O’Leary goal secures title for Kilshannig

Kilshannig 1-6 Ballinora 0-6

FOLLOWING a tremendous Rebel Óg Co Under 14 A FC final on Sunday at Donoughmore a determined Kilshannig side held out for a deserved win in a very keenly contested final.

The game was played on a solid pitch with intermittent rain all through. The opening twelve minutes saw Ballinora well on top. They won a lot of possession in midfield and their half forwards were also effective but overall they lacked scoring power up front.

Peter Mayer came close to a goal but Alan O’Flynn made a vital save. Kennedy Amechi cut through the Ballinora defence but his effort at goal went narrowly wide.

The opening score came in the 11th minute when Paul O’Halloran worked well for Robert Quirke who pointed. Good play for Kilshannig by Shane O’Connell to Kennedy Amechi and Donncha O’Doherty led to a Sean O’Connell point 0-1 each.

In the 14th minute Kilshannig hit the front when Donncha O’Doherty linked up with Alex O’Leary and O’Doherty again who put the inrushing O’Leary through for a brilliant goal.

From here on the Glantane side gained a grip on proceedings. They were solid down the middle Colm Ring, Sean O’Riordan, Alan O’Connell making some great clearances out of defence. Ballinora had a pointed free by Robert Quirke. In the 19th minute Ronan Murphy kicked a fine point as Kilshannig’s lead was down to a point.

Kilshannig won a number of aerial tussles and Shane O’Connell and Kennedy Amechi worked well with O’Connell taking the return pass and he found Alex O’Leary in the corner who took a fine point.

In injury time Kennedy Amechi came close to a goal when put through but Aaron Kavanagh saved very well. Kilshannig held a close 1-2 to 0-3 lead at the break.

On the resumption Kilshannig did well. Anthony Jenks and Sean O’Riordan made some good clearances. They should have had an early goal when Alex O’Leary was put through but was narrowly wide.

Kilshannig forced two ‘45s in quick succession but both were cleared. The opening score in this half came in the 4lst minute when Alan O’Connell, Kennedy Amechi and Tim Kavanagh worked well for Alex O’Leary who was fouled and Ben Creedon pointed the free.

The Avondhu side went four points clear in the 47th minute when Tim Kavanagh worked well for Kennedy Amechi who kicked a vital point. Ballinora had not scored in that 17 minutes of the second half.

In the closing 12 minutes they came very strong with David Lehane, Ronan Murphy, Adam Twomey and Robert Quirke putting in a huge effort. They had their first score of the half in the 48th minute when Ronan Murphy worked well for Robert Quirke who pointed. Ballinora forced two ‘45s, but the Kilshannig rearguard held firm. Colm Ring and Alan O’Flynn did well. Good play for Ballinora by Ronan Murphy led to a foul on David Lehane with Robert Quirke pointing the free.

The winners edged a goal clear in the 55th minute when Anthony Jenks, Shane O’Connell and Alex O’Leary worked well for the inrushing Donncha O’Doherty who kicked over a massive point 1-5 to 0-5.

Kilshannig had a vital point as the game entered injury time when a free by Donncha O’Doherty was fetched by Ben Creedon who pointed. Ballinora got within a goal once more when Robert Quirke pointed a free. In the 64th minute Ballinora forced a free on the 21 yard line. Robert Quirke’s effort for a goal was deflected out by the Kilshannig defence with the final whistle following.

The Rebel Óg Co U-14 A FC Cup was presented by Gearoid O h-Ealaithe Leas Cathaoirleach Coiste na nOg to the outstanding Kilshannig captain Shane O’Connell amid scenes of wild excitement by the large Kilshannig following.

KILSHANNIG: A O’Flynn, D Ryan, C Ring, S Crowley, A O’Connell, S O’Riordan, A Jenks, Shane O’Connell, D O’Doherty 0-1, Sean O’Connell 0-1, J Power, J Dunne, B Creedon 0-2 (1f), K Amechi 0-1, A O’Leary 1-1 Subs: T Kavanagh for D Ryan, C Geary for J Dunne, J Dunne for S O’Connell, D Ryan for J Power, G McCarthy for K Amechi

BALLINORA: A Kavanagh, J Connolly, N Davis, K Werner, P O’Halloran, J Byrne, S Brennan, D Lehane, A Laverty, R Quirke 0-5 (2f), R Murphy 0-1, A Twomey, O Dineen, P Mayer, D Dineen

REFEREE: Brendan Barry Murphy (Aghabullogue)