Kilbrin fancied to reach JAHC semi-final at Millstreet’s expense
CHAMPIONS Kilbrin and Millstreet come together for a duel at Dromtariffe on Saturday evening to determine who joins Banteer, Dromtariffe and Tullylease in this season’s semi-finals to the Kanturk Co-Op Mart Duhallow Junior A Hurling Championship.
Not the best of starts by Kilbrin, a late comeback wasn’t enough to deny Banteer in Round 1. Apart from brief spells, the victors always looked to be more determined and the resolute outfit.
And having built up a six point interval advantage, Banteer comfortably defended it in the face of an improved second half performance from the defending holders. Into the back door, Kilbrin edged out Newmarket in an epic tussle where as the game aged, Kilbrin proceeded to hurl with a momentum that eventually wore down a brave Newmarket effort.
Indeed Kilbrin’s game improved in most sectors, influenced by the play of Toss Mullane, Thomas O’Reilly, William Egan, Shane Crowley, Stephen O’Reilly and Daniel Sheahan.
Millstreet shaded Freemount in the opening round, standing up manfully to the challenge through the effective play of Brian Sheahan, Beircheart O’Connor, Gerard McCarthy, Mark Ellis and Tadgh Collins.
Without county player Ellis in Round 2, Millstreet came a cropper to Tullylease where the concession of goals during the second half decided a dour clash. If Millstreet perform as an unit and to their full potential, they are capable of keeping the issue wide open this quarter final.
However with the business end of the season fast approaching, Kilbrin appear to hold momentum going forward and they will be difficult to dislodge in search of a return to a divisional semi final. in