Kildorrery end Milford’s involvement in IHC

COUNTY IHC ROUND 3 Kildorrery 1-13 Milford 0-10

KILDORRERY ended Milford’s interest in this year’s IHC after seeing off their fellow North Cork men by six points at a sun-drenched Buttevant last Sunday night.

The final score line may show a comfortable enough victory however the victors had to work really hard for this one after being held to six points apiece in the opening half however after the interval the Kildorrery determination and skill came to the fore.

Milford did well to share the first half spoils considering they had to play against the wind but in truth they struggled after the break to make any inroads against an ever more confident Kildorrery side.

“Milford were always going to put it up to us,” Kildorrery manager Loughlin McGovern said at the full time whistle. “We knew that if we wanted to get back to where we were last year we would have to improve for this game. Milford and Kildorrery have got well acquainted in recent years and this was always going to be a tough game and we are delighted to get through it like we did.”

For long periods of the game the score line showed far less scores than the effort on the pitch would suggest – something McGovern agreed with. “It was hard out there tonight. Both sides were committed and fought for every ball. There were too many wides but for long periods there weren’t enough scores.

“I thought we battled well, particularly after the break and that is what we need to do if we are to get to where we need to be. I thought the lads played really well. Players like Peter (O’Brien) did everything they could as always. Also we are so lucky to have the likes of Cork minor James (Keating) in our side. Another great player. A big powerful man and a great talent as well.

“Of the field we have Denis (Walsh) running up and down and all the lads so respect Denis. He has been there and done it and has a huge appetite for the game. That is infectious to the lads and we all feed off that.

“We are delighted to be in the next round and hopefully we will continue to improve. I think we all feel we have unfinished business in this competition after last year but we have to improve if we are to get where we want to be.”

Led by club stalwart Peter O’Brien as well as Cork minor James Keating, Kildorrery were well worth the win here thanks to some sensational scoring and battling qualities that were more than a match for Milford when the business end of the game arrived.

Henry O’Gorman kept the Milford challenge rolling with seven points but not even this contribution could halt what became an inevitable result by the third quarter.

The game opened up at a tasty pace with both sides offering plenty in attack and defence.

Milford looked good in the early stages however despite splitting the posts three times in the first 10 minutes they were unable to get away from a Kildorrery side that kept the gap within one point on each occasion.

O’Gorman was the star man early on for Milford with a mixture of scores from play and placed balls as O’Brien kept the opposition in touch with his quartet of points from play.

After parity at the turn Kildorrery looked much better against the wind with Keating in particular shining all the way to the finish. A goal from second half substitute Stephen Coughlan rounded off what was a reasonably good performance but Kildorrery will need more if they are to progress further.

Two late reds, one for either side, saw the game finish on a sour note but overall no complaints with the result.

KILDORRERY: I Butler; S Kelly, S Fitzgerald, C O’Baoil; T Monaghan, M Walsh, W Coffey; J Keating 0-2, R McEniry; J McCarthy 0-1, J O’Sullivan, A O’ Brien 0-2; F Stapleton 0-1, P O’Brien 0-7 (5f); S O’Neill. Subs: S Coughlan 1-0 for R McEniry (47), D McNamara for S O’Neill (60).

MILFORD: J Lenihan; R O’Gorman, C O’Gorman, P Watson; G O’Mahony, E Dillon, T O’Flynn 0-1; A Watson 0-1, D Hannigan 0-1; H O’Gorman 0-6 (3f, 1 ‘65’), S O’Connell, J Hartnett 0-1; P O’Regan, P Kirwan, B Murphy. Subs: B Villiers for J Hartnett (40), S O’Riordan for S O’Connell (47), M O’Connell for B Murphy (52).

REFEREE: D Farrell Jnr (Mitchelstown)