Kanturk impressive in Castle win

A DISCIPLINED and patient performance brought Kanturk fitting reward on overcoming Castlelyons in the opening round to the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship at Castletownroche last Sunday.

In doing so, Kanturk turned the tables on a defeat to their East Cork opponents at the same stage two years ago. As the game aged, Kanturk operated with an intensity that Castlelyons failed to match.

Interestingly, both sides operated much more effectively on performing against the breeze; Kanturk achieving their target thanks to a gritty second half against the elements that ensured a favourable outcome.

Kanturk held a number of competent performers but not for the first time, Anthony Nash worked the oracle again in a performance that lifted his colleagues. Called into action early to quell a dangerous situation, Nash delivered two massive points from long range frees.

With the sides deadlocked on six occasions to a gripping opening half, Kanturk needed something inspirational going into the break having been favoured by that fresh breeze.

And it arrived just before the short whistle, Nash fired in a rocket launcher from deep inside his own half into the opposing large parrellogram, helped by a touch from full forward Donncha Kenneally, the sliothar nested in the net and Kanturk never looked back.

A lively start saw points exchanged by Anthony Spillane and Liam O’Keeffe before Nash was called into action to smother a Ronan Bransfield effort. Spillane pointed the resultant ‘65, that score cancelled out by Ian Walsh.

Indeed the scores were coming thick and fast as Lorcán McLoughlin and Spillane maintained the status quo. Castlelyons appeared to shade some of the key battles through the solid work ethic of Colm Barry, Colm Spillane and Tom Carroll with the inside line of Aidan O’Sullivan and Bransfield posing problems.

A spell of pressure earned points for Ciarán McGann and Eoin Maye only for Kanturk to answer per Alan O’Keeffe and a Nash free. With the action swinging from end to end, Castlelyons lead points to Niall O’Leary and Anthony Spillane were offset by Kanturk’s Ian Walsh and Lorcan O’Neill, the sides deadlocked for the fifth occasion at 0-7 apiece midway through the opening half.

A breakthrough on 17 minutes, Castlelyons full-forward Aidan O’Sullivan credited with a goal. In the lead up to the score, Kanturk full-back John McLoughlin incurred an injury that forced his departure. However, Kanturk unearthed a spirited response, Nash pointed from inside his own half prior to a delivery from Darren Browne set up Alan O’Keeffe to net.

It remained nip and tuck, further points exchanged, a prelude to further drama. After Spillane tied up the game for Castlelyons came a game changer, Nash’s deliveries appeared to be getting longer.

And so it proved, a colossus of a strike descended on a clutter of players, Kenneally getting a vital touch for the ball to land in the Castlelyons net, Kanturk ahead 2-9 to 1-9.

The second half seldom came near the splendour of the opening 30 minutes that yielded 21 scores with just eight added after the break. With the breeze at their backs, the expected Castlelyons onslaught never materialised.

Still both sides fought tooth and nail, the scoring frequency dried up, replaced by poorly directed shooting at either end. Again Kanturk appeared that bit sharper, their prospects enhanced on Liam O’Keeffe shooting a fine individual goal and Lorcán McLoughlin adding a pointed free.

Crucially Kanturk never allowed Castlelyons build any momentum as Paul Walsh and Darren Browne secured the bolts in the heart of the defence, McLoughlin remained ever reliable while the workrate of Lorcan O’Neill, Ian Walsh and substitute Martin O’Riordan added to the resilience of the Duhallow outfit.

That left Castlelyons clearly frustrated, stacking up a series of wides from play and frees before the East Cork side opened their second account in the 52nd minute off a pointed free by Spillane. In fairness, it roused an improvement to Castlelyons game, the two Spillanes and Niall O’Leary registering points.

Still the Kanturk rearguard shepherded the Castlelyons attack away from the goalmouth area, the victors holding a facility to respond, a late Ian Walsh put the icing on the cake.

Inviting derby tussles for both sides in Round 2, Kanturk come up against Charleville, for Castlelyons its do or die on a meeting with Fr. O’Neills to remain in the championship.