Kanturk look to turn tables on Castlelyons
KANTURK square up to Castlelyons in a mouth watering duel to the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship first round at Castletownroche on Sunday.
The clash recalls a rip-roaring clash between the pair at the same stage two seasons ago, a storming finish allowed Castlelyons quell a Kanturk charge. From one of those evenly balanced battles that could have gone either way but at the end, the tenacity and resolve carried the day for Castlelyons.
A terrific encounter was diminished somewhat by a shoulder injury picked up by Kanturk inter county player Lorcán McLoughlin in the opening half that curtailed his summer.
For a lengthy time, the setback failed to hinder Kanturk to challenge seriously for the spoils yet with the game up for grabs, the Duhallow side lacked penetration to counter Castlelyons momentum that yielded four consecutive points to secure victory.
Thereafter both Kanturk and Castlelyons made it to the quarter final stage only to come up short to Valley Rovers and Ballinhassig respectively. From last season, disappointment surfaced in both camps, Castlelyons again relenting to Ballinhassig while reversals for Kanturk required a win over Tracton in a relegation play-off to grab a belated triumph in the campaign.
From the current league, contrasting form for both sides in Division 2, unbeaten Castlelyons on top with four wins recorded over Castlemartyr, Kildorrery, Tracton,Valley Rovers and a draw against Aghada. That’s compared to three outings for Kanturk, a win over Meelin sandwiched by defeats at the hands of Valley Rovers and Éire Og.
Suffice to say, Kanturk have operated understrength and much the same applies on Sunday with key players such as Aidan Walsh and Darren Browne ruled out. Adding to the dilemna is many of the Kanturk players were involved in the County IFC win over Mitchelstown and are pressed into action again eight days later.
With Charleville/Fr. O’Neills awaiting the winners/losers, it confirms no game in the grade is won too easily. On current form, Castlelyons are fancied to succeed but surely, Kanturk are on a revenge mission and will be keen to redress the defeat from 2015.