arena might they have been hauled before the stewards to explain the way they finished.
However, St Michael's deserved the win on the basis that they were able to hang in and stay in the contest despite a laboured opening half.
Walterstown were fast and fluent during the opening exchanges and were rewarded on the scoreboard.
Ruairi O'Dowd was denied a goal after only 25 seconds when Shane McCormack parried his effort, but the Walterstown man pointed the rebound.
O'Dowd added another brace of points with Brian O'Connell converting three frees and Robbie Cunningham sending over from play before the water break.
St Michael's battled tenaciously with a brace of points from McDonnell (one free) sustaining their efforts.
Walterstown continued to play good football with their tackling ability a big plus as they regularly dispossessed the opposition.
The scoring rate slowed, but further points from Barry O'Connell and Robbie Cunningham extended the advantage as they established a 0-9 to 0-4 interval lead with Oran Meehan and substitute Ciaran Lynch keeping St Michael's in the game from frees.
Walterstown continued to set the pace after the resumption as points from O'Dowd (two), Brian O'Connell, Crosbie and Conor Farrelly kept them in the ascendancy, but they conceded a goal in the 40th minute.
Oran Meehan finished well for the Carlanstown / Kilbeg men with points from Lynch and McDonnell added to their tally.
Then that second goal arrived. Substitute Lynch was hauled down and McDonnell duly despatched the resultant penalty past Conor Farrelly who deputised for the sinbinned John Davis.
After the penalty Alban Crosbie was sent between the posts and his absence from the centre-forward berth was a huge loss for Walterstown.
Crosbie's ability to win and retain possession and spray the passes around was gone and it left it easier for the St Michael's rearguard.
Once play resumed after the second water break it was all one-way traffic and the points flowed for St Michael's with Lynch (three), Meehan (two) and McDonnell splitting the posts to earn a place in the knock-out phase.
St Michael's players after today's win against Walterstown
SCORERS
St Michael's - Shane McDonnell 2-4 one free; Oran Meehan 0-3 two frees; Ciaran Lynch 0-5 three frees.
Walterstown - Ruairi O'Dowd 0-5; Brian O'Connell 0-4 frees; Barry O'Connell 0-2; Robbie Cunningham 0-1; Conor Farrelly 0-1; Alban Crosbie 0-1 free; Robbie Cunningham 0-1.
TEAMS
St Michael's - Shane McCormack; Christopher Drew, Matthew Halpin, Ben Reilly; Sam Briody, Ronan Lynch, Patrick Clarke; Mark Stafford, Phelim O'Reilly; David Lynch, Shane McDonnell, Jamie Farrelly; Patrick Tobin, Oran Meehan, Raymond Reilly. Subs - Ciaran Lynch for Farrelly 15 mins, John Barry O'Reilly for Stafford 55m, Cian Sheridan for Tobin 58m
Walterstown - John Davis; Peter Reynolds, Brian McGrane, Conor Farrelly; Colin McGrane, Cathal Hennelly, Mark McCormack; Barry O'Connell, Conor O'Sullivan; Robbie Cunningham, Alban Crosbie, Sam McCabe; Davy Donnellan, Brian O'Connell, Ruairi O'Dowd. Sub - Alan Wall for McCabe 42 mins.
Referee - Cormac Reilly (St Mary's)