O’Keeffe strikes sees Kanturk triumph
KANTURK inflicted more misery on Charleville after displaying their County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship credentials by virtue of a convincing quarter-final victory at a windswept Milford on Saturday.
All through, Kanturk hurled with more confidence and with a greater faith in their patterns of play, the outcome was a triumph for hard work and self belief. Indeed, the Duhallow side looked to be the more determined and resolute outfit, having built a seven point interval advantage with the assistance of the breeze, they comfortably defended it in the face of an improved Charleville performance on the turnover.
In doing so, Kanturk maintained their dominance over Charleville, even more emphatic than a four point victory when the sides clashed in Round 2A three weeks earlier.
And, while a young Charleville outfit made a brave effort to get back into the fray on the turnover, they paid a price for a sluggish performance.
Indeed Kanturk operated with confidence and assurance illustrated on a peach of a goal in the 39th min., familiar faces Lorcan McLoughlin and Aidan Walsh involved for the impressive Liam O’Keeffe to lash home a cracker to the Charleville net.
From a nervous opening, Kanturk backed by the elements enjoyed a lead courtesy of O’Keeffe. For a spell, Charleville’s play offered positive signs yet the tactic of utilising county player Darragh Fitzgibbon at full forward failed to gain any fruitful dividends, time and again, Kanturk ‘keeper Anthony Nash mopped up easy ball.
That compared to a shaper performance by the Duhallow outfit, defenders Darren Browne, Lorcan O’Neill and Paul Walsh scarcely put a foot wrong, McLoughlin supported by Ryan Walsh dominated midfield. Breaking down the Charleville rearguard took a little further time to master for misses stacked up, Kanturk clocking up 10 wides in the opening half.
Still former hurler Aidan Walsh emerged a key target man at full forward, brothers Alan and Liam O’Keeffe working off him to shoot two points apiece. Indeed the latter might well had goaled only for Charleville ‘keeper Cian Collins produce a brilliant save.
Charleville attempted to remedy the situation from points to Mark Kavanagh and Jack Callaghan. Still Kanturk enjoyed the bulk of the possession and with their radar improving, their dominance became more pronounced, O’Keeffe and Nash on target from frees as was Donncha Kenneally to forge a 0-12 to 0-5 advantage at the break.
Positive signs for Charleville on the restart, Fitzgibbon and the outstanding Jack Barry delivered morale boosting points. However they faced a mountain to climb from the 39th min., McLoughlin delivered an inviting delivery into the danger zone, Walsh flicked on for O’Keeffe to finish with aplomb.
In the process, Kanturk lost Walsh to injury yet they enjoyed a 1-13 to 0-7 grip. Some hope for Charleville in the follow up play, Barry and substitute Danny Flynn posted points only for O’Keeffe to land duplicate scores from placed balls at the opposite end.
Diligent defending and quick counter attacking prevented Charleville from creating a significant impact. Though Fitzgibbon was much more involved in the second half, himself and Barry reeled off points, they never troubled Nash in search of a much needed green flag.
At the end of the hour, the quality of a physically stronger Kanturk had shone out, showing their masterly to soaking up the pressure when the going got tough. So far, so good in the campaign, the prize for Kanturk is a mouth watering semi final clash against Ballinhassig to determine who plays Cloyne or Mallow in the decider.