Kilshannig see off Charleville to reach Under-21 ‘B’ final
O’Sullivan had an early point for Kilshannig before they missed a goal scoring opportunity when a good movement involving Killian Barrow and Killian Murphy found second half substitute Diarmuid O’Sullivan whose attempt at goal went narrowly over for a point. Killian Murphy with another point in the 34th minute made it 1-8 to 0-6 and at this stage they looked on course for a comfortable victory.
Charleville quickly settled. Darragh Fitzgibbon and Ciaran Carey had a point each by the 43rd minute with Conor Buckley coming close to a goal when his effort went narrowly wide. Any hope of a Charleville revival appeared to have vanished in the 47th minute when Kilshannig struck for their second goal by Dylan O’Callaghan following a sweeping movement by Bill Curtin, Alan O’Connell and Diarmuid O’Sullivan to move into a 2-8 to 0-8 advantage.
Charleville who recorded some great victories over Buttevant and Mitchelstown en route to the semi final refused to surrender. They completely dominated the last ten minutes with Darren Casey, Darren Butler, Jack Barry, Finbarr Cagney, Jack Doyle, James Kennedy, Jack O’Callaghan, Ciaran Carey and Darragh Fitzgibbon pivotal figures. The Rathluirc side outscored their opponents by seven points to one before the end of normal time their points by Ciaran Carey (3) Finbarr Cagney. Jack Barry, Aaron O’Connor and Darren Butler while Killian Murphy had Kilshannig’s point when his goal bound effort was saved on the line by the Charleville keeper Jessie Smith at the expense of a point 2-9 to 0-15.
As the final whistle quickly approached extra-time or else victory for Charleville looked a strong possibility. Kilshannig rallied with their defence holding firm despite being under severe pressure.
In injury time Darragh O’Sullivan with a free edged them ahead before Jack Twomey struck for their all important third goal soon after that helped set them on their way to the final against Mallow this Saturday. THE meeting of Mallow and Kilshannig in the Barnes Jewellers Fermoy Under-21 ‘B’ FC final this Saturday should be a thriller. Mallow, who have dominated the U-21 A FC over the years face a very youthful Kilshannig side. In 2016 Mallow Minor A footballers competed in the County Premier MFC (2) and they reached the county final where they lost narrowly to Mitchelstown.
Kilshannig last year were in the