Killavullen hurlers claim county title in style
COUNTY JUNIOR ‘B’ HC FINAL Killavullen 2-14 Whitescross 1-8
AFTER being beaten in last year’s County JBHC final after a replay Killavullen came back very strong and determined this season. They were comfortable winners in their games up to the final and were strongly fancied going into Sunday evenings Co final with Whitescross in Pairc Ui Rinn.
For long periods of the game Killavullen controlled matters. They dominated practically most of the opening half and at one stage it was felt what the winning margin might be as they raced into a 1-9 to 0-3 lead at the interval.
However Whitescross had a perfect start on the changeover. They scored 1-2 in quick succession to close the deficit to a five point margin but it was a second goal by Killavullen’s Barry Murphy that eventually saw off their opponents second half rally as the Avondhu side went claimed the county title. Despite the sides being level at
0-1 each early on it was Killavullen aided by the stiff breeze that set the tone for the rest of the half. Their half backline trio of Billy Norris, Kevin Fox and Patrick Angland gained a foothold from the offset as they cut off the supply going into the Whitescross full forward line.
Eoghan Buckley and Liam Cronin also got through an enormous amount of work in the key midfield area and this ensured a constant supply to their forwards where Charlie Lillis, Seamus Fox, Barry Murphy, Ian O’Gorman, Sean O’Regan and James Fitzpatrick impressed. Seamus Fox set up Ian O’Gorman for a point in the 7th minute a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the contest. Two minutes later the winners struck for the first of their two goals when a delivery from Ian O’Gorman dropped short with the sliotar falling kindly into the path of Barry Murphy who finished to the net 1-2 to
0-1. Over the next ten minutes both sides struck a number of wides. Killavullen increased their lead when a sideline cut by Liam Cronin was gathered Seamus Fox who sent over. Whitescross regrouped well with their best player Conor Buckley heavily involved at midfield. In the 18th minute Buckley’s midfield playing partner Donnacha Murnane with a long range effort cut the margin to four points.
Whitescross scored just once more for the rest of this half when Conor Buckley pointed a free. In the meantime the Killavullen challenge went from strength to strength. Eoghan Buckley scored a fine point. The resultant puckout was picked up by Charlie Lillis and following a fine solo he pointed to move 1-5 to 0-2 clear.
In the 23rd minute a delivery by Liam Cronin found Barry Murphy out near the sideline with the All Ireland Clare senior medal winner sending over a great point from a difficult angle. Charlie Lillis with another point made it 1-7 to 0-3. The Avondhu side created a second goal scoring chance in the 26th minute when Seamus Fox’s attempt at goal went narrowly over for a point. In injury time Seamus Fox completed the first half scoring with his sides 9th point and it looked as if the game was over as a contest when leading by 1-9 to 0-3 at the interval.
For the second half if Whitescross were have any chance of success needed a big start. From the throw in they won possession with Conor Buckley soloing through to find Eoin Murnane who kicked to the net from close range. The Seandun side were now a transformed side with Murt Kelleher, Conor Buckley, Donnacha Murnane and Eoin Murnane showing great leadership. Two points in as many minutes by Conor Buckley and Donnacha Murnane closed the margin to 6 points before Brendan Murnane set up Conor Buckley for a long range point in the 38th minute to reduce the margin to 1-10 to 1-5.
It was certainly game on at this stage with Whitescross enjoying their best spell of the game. They could have closed the deficit further two minutes later when a great solo run by Conor Buckley saw his effort at goal saved by the alert Killavullen keeper Michael Cronin.
As the half went on Killavullen gradually weathered their opponents second half onslaught with Stephen Rice, Gearoid Sheehan, Patrick Angland, Billy Norris, Kevin Fox and team captain Pa Sheehan making some timely clearances to keep Whitescross at bay. At the otherend the winners struck for a vital score in their next attack when Ian O’Gorman and Liam Cronin combined well to set up Barry Murphy for his second goal. Whitescross found it very difficult to make inroads from this set back against an evenly balanced Killavullen side. A long range point by Ian O’Gorman increased Killavullen’s lead in the 42nd minute. The last 18 minutes were very much point for point.
Conor Buckley had a point for Whitescross with Killavullen replying when Seamus Fox who was now operating on the ‘40’ pointed from distance at the end of the third quarter. Whitescross refused to give in with Sam Heffernan and Conor Buckley having a point each but these scores were cancelled out when Barry Murphy converted two frees in the 56th and 59th minutes as there was no denying them their fully deserved victory.
Tracey Kennedy, vice-chairperson of the County Board presented the cup to the victorious captain Pa Sheehan amongst a large Killavullen following. KILLAVULLEN: M Cronin, S Rice, P Sheehan, G Sheahan, B Norris, K Fox, P Angland, E Buckley 0-1, L Cronin 0-1, S O’Regan, I O’Gorman 0-2, J Fitzpatrick, C Lillis 0-2, B Murphy 2-4 (0-3f) S Fox 0-4, Subs A Notter for S Rice, B Hayes for S O’Regan, T O’Regan for C Lillis, D Brosnan for L Cronin,
WHITESCROSS: S Cahill, D O’Connor, J O’Donnell,. P Murnane, B Murphy, M Kelleher, C Hall, C Buckley 0-5 (0-4f) D Murnane 0-1, S Heffernan 0-1, E Murnane 1-0, B Murnane, B O’Hara, K Buckley, C O’Flynn 0-1, Subs S Reid for C O’Flynn, R Sherlock for P Murnane, A Kent for B O’Hara,
REFEREE: Anthony O’Brien (Ballygarvan)