McCarthy masterclass inspires Kilcummin

TO put on a display of such sheer excellence and class in Croke Park is something most people can only dream about, but for Kevin McCarthy, this was the realisation of that on a day nothing could go wrong for the Kerry starlet.

He kicked 3-7 from play to lead Kilcummin to the All-Ireland club IFC title at Croke Park, a truly awesome exhibition of forward play.

“The plan was fairly basic, it was to try and get it in to Kevin McCarthy, and he scored 3-7 from play, which is a phenomenal return,” said Kilcummin’s accidental manager Willie Maher, who was tasked at the start of the season to find a manager for the senior team, but failed, and was forced to take over the job himself.

And he paid tribute to the input of captain Brendan Kealy, who pulled off two fine second-half saves.

“He has been away with Kerry for ten or twelve years, and to have him back, and his coaching ability, and the effort he has put in to the club, has been phenomenal.”

Kilcummin were on their way by the interval, goals from Matt Keane, McCarthy and Kieran Murphy (pen) helping them to a 3-6 to 2-4 lead.

Naomh Éanna had hit back with goals from Kristian Healy and Eoin Nagle, but they couldn’t live with the pace and movement of the Kerrymen.

SCORERS – Kilcummin: K McCarthy 3-7, K Murphy 1-1 (1-0pen), M Keane 1-0, G O’Leary 0-2, N Duggan (f), I Devane, J McCarthy 0-1 each

Naomh Éanna: E Nagle, K Healy 1-0 each; O Eastwood 0-7 (5f), R Scott 0-2

KILCUMMIN – B Kealy; S O’Leary, D Maher, D Moynihan; P Casey, C O’Leary, W Maher; K Murphy, K Gorman; S McSweeney, G O’Leary, P Nagle; N Duggan, K McCarthy, M Keane. Subs: J McCarthy for Nagle (43), D O’Leary for Maher (43), I Devane for Duggan (53), D O’Leary for G O’Leary, K Teahan for Murphy (57), M Ó Sé for Keane (60). NAOMH ÉANNA – P Flood; K Jennings, D Gault, M McNamee; C Lyttle, J McAuley, C McAuley; P Curran, J Maskey; P Healy, R Scott, K Healy; E Gibson, O Eastwood, E Nagle. Subs: C O’Neill for Curran (19), M Morgan for Flood (BC 22), C Thompson for McAuley (24), C Eastwood for Gault (42), N McKeown for Gibson (52), R Kennedy for Scott (57), D Walsh for K Healy (59)

REF – J Molloy (Galway)