Kilbrin much too strong for Lismire Juniors
close range by Niall Field before Stephen Jones goaled for Lismire in the second minute.
Almost immediately, however, Noel O’Callaghan, fed by Field, had the ball in the net at the other end, and, as things transpired, Kilbrin weren’t to fall behind again after that.
They were 1-2 to 1-0 to the good after Field pointed in the 8th minute, but Lismire quickly replied through Darragh Kearney, from a free, and Sean O’Leary before the trend of the play took a pronounced swing in Kilbrin’s favour.
After Dan O’Sullivan nudged them ahead from a free, Shane Crowley bagged their second goal, to which Michael Dennehy and Niall O’Callaghan, with a converted ‘45’, added points, leaving Lismire with a major uphill battle on their hands with 20 minutes gone.
With ‘keeper Jordan Corkery saving well from Lismire’s Stephen Stokes in the 23rd minute, Kilbrin remained firmly in the driving seat until half time, and it was obvious they weren’t going to relinquish the initiative after Shane Crowley and corner back Geoff O’Callaghan shared a brace of of points within three minutes of the restart.
Although Lismire responded with scores from corner back Paudie Denn and Stephen Jones, Kilbrin always appeared to be playing a little within themselves in the second half, and their convincing victory was embellished by a stunning individual goal from wing back Cillian Buttimer in the 50th minute.
Gaining possession about 45 metres out, Buttimer, displaying a blistering turn of foot, flashed past a number of Kilbrin defenders before applying a clinical finish from the edge of the square.
Operating in the ‘A’ grade last year, Kilbrin’s performance suggests they have the potential to make a bold bid for a county title at this level, especially considering they weren’t at full-strength last Saturday, with former Cork hurler William Egan, who is on holidays abroad, a notable absentee.
Cillian Buttimer and Tom O’Reilly at the back, Niall Field and Evan Murphy at midfield, and Stephen O’Reilly and Shane Crowley up front made particularly generous contributions to their most encouraging team display.
Paudie Denn, Eamonn Hannigan, Richard Kiely, Michael McSweeney and Darragh Kearney, not to mention custodian Damien Stokes, achieved most for the outgunned losers, who will be hoping to get their aspirations back on track in Round 2 at the expense of West-Cork side Randal Og - just as they did against the same opposition last year