Kilmurry storm into final
MUSKERRY UNDER 21 FC SEMI-FINAL
Kilmurry 1-17 Ballincollig 2-5
GOOD progress was achieved in Muskerry last week-end vis-à-vis the completion of the division’s under 21 football championships with the weather improvement enabling fields to be playable.
The board will be particularly happy that the two under 21 (A) semi-finals got results and the conditions were good at Coachford for the encounter involving Kilmurry and Ballincollig.
The former were victorious with something to spare and they are living up to the favourites tag, with Éire Óg now being in the final hurdle in their path to securing a long awaited victory in this grade of Muskerry championship football.
Their previous and only success was as far back as 1971. This year’s under 21 (A) championship has produced some exciting contests, but disappointingly last Monday’s game was not in that category.
The teams took the field at 4 o’clock, and Kilmurry went on the offensive from the off. They had the wind to their backs and combining effectively they promptly put scores on the board.
Joe Ryan opened their account when he sent the football between the uprights in the third minute from a free and the winners promptly consolidated their position. Liam Wall and Sean Warrren were particularly effective in the left wing of their attack and they were not flattered to have a six point advantage in the first quarter.
Ballincollig eventually opened their account in the 18th minute when Kevin Browne raised a white flag but it did not signify any improvement in their fortunes. The losers failed to bring any sustained bout of pressure on the Kilmurry citadel.
Last season’s defeated finalists significantly improved their scoreboard situation and leading 0-13 to 0-1 at the interval they were well on the road to victory. Resuming with the assistance of the breeze there were expectations that Ballincollig would make some progress in attack.
Failure to convert two scorable frees added to their tale of woe however and it was some degree of relief when Darren Murphy sent the football over the crossbar from a placed ball.
That score was promptly nullified however when Joe Ryan also from a free score Kilmurry’s 14th point and the game was very much out of Ballincollig’s reach when Liam Wall followed with a major.
The latter did manage to produce a good period of attacking play at that stage which was mainly initiated by their leading performer Luke Fahy. He made a determined run goalwards himself in the 36th minute which ended with he finding the Kilmurry net.
Fahy was also involved in the movement that ended with Jordan Murray slotting home goal number two in the 43rd minute so the scoreboard now read 1-14 to 2-4. That was as good as it got for Ballincollig however.
A Joe Ryan point from a free in the 45th minute steadied the ship for Kilmurry. They subsequently raised two additional white flags through Ryan and Sean Warren while Ballincollig’s sole reply was a minor from Fintan Denny.
Kilmurry are consequently in another under 21 championship final and they will face Éire Óg in same with a good degree of confidence.
Players who really stood out for the winners on Monday last were Marco Healy, James Mullane, Liam Wall and Sean Warren while Luke Fahy in particular and Gearoid O’Donoghue were Ballincollig’s best.
Scorers
KILMURRY Sean Warren (0-6), J.Ryan (0-6, 0-4 frees 0-1 45), Liam Wall (1-2), James Mullane (0-2), B.Hinchion (0-1)
BALLINCOLLIG L.Fahy (1-0), J.Murray (1-0), Darren Murphy (0-3, 0-2 frees), K.Browne and F.Denny (0-1 each)
KILMURRY: Eoin Curzon, William Ronan, Fionn Warren, John O’Mullane , Kyle Kelleher, Marco Healy, James O’Mullane, Liam O’Sullivan, Sean Flannagan, Brian Hinchion, Eoin Clifford, Liam Wall, Evan Carrol, Joe Ryan, Sean Warren Subs: Greg Fitton for Curzon (Black Card) 42nd, Darren Linehan for Flanagan 59th
BALLINCOLLIG: Shane Horgan, Jack Hoey, Gearoid O’Donoghue, Josh Cotter, Sean Walsh, Kevin Crowley, Luke Fahy, Jordan O’Connor, Jordan Murphy, Fintan Denny, Kevin Browne, Dave McCullagh, Daniel Murphy, Eoin O’Reilly, Darren Murphy Subs: Olan Dorgan for Daniel Murphy 37th, Darragh Dorgan for Darren Murphy 50th, Adam Wills for David McCullagh injured 59th
REFEREE: David Murnane (Macroom)