Kanturk U16s have close win in county final

Kanturk 1-13 St. Catherine’s 1-11

KANTURK are Co Under 16 A HC kingpins following their win over St. Catherine’s in Pairc Ui Rinn on Friday night. The Duhallow side who last won this title in 1977 entered this contest as slight favourites. St. Catherine’s put in a huge performance and they led for long periods.

Over the hour Tommy Walsh at centre back for the winners was key to his sides success. Colin Walsh opened the scoring for Kanturk with Harry Draper levelling from a free. In the 7th minute Conor Sheahan edged Kanturk ahead. Tommy Walsh landed a long range pointed free.

In the 15th minute Conor England pointed for the East Cork side. Gearoid O’Brien soloed through and levelled soon after. A foul on Conor England led to a lead pointed free by Draper. Kanturk got back on level terms when Rory Sheahan pointed a free in the 20th minute 0-4 each.

Good play by Ronan Cashman led to a lead point by Ciaran Carroll. St Catherine’s levelled for the fourth time at 0-5 each in the 26th minute when Gearoid O’Brien pointed. O’Brien followed with a ‘65 and they had a goal by Kyle Wallace in the 29th minute that gave them an interval lead 1-6 to 0-5.

On the changeover Tommy Walsh soloed through and placed Colin Walsh for a point. Good play for St Catherine’s by Mark Geary and Conor England led to a very good save by Grantis Bukansis. Both sides had a couple of wides with Rory Sheahan pointing two frees 1-6 to 0-8 by the 4lst minute. Sheahan levelled from another free at the end of the third quarter.

The momentum seemed to be with Kanturk who defended very well. William Leamy with a point edged St. Catherine’s ahead once more. A long range free by Tommy Walsh was cleared but Oisin O’Connor picked up the clearance and levelled 1-7 to 0-10 after 47 minutes.

Rory Sheahan and Gearoid O’Brien exchanged a pointed free 0-11 to 1-8 by the 50th minute. The ‘Saint’s’ hit the front again when O’Brien pointed a free. Tommy Walsh followed with two points one from a free as the sides were deadlocked 1-10 to 0-13 in the 56th minute.

Gearoid O’Brien added a point for St. Catherine’s who edged ahead. Kanturk’s goal came in the 59th minute when Tommy Walsh’s delivery from near the sideline found its way to the net giving his side a two point lead 1-13 to 1-11. There were six minutes of injury time played. St. Catherine’s were wide from a close in free. Kanturk also missed a few chances to seal the outcome. Time ran out and it was Kanturk who were champions by a two point margin.

Gearoid O h-Ealaithe Leas Cathaoirleach Rebel Og presented the cup to the winning captain Colin Walsh.

G Bukansis, D O’Connor, B Hogan, C Vaughan, C Sheahan 0-1, T Walsh 1-3 (0-2f), S Moylan, O O’Connor 0-1, R Sheahan 0-5f, M Hootan, C Carroll 0-1, R Cashman, B Healy, C Walsh 0-2, J Sheahan. Subs: J Raudys for J Sheahan.

ST. CATHERINE’S: E Philpott, F O’Connell, E O’Riordan, C Bryan, B O’Connor, D Galvin, M Geary, K Wallace 1-0, C England 0-2, C Dineen, W Leamy 0-1, H Draper 0-2f, G O’Brien 0-6 (2f, 1 ‘65’), T Hartnett, S O’Donoghue. N Sheehan for C Bryan (inj), D Morrisson for C Dineen, O Fitzgerald for W Leamy.

REFEREE: Pa Beausang (Midleton)

Footnote: Kanturk previously won the County Under-16 HC title in 1977 when current selector Tom Walsh was a member of the side. His son Tommy was centre back on winning side of 2019.