Kilworth produce late winner to progress
FERMOY CREDIT UNION JAFC Kilworth 1-9 Buttevant 1-8 KILWORTH with a late point advanced to the knockout stages Fermoy Credit Union JAFC at Kildorrery on Saturday. Buttevant wind assisted in the first half had four goal scoring chances that went a begging and proved so costly in the end.
Kilworth set the early running with a point by Justin Aherne. Buttevant played John Buckley as a sweeper at midfield and after three minutes they were level when William Fitzgibbon pointed. Aidan Condon moved Kilworth ahead for the second time with a fine point after good kick pass by Sean Keane. Buttevant took the lead for the first time in the sixth minute when Micheal Broe set up Casey O'Gorman for a goal that opened up a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.
Over the next few sequences of play Buttevant gained control with Micheal Broe, Anthony O'Neill, Aidan O'Connor, Seamus Madigan and John Buckley to the fore but poor shooting in front of the post proved costly. They failed to score from here to the break while at the other end Kilworth battled hard and they finished the half well with Nathan Byrne, Austin O'Hara, Kieran Lane, Paddy Moakley, Sean Keane and Paudie Lynch doing well.
They had three points by half time along with a goal by George Heskin that had them 1-5 to 1-1 ahead at the interval.
On the restart, Buttevant introduced Brian O'Shaughnessy who made an impact in their attempt to get back into contention. During the opening stages there was an exchange of points by the 36th minute. Moments later Brian O'Shaughnessy a pointed a free. At the other end Paudie Lynch kicked over a point after good play by Aidan Condon and by the end of the third quarter Kilworth held a 1-8 to 1-4.
Buttevant hit a purple patch getting on top in key sectors and four points on the trot by Seamus Madigan (two) Brian O'Shaughnessy and Aidan O'Connor forced parity for the second and last time at 1-8 each. Both teams went in search of the winning score and in the 59th minute Justin Aherne kicked over to win by the narrowest of margin as they progressed to the knockout stages while a second defeat for last years finalist Buttevant in the space of a week means they make their exit from the championship. KILWORTH: Pat O'Brien, Kieran Twomey, Maurice McNamara, Henry Allen, Liam Whelan, Nathan Byrne 0-2f, Brian Whelan, Austin O'Hara, Kieran Lane, Aidan Condon 0-2 Sean Keane 0-1 Paddy Moakley, Paudie Lynch 0-2 (0-1f) George Heskin 1-0, Justin Aherne 0-2 Sub: Thomas Twomey for Kieran Twomey. BUTTEVANT: R Donovan, A O'Sullivan, J O'Gorman, S O'Flynn, C Cole, J O'Keeffe, D O'Driscoll, M Broe, T Healy, W Fitzgibbon 0-1 A O'Connor 0-1, A O'Neill, S Madigan 0-3, C O'Gorman 1-0, J Buckley. Subs: B O'Shaughnessy 0-3f, for C Cole, K O'Keeffe for C O'Gorman, N Cullen for D O'Driscoll. Referee: Noel O'Regan (Kilshannig) THE major game this weekend in Muskerry is the Ross Oil Junior Football Championship replay involving Ballincollig and Clondrohid and hopefully these two teams will have better weather for their second effort at advancing in Muskerry’s most exciting championship.
The first encounter took place at Donoughmore in wet blustery conditions when, despite the trying situation two very enthusiastic teams produced a very exciting contest and the genuine patrons who attended on the evening were satisfied at the end of the hour.
Clondrohid created more scoring opportunities over the hour and they could have paid dearly for their squandered efforts but a point in the dying seconds by their full back Trevor O’Brien gave them a second chance. Ballincollig were fancied to come out on top in the drawn encounter as a number of their team had senior football championship experience in recent years. But you underestimate Clondrohid at championship time at your peril and this year is no exception and they will be well up for next Saturday’s challenge.
They have three exceptional servants in Trevor O’Brien, Fergal Kelleher and Paddy Lynch who will be very much to the forefront of their quest for victory on Saturday and promising young players like Mark Creed and Darren Dineen so their opponents will have plenty to contend with. Ballincollig are unlikely to make any changes from the team that lined out in the first encounter and they will be hoping that Alan Donovan will reproduce the form he displayed on that occasion when he was in top form in their attack.
Others who should figure prominently on Saturday are Chris Collins, Dylan Kirstein, Daniel O’Connor, Padraig O’Mahony and Conor Sexton in a game that will hopefully be as entertaining as the drawn encounter. Patrons should note that this replay is arranged for Kilmurry and the starting time is 7pm on Saturday.
Last week saw the second winner of the Auld Triangle Muskerry GAA Player of the Month being selected and the choice for April was a very popular one. Well known Cork, Muskerry and Macroom footballer Fintan Goold was selected following his outstanding performance for Muskerry in their exciting senior football championship victory over UCC.
Muskerry football needed a lift and the players on duty on that particular evening rose to the occasion with Fintan providing the extra ingredients needed to tilt the balance in their favour. He was an inspiring leader of the team and he is the deserving choice of the April player of the month. The chairman of the group that selects the Muskerry sports star, John Feeney made the presentation to Fintan at the Auld Triangle Bar and Restaurant at a nice function again sponsored by Michael O’Riordan.
All of Fintan’s family were in attendance as well as John O’Mahony and Pat O’Connell the chairman and secretary respectively of the Muskerry GAA club. Also in attendance were all the officers of the Muskerry board, Dermot O’Riordan represented the Muskerry senior football selection committee and the Cork County Board were represented by children’s officer Marc Sheehan.
Another pleasant item at the function was the presentation to the recently retired principal of Macroom De La Salle College Noel Dunne by the Muskerry GAA board. The presentation was made by board chairman JJ Long in appreciation of the contribution Noel made to the betterment of Gaelic games in Muskerry particularly Gaelic football during his time in the college.
Many clubs in West Muskerry have benefitted from Noel’s involvement with their players and the presentation was well deserved.
Muskerry GAA Fixtures Friday May 23 Quish’s Supervalue Junior Football League Division (1) Kilmurry v Aghinagh 8:00 Quish’s Supervalue Junior Football League Division (2) Macroom v Naomh Aban 7:30 Saturday May 24 Ross Oil Junior Football Championship (replay) Ballincollig v Clondrohid in Kilmurry 7:00 Cumnor Construction Junior Hurling League Inniscarra v Kilmichael 7:00 Sunday May 25 Quish’s Supervalue Junior Football League Division (3) Ballinora v Gleann Na Laoi 12 noon Monday May 26 Cumnor Construction Junior Hurling League Ballincollig v Donoughmore 7:30 Quish’s Supervalue Junior Football League Division (2) Naomh Aban v Iveleary 8:00