Sam Maguires and Kilshannig to meet again in U-16 hurling final

apiece early on before two well taken points for Kilshannig by David Guiney and Conor McMahon moved the Avondhu side into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the 12th minute. Moments later Sam Maguires hit the front when Brian Arnopp struck for the opening goal and it was quickly followed by a Bill Murphy pointed free to move into 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

For the remainder of the half Sam Maguires certainly looked the sharper side but they were unable to reflect it on the scoreboard. They created a number of goal scoring chances but failed to take them. They also found a stubborn Kilshannig full backline very hard to break down.

The Avondhu side also struck a number of wides with both registering a point each before the break by forwards Conor McMahon and Bill Murphy as Maguire’s held a 1-3 to 0-4 interval lead.

On the changeover the game really came to life. The Carbery side who had some good displays by Eoin Murray, Declan Collins, Cullan Barry, Darragh O’Connor, Fionn Herlihy, Nathan O’Donovan and Bill Murphy moved into a 1-5 to 0-4 lead by the 37th minute. Suddenly the

Kilshannig revival ignited with Denis Taylor, Colm O’Shea, Bill Curtin, Barry O’Shea, Shane Lyons, David Guiney, Eanna O’Hanlon along with the outstanding duo of Conor McMahon and Kieran Twomey thundering into the game. The North Cork side reeled off four points to force parity at 1-5 to 0-8 by the 42nd minute. In a thrilling half Sam Maguire looked like weathering their opponents fightback when three points in a two minute spell by Fionn Herlihy (2) and Cullan Barry moved them three clear by the 48th minute.

Kilshannig regrouped well and two minutes later a delivery by Kieran Twomey went all the way to the net to force level at 1-8 each. Sam Maguire’s after making a number of positional changes rallied once again and as the final whistle approached they looked like holding on for victory when leading by 1-12 to 1-9. However Kilshannig never gave up and in the 58th minute Kieran Twomey and Colm O’Shea combined well for Eanna O’Hanlon who drilled the equalising goal to the net. This was quickly followed by the final whistle with a draw a fitting result in the end.