Consistent Kanturk hurlers emerge worthy county and Munster Club champions
KANTURK’S remarkable journey captured the wider imagination in 2017, carving out a path to hit the spotlight and claim double county hurling and football championship titles.
In hurling a number of Duhallow teams set out on a race towards county championship honours in different grades, each carrying the hopes and dreams of ultimate success. Come late autumn, Kanturk’s journey emerged arguably the story of the season, balancing their competing interest with double football and hurling success and a journey that began with a first time county Premier IHC title.
And as their hurling campaign continued, Kanturk have maintained their momentum to blaze a trail across Munster and London with the look of a form team behind them. Earlier Kanturk’s schedule emerged something of an odyssey with a number of tasty encounters thrown in the mix.
Regarded as the most competitive grade in the county, Kanturk can vouch for sampling mixed returns over the past four seasons in the premier IHC, reaching a semi final in 2014 only to lose to Newcestown and requiring a win over Tracton in 2016 to avoid relegation fears.
From the outset, the action was pretty intense, Kanturk obtained a first round win and avenge a previous loss to Castlelyons in 2015. Three months on, the fare resumed, Kanturk got over a formidable Charleville outfit only to play the same opposition again a few weeks later in a quarter-final, again Kanturk emerging best to get the job done.
Subsequently, Kanturk drove a powerful marker into the landscape after crafting out a convincing three point semi final win over a fancied Ballinhassig. At the end of the hour, the honours went where they deservedly belonged, much to admire in the stickwork of a hungrier Kanturk outfit. From a competitive tussle, laced by good spells of constructive hurling in slippery conditions, the tenacity and never say spirit of the Duhallow outfit secured a ticket to a county decider against neighbours Mallow.
With both Kanturk and Mallow advancing to two county finals, it tested the mettle of both clubs yet Kanturk possessed a significant number of more players involved in both codes.
With just seven days to focus properly on the hurling final looked a dilemma yet Kanturk savoured a a sweet triumph after a hard fought and gritty battle for supremacy. Maybe not a contest for the hurling purists yet by the end of the hour, history had beckoned for Kanturk through a previously unopened door in
a thrilling climax.
In doing so, Kanturk scripted another chapter in a rapid rise to prominence, that’s without equal in the history of a competitive championship on becoming the first Duhallow club to obtain senior status. When the pressure came on, Kanturk underlined their unwavering resolve and conviction.
At various stages, Kanturk faced a major test of their character but on each occasion, they responded magnificently that allowed team captain Lorcan O’Neill collect the silverware.
At times, both sides were their own worst enemies, ruing a host of missed opportunities. Still nobody exited the ground as both sides unleashed all their vigour to provide a gripping last 10 minutes.
Mallow looked to had the title on one hand when Gerry Hayes somehow squeezed home a goal in the 55th min. Kanturk refused to be ruffled, reasserting themselves to offer great character along with maturity for key men Aidan Walsh, Lorcán McLoughlin and Ryan Walsh land the closing points for Kanturk lay their hands on the Seamus Long Cup on a historic night in the annuals of Kanturk GAA.
One could cut the tension during those dramatic stages in the final, Mallow goal, Kanturk penalty miss before yielding the match winning scores to seal Kanturk triumph and take a stepping stone towards landing Munster glory and now into the All Ireland series on securing a semi-final ticket.