Still a season to have pride in

sides.

One things is sure, Adare will not be unfazed by the odds in the decider, available at 10/3 to overcome Kiskeam yet their fluency, rhythm and confidence broke the resolve of their opponents. Indeed Cork’s record in this championship is hardly eye-catching, just one provincial title won(Clyda Rovers 2011) over the past decade.

In essence, all good things come to an end, Kiskeam’s roller coaster journey reached the end of the road in Mallow. On the day, Kiskeam delivered an undistinguished performance by an unit capable of performing much better.

What Kiskeam needed most was a source of inspiration and only a few could evade the shackles of a well tutored Adare to shoulder responsibility. No doubt, the absence of key midfielder Padraig O’Leary placed a major burden on Kiskeam’s hopes.

Watching on from the sideline, a frustrated O’Leary is one of the unsung heroes on the field. En route to landing outright county honours, his influence around the centre helped Kiskeam exercise dominance and create inroads earlier in the campaign.

It appeared Adare were aware of Kiskeam’s strengths, adopting a short kick out strategy and building enterprising attacks. Indeed a lethargic Kiskeam were slow to settle, Adare putting their stamp on the proceedings with Limerick soccer player Shane Costello pointing on the double.

Again Kiskeam operated with Daniel Fitzgerald as a sweeper but their template of the player in possession supported on the shoulder so effective in a marvellous county run was seldom seen or allowed to develop.

One note of encouragement for Kiskeam was the increasing menace of inside forward Tom O’Sullivan to create regular problems and help the Cork champions shoot four consecutive points.

With the exchanges on level terms five times in the opening half, it made for a close affair. Still Adare created the better goaling opportunities, twice Davy Lyons denied by ‘keeper Anthony Casey and Fitzgerald.

Level at 0-7 apiece at the break, the expected Kiskeam onslaught failed to surface on the resumption. Instead Hugh Bourke and Costello points regained a lead for Adare, they subsequently never surrendered.

Enjoying a decent spell of pressure, Adare poured forward, Kiskeam thankful to the competent ‘keeper Casey.

Trailing by four, Kiskeam pushed plan B into operation for the closing 10 minutes. Sweeper Fitzgerald moved to centre forward, Mike Herhily shifted out in a bid to win possession and substitute Billy Dennehy answered to split the uprights.

The accurate Costello appeared to ease Adare nerves though Tom O’Sullivan had a point for Kiskeam to leave a goal between the sides. Late on Kiskeam attempted to save the day yet they never posed enough of a threat on a tenacious Adare rearguard.

In stark contrast to a brilliant run in the Cork championship, Kiskeam laboured in too many sectors.

A hard working Adare performance is good enough to reach a provincial decider where no doubt Kenmare will be forewarned of a Limerick threat towards upsetting the formbook.

Not the greatest of days for Kiskeam yet they can reflect of a terrific season that caught the imagination to yield a county Premier IFC title and a ticket into the grandeur of county senior football for 2017.