Close win for Kilshannig in County JAFC semi-final

COUNTY JAFC SEMI-FINAL

Kilshannig 1-11 Iveleary 1-9

KILSHANNIG are through to the County JAFC final following their close but deserved win over Iveleary on Saturday in Coachford. This was a much spoken of semi final over the past few weeks but it never lived up to expectations. The game was played in heavy conditions due to the recent rain.

Iveleary opened the scoring when a foul on Barry O’Leary led to a pointed free by Brian Cronin. Kilshannig created a good attack by Eoghan Burke, Jack Twomey and Eanna O’Hanlon with Darragh O’Sullivan being fouled and Kieran Twomey levelled from the free. Good play by Killian O’Hanlon led to a fine point by Jack Twomey. Eoghan Burke made a vital interception from Chris Og Jones.

The Glantane side moved 0-3 to 0-1 clear after 10 minutes when Eoin O’Sullivan and Colm O’Shea worked well for Dermot Twomey who pointed. Iveleary battled back well. Kevin Manning worked well with Brian Cronin who was fouled and Cathal Vaughan pointed the free. Colm O’Dea saved well from Cathal Vaughan. A good solo run by Colm O’Shea led to a foul. Killian O’Hanlon’s quick free picked out Conor McMahon who pointed.

Both sides were off target with Eanna O’Hanlon pointing a free in the 17th minute that edged Kilshannig 0-5 to 0-2 clear. Eoghan Burke made another good clearance. Good play by Conor Murphy and Eoghan Burke to Killian O’Hanlon led to a well taken point by Darragh O’Sullivan. Iveleary improved a lot. They had a few wides before Ciaran Galvin worked well for Brian Cronin who pointed. In the 26th minute good play by Sean Lehane, Barry O’Leary and

Conor O’Leary led to a punched goal by Cathal Vaughan that levelled the game 1-3 to 0-6. Kilshannig replied immediately. Colm O’Shea gave a good delivery to Conor McMahon who was denied by Iveleary keeper Joe Creedon with the rebound falling kindly for Darragh O’Sullivan who netted. In injury time Eanna O’Hanlon pointed for the Glantane side with Cathal Vaughan working well for Chris Og Jones who pointed deep in injury time. At the break Kilshannig led 1-7 to 1-4.

Early on the restart Kilshannig worked well out of defence with Dermot and Jack Twomey placing impressive Brian Guerin for a point. The Avondhu side moved further ahead when a foul on Colm O’Shea led to a pointed free by Eanna O’Hanlon as the winners moved five points clear. Iveleary relied mainly on Cathal Vaughan for pointed frees. They had five points in the second half all frees. Cathal Vaughan pointed another free in the 44th minute.

The Mid Cork side were reduced to 14 players when Kevin Manning received a second yellow entering the final quarter. Brian Guerin made a vital interception breaking up a good movement that could have led to a goal for the Mid Cork side. By the 53rd minute Kilshannig led by three points. Good play by Brian Guerin to Colm O’Shea led to a punched point by Killian O’Hanlon who moved four clear. Iveleary never gave up. They had pointed frees by Cathal Vaughan and Brian Cronin.

Kilshannig defended very well all through and in the end they secured a place in the county final against either St Michael’s or St James. KILSHANNIG: C O’Dea, C Murphy, E Burke, R O’Mahony, C O’Shea, B Guerin 0-1, B Curtin, J Twomey 0-1, E O’Hanlon 0-3f, D O’Sullivan 1-1, K O’Hanlon 0-2, E O’Sullivan, C McMahon 0-1, D Twomey 0-1, K Twomey 0-1f. Subs: J Kearney for E O’Sullivan, B O’Shea for D O’Sullivan, C Casey for R O’Mahony (inj).

IVELEARY: J Creedon, B Murphy, C O’Riordan, G O’Riordan, K Manning, S O’Leary, C Galvin, S Lehane, D O’Riordan, C O’Leary, C Vaughan 1-5 (0-5f), S O’Riordan, C Og Jones 0-1, B Cronin 0-3 (2f), B O’Leary. Subs: D Cotter for S Lehane, S Galvin for S O’Riordan.

REFEREE: Peter O’Leary (Cloughduv)