Kilshannig bridge 54-year gap to capture U-21 ‘A’ title
Kilshannig 0-11 Mitchelstown 0- 8
FOLLOWING a tremendous Under 21 A FC final at Castletownroche on Friday evening, Kilshannig with a very good last quarter emerged winners taking the title for the first time since 1964. Both sides lost key players Darragh O’Sullivan and Lorcan Finn to injury in the first half.
The winners got off to a very good start with Killian Murphy pointing after 2 minutes and Dermot Twomey worked well for Colm O’Shea who added a point by the 3rd minute. Mitchelstown came very strong. Mark Keane, Sean O’Sullivan, and Sean Walsh won vital high balls around midfield. They had four points on the trot. First Cathal O’Mahony pointed a free.
Good play by Brian White led to a great Mark Keane point. ‘ Town hit the front in the 12th minute when Mark Keane set up Cathal O’Mahony for a brilliant point. Mark Keane followed with another point. The momentum was certainly with Mitchelstown at this stage. They came close to a goal when Sean O’Sullivan and Cathal O’Mahony worked well for Dylan Reidy-Price whose effort from close range was well saved by Kevin McMahon.
Kieran Twomey landed a Kilshannig pointed free. Both sides had some wides with Kilshannig forcing level in the 26th minute when Kieran Twomey pointed a free after a foul on Dermot Twomey. Both sides missed two chances each before the break as they were tied at 0-4 each.
On the resumption Jack Kearney pointed after good play by Kieran Twomey, Colm O’Shea and Dermot Twomey. Mitchelstown responded immediately when Sean Walsh, Jack O’Brien and George Pendle combined well for Dylan Reidy-Price who levelled for the third time at 0-5 each. In the 34th minute Sean O’Sullivan set up Sean Walsh for the lead again for ‘Town’. Sean O’Sullivan made a very good interception but Kilshannig cleared from the attack.
Good play by Conor Murphy to Jack Twomey and Diarmuid O’Sullivan led to a great point by Eanna O’Hanlon from a tight angle. Colm O’Shea broke up a Mitchelstown attack and soloed through for a lead point. In the 40th minute the sides were deadlocked at 0-7 each when Cathal O’Mahony kicked a difficult free. Mitchelstown moved Mark Keane to full forward.
Kilshannig were now in the ascendancy and team captain Brian Guerin came very strong. In the 43rd minute Mitchelstown had their last score when a kickout by Cathal O’Sullivan was gathered by Jack O’Brien who offloaded to Cathal O’Mahony who worked a good movement that led to a great Sean Walsh point.
Kilshannig should have goaled at the end of the third quarter when a five man attack led to Jack Kearney passing to Diarmuid O’Sullivan on the edge of the square with his effort going wide. With 13 minutes to go Kilshannig worked a seven man attack that resulted in Conor Murphy and Kieran Twomey placing Killian Murphy for the equaliser for the 6th and last time 0-8 each.
Both sides were off target twice and extra time looked likely. However, Kilshannig finished in a flurry. They won great ball in the half backline and midfield sectors. Using the short passing they forced a free that Kieran Twomey converted. In the 55th minute another movement involving ‘man of the match’ Kieran Twomey, Jack Kearney and Diarmuid O’Sullivan led to Kieran Twomey taking the final pass and pointing.
A minute later a free by Jack Twomey found Jack Kearney who sent Diarmuid O’Sullivan through for a vital point. Both sides had wides with Kilshannig holding out to take the title by a 3 point margin. They had outstanding performances by Bill Curtin, Brian Guerin, Killian Murphy, Jack Twomey, Colm O’Shea, Kieran Twomey, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, and Eanna O’Hanlon.
Best for Mitchelstown were Jack O’Brien, Aidan Donegan, Mark Keane, Sean O’Sullivan, Cathal O’Mahony, and Sean Walsh. Both teams will now go forward in the County Under 21 FC. After the game Barry Aherne Chairman Avondhu Board presented the cup to the winning captain Brian Guerin. KILSHANNIG: K McMahon, B Walsh, J Cronin, B Curtin, C McMahon, B Guerin, C Murphy, K Murphy 0-2, J Twomey, C O’Shea 0-2, D O’Sullivan, K Twomey 0-4 (0-2f), J Kearney 0-1, D Twomey, E O’Hanlon 0-1. Sub: Diarmuid O’Sullivan 0-1 for Darragh O’Sullivan (inj).
MITCHELSTOWN: C O’Sullivan, S Murphy, K Roche, S Doyle, L Finn, A Donegan, J Mullins, M Keane 0-2, S O’Sullivan, J O’Brien, S Walsh 0-2, C O’Mahony 0-3 (0-2f), B White, D Reidy-Price 0-1, G Pendle. Subs: D Farrelly for L Finn (inj) P O’Gorman for J O’Brien.
REFEREE: Bernard Kiernan (Ballyhooly)