Big win for Kilshannig in County U-21 ‘A’ FC
Kilshannig 1-15 St. Finbarr’s 1-11
KILSHANNIG won the County U-21 B FC title in 2017, were upgraded in 2018 and won the North Cork U- 21 A FC title. They followed that with a county championship win over Valley Rovers and on last Wednesday in Mallow they had a four-point win over a fancied St. Finbarr’s side in the county quarter-final.
The Glantane side hit the ground running with six points in the opening seven minutes. On top at midfield where Eanna O’Hanlon and Colm O’Shea excelled they had rapid points by Jack Kearney and Darragh O’Sullivan.
In the third minute a sideline kick by Jack Kearney found Conor McMahon who pointed. A foul on Dermot Twomey led to a pointed free by Darragh O’Sullivan. Colm O’Shea won an aerial tussle and was fouled with Eanna O’Hanlon kicking a massive pointed free. Barr’s came close to a goal when Cillian Myers-Murray cut through and placed Stephen Sherlock whose effort was well saved by Kevin McMahon. Kilshannig’s sixth point came when Colm O’Shea and Diarmuid O’Sullivan combined for Darragh O’Sullivan who kicked over 0-6 to 0-0.
In the eighth minute St. Finbarr’s opened their account when Bill O’Connell and Shane Hannigan worked a good movement that led to a point by Colm Barrett. Kilshannig had two wides before Dermot Twomey kicked a great point.
By the 17th minute the Barr’s had two points by Cillian Myers-Murray and Stephen Sherlock 0-7 to 0-3. Good play for the City side by Colm McCarthy led to a foul on Shane Hannigan with Stephen Sherlock pointing the free. In the 22nd minute Kilshannig’s Eanna O’Hanlon and Colm O’Shea worked well for Diarmuid O’Sullivan who placed Jack Twomey for a point. In the closing moments Barr’s created a good movement by Colm Barrett, Brian Hayes, Cian Buckley that put Stephen Sherlock through only to be denied again by Kevin McMahon. Kilshannig had a late point by Conor McMahon who led at the break 0-9 to 0-4.
Barr’s introduced Jamie Linehan up front on the restart and he played very well. Kilshannig’s Eanna O’Hanlon placed Conor McMahon who was fouled with O’Hanlon pointing the free. The Avondhu side followed with two wides. Barr’s got to grips with the game and they tried very hard for that elusive goal. Colm Barrett pointed. Good play by Daire O’Sullivan and Cillian Myers-Murray led to a great block down by Kilshannig captain Brian Guerin who denied a certain score. In the 39th minute Cathal Crowley and Cian Buckley worked well for Cillian Myers-Murray who pointed 0-10 to 0-6.
Kilshannig worked a good movement out of defence by Jack Kearney who put Conor McMahon in for a fine point after a good solo run. In the 4lst minute Stephen Sherlock was brought down in the area and a penalty awarded. Sherlock coolly dispatched the penalty to the net and the lead was down to 2 points. Barr’s had a wide by Sherlock before Eanna O’Hanlon with a long range pointed free in the 45th minute gave his side a 3 point lead. Further Barr’s pressure yielded a point by Myers-Murray after good play by Daire O’Sullivan and Colm Barrett. Soon after Cian O’Sullivan worked a good move along the wing that resulted in Colm Barrett punching a point 0-12 to 1-8. Barr’s keeper Cathal Fitzpatrick saved well from Conor McMahon after a five man attack.
The City side forced level when Cillian Myers-Murray pointed. In the 53rd minute Diarmuid O’Sullivan kicked a great lead point for Kilshannig. At the other end Jamie Linehan was denied by Kevin McMahon from close range. The Avondhu side moved two points clear when Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Jack Twomey and Conor McMahon worked a good passing movement that led to a point by Dermot Twomey. Barr’s never gave up they got a point back by Brian Hayes after good play by Cillian Myers-Murray Cian O’Sullivan and Cian Buckley. The City side levelled for the second time when Stephen Sherlock placed Cillian Myers-Murray for a punched point. Extra time looked very likely. However in the 58th minute Colm O’Shea worked well for substitute Chris Taylor who goaled from close range.
In injury time Kilshannig added a point when Darragh O’Sullivan and Jack Twomey worked well for Diarmuid O’Sullivan who kicked a great point.
The final whistle followed and Kilshannig were through to a county semi-final meeting with either Nemo Rangers or Castlehaven. It was an outstanding achievement for the Kilshannig side who were forced to lineout without Kieran Twomey, Killian Murphy, Billy Walsh, Conor Twomey and Joseph Cronin.
KILSHANNIG: K McMahon, C Barrow, B Curtin, B O’Shea, C O’Shea, B Guerin, J Kearney 0-1, E O’Hanlon 0-3f, J Twomey 0-1, Darragh O’Sullivan 0-3 (1f), C McMahon 0-3, J Murphy, Diarmuid O’Sullivan 0-2, D Twomey 0-2, E Healy. Sub: C Taylor 1-0 for E Healy.
ST. FINBARR’S: C Fitzpatrick, J O’Brien, A McCarthy, C McCarthy, C Buckley, B O’Connell, S Dwane, B Hayes 0-1, S Hannigan, C Barrett 0-4, S Sherlock 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), C Crowley, C O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan, C Myers-Murray 0-4 (1f). Sub: J Linehan for S Hannigan.