Kilworth stun favourites Fermoy
KILWORTH reversed last year’s opening round result on Sunday when they overcame Fermoy at Ballyhooly.
The game was played before a large attendance. Kilworth had the aid of the stiff breeze and they led all through. Their defence were awesome particularly in the first half.
They took some great scores and had only two wides in the opening half. Early points by David Twomey (free) and Will Condon set them on their way. The first goal came in the fifth minute when a long range free by David Twomey was sent to the net by Noel McNamara. Kieran Morrisson had a Fermoy point.
It was all Kilworth at this stage as Nathan Byrne controlled at centre-back and Eoin McGrath and Mark O’Connor also impressed. James McCarthy pointed and Noel McNamara pointed after good play by Nathan Byrne and Jeremy Saich 1-5 to 0-1.
Liam Coleman pointed a Fermoy free after a foul on Tomas Clancy. However, it was Kilworth who dominated and good support play by Will Condon led to a fine Jeremy Saich point.
Condon added two more points in quick succession with Noel McNamara having his second goal in the 15th minute that opened up a 10 point lead 2-7 to 0-3. The winners had their first wide a minute later when Paddy Moakley was narrowly off target.
Brian O’Sullivan had a good Fermoy point. They lacked scoring power up front and two points in quick succession had the winners 2-9 to 0- 4 clear. Fermoy were wide from a free and Kieran Walsh made a good save from Mark Flynn who had been put through by Martin Brennan.
Liam Coleman had another pointed free. Jeremy Saich pointed a sideline cut for the winners. A good movement started by Kieran Lane, Nathan Byrne, James McCarthy and Noel McNamara led to a great point by Will Condon.
Fermoy moved Eoin Clancy to corner back. Kilworth had a long range point by Eoin McGrath that opened up a 2-12 to 0-5 advantage.
Brian Sheehan with a very good point was followed by a Noel McNamara point after great play by Nathan Byrne. In injury time Liam Coleman had another pointed free. Kilworth’s second wide came deep in injury time. At the break Kilworth led 2-14 to 0- 6.
For the second half Fermoy had a mountain to climb. They introduced Seanie Shanahan who did very well. Fermoy were stunned by a third Kilworth goal in the 34th minute when Will Condon, James McCarthy and the long serving Ned O’Brien combined for Noel McNamara to secure his hat-trick.
Kilworth were now ahead 3-14 to 0- 6. For the last 26 minutes plus added time Kilworth had only a single point. In this period Fermoy thundered into the game. They did exceptionally well wind assisted, they tried very hard for goals but were denied on many occasions.
They gradually cut the lead with points by Liam Coleman Padraigh de Roiste, Tomas Clancy and Martin Brennan to be within four goals entering the final quarter 3-14 to 0-11.
A good movement by Eoin Clancy and Padraigh de Roiste was intercepted by Maurice McNamara and a goal chance denied. In the 50th minute Fermoy found the net when a free by Liam Coleman was finished by Jack Hutchings. This gave them hope.
A good clearance by Ronan O’Callaghan was sent over by Kieran Morrisson. Kilworth’s sole score in the last 26 minutes came in the 56th minute when Brian Sheehan placed Noel McNamara who pointed. The final score in a high scoring contest fell to Tomas Clancy.