Kilbrin and Banteer hurling final looks wide open
enthralling tussles and the latest clash promises to provide much of the same. In this the sixth meeting of the sides in a final, Banteer have yet to emerge on top. But Banteer have gained some degree of comfort by holding the upperhand in league final meetings.
Kilbrin took their initial championship title in 1978 on accounting for Tullylease. The opening battle between Kilbrin and Banteer surfaced in 1989, Kilbrin recording a seven point victory, repeating the feat by three points in the 1992 decider.
And when the sides clashed again in 1999, Kilbrin landed a 1-13 to 3-3 triumph. Subsequently, Kilbrin followed up to better Millstreet (04), Tulllylease (07/13) Freemount(11) and Banteer (12/14) to complete a tally of ten outright titles.
First day out, Kilbrin absorbed a Banteer revival to claim a four point victory, no doubting Kilbrin triumph yet they did endure some anxious moments during the closing stages. At their best, Kilbrin offered admirable stickwork and energy on performing the snappier hurling to jump three goals ahead. However entering the latter stages, Banteer had whittled the deficit down to just two points only for Kilbrin to work their way out of trouble.
Subsequently Kilbrin offered plenty of resolve in a series of dramatic tussles, getting out of jail with a late finishing burst against Freemount in a thrilling quarter final. Trailing for the majority of the game, Kilbrin patiently clawed their way back and a late finishing burst yielded a 2-1 tally during the closing minutes.
The outcome in the replay remained up for grabs for long stages, the sides deadlocked on 10 occasions only for Kilbrin to outscore their opponents 0-10 to 0-1 during the closing quarter.
Much a similar pattern in a semi final, again Kilbrin mustering up a terrific response on trailing by two points at the three quarter stage only to deliver a scoring blitz and a 2-4 tally from Liam Daly settled the issue.
There is a good shape to the Kilbrin line up, Paudie O’Callaghan brings experience between the posts, with Thomas O’Reilly, Wesley Corkery, Daniel Sheahan and William Egan highly regarded for their defensive duties.
Injury is likely to rule Garret Linehan out of the equation,
Pictured at the launch of the Kanturk Co-Op Mart Duhallow Junior A Hurling Championship were Wesley Corkery (Kilbrin captain), Bryan Barry (Castlemagner), Joe Kearns, Chairman, Duhallow Junior Board; John Cott, Chairman, Kanturk Co-Op Mart; Robert Stack (Newmarket); Seamus O’Keeffe, Manager Kanturk Co-Op Mart; Martin Kearney (Banteer captain), Denis Curtin (Freemount), Brian Sheahan (Millstreet), Damien Stokes (Tullylease), Timmy Burke (Kanturk) and Joe Noonan, Vice Chairman, Kanturk CoOp Mart. Photo by John Tarrrant
Michael Linehan and William Heffernan may form the midfield pairing. And in attack, Kilbrin possess forwards such as Shane Crowley, Eoin Sheahan, Stephen O’Reilly and Liam Daly capable of winning games.
Banteer hold seven outright titles on the roll of honour. A dream became a reality on a first win in 1938 followed by another recorded from 1952. That laid the groundwork for a marvellous three in a row from 1955-56. A number of barren years followed before Banter got the measure of Meelin in 1995 and Freemount in their last title gathered from 2006.
Since 2006, Banteer have reached four finals only to incur double defeats to both Meelin and Kilbrin.
After a loss by Kilbrin in the opening tie to the 2016 campaign, Banteer got themselves back into contention after a scintillating back door defeat of holders Castlemagner.
And Banteer amassed a healthy tally too on bettering Tullylease in a quarter final. Little doubt regarding the merits of the victors once Banteer stamped their authority on the proceedings.
Into a semi final, Banteer settled into a decent rhythm against Millstreet to shoot 1-3 in the opening four minutes, a cushion that they would ultimately never surrender. At times, Banteer failed to maintain their earlier enterprise yet they were never troubled.
The Banteer line up features dependable ‘keeper Kevin Roche, defensively, the O’Keeffe brothers, captain Martin Kearney and James Twohig are strong, Damien Kearney and Brendan Withers may link up at midfield while Banteer will look to top notch performances from Kevin Tarrant, David Murphy and Denis Roche in attack.
Banteer don’t need reminding that they have operated second best in finals to Kilbrin; that’s sure to rouse Banteer for a terrific effort, a replay can’t be ruled out yet the tendency is to believe that the balance and experience of producing some dramatic comebacks in this campaign may be good enough for Kilbrin to regain a hold of the John Joe Brosnan Memorial Cup.