Final beckons Kilworth

Kilworth 2-16 Inniscarra 0-15

IT didn’t look on the cards for much of the first half, but Kilworth ran out comfortable winners over Inniscarra in the county PIHC semi-final at Páirc Uí Rinn last Sunday.

Establishing firm control in defence after half-time, where Nathan Byrne, Dave Twomey and Austin O’Hara comprised a particularly commanding half back line, the Avondhu side steadily squeezed the life out of what had been a vibrant Inniscarra challenge before the break.

That Kilworth were flattered to lead by a point at the interval is beyond dispute, as they were forced to play second-fiddle for most of the opening period, and were clearly rattled by the intensity Inniscarra brought to the table early on.

They were 0-4 to 0-2 behind before Noel McNamara scored a stunning goal against the run of play to push them ahead for the first time in the 13th minute. Making light of that setback, Inniscarra regained the lead after Colm Casey, latching on to a delivery from impressive wing-back Ciaran Lombard, pointed to make it 0-7 to 1-3 in the 19th minute.

That was Casey’s third score from play, and he carried an obvious threat for Inniscarra up front, while Andrew McCarthy gave them an edge at midfield, and Jack O’Sullivan, Con O’Leary and Ciaran Lombard showed up well at the back.

The result was that Inniscarra had every reason to feel satisfied with the way things were shaping up when they led by 0-10 to 1-4 with 26 minutes gone.

Although Kilworth, for whom Maurice McNamara regularly caught the eye at corner back before the break, began to warm to their task as the first half drew to a close, it took a mistake by Inniscarra defender Liam Ryan to present Jamie Sheehan with the opportunity to grab a second goal for the winners in stoppage time.

Sheehan duly made the most of it, allowing Kilworth to go in at half-time 2-6 to 0-11 to the good. Having performed so promisingly in the first half, and to be severely stung shortly before the break, it was obvious youthful Inniscarra, forced to line out minus their injured Cork senior Seán O’Donoghue, faced a significant test of character on the turnover.

In fairness, they showed no sign of wilting in the early stages of the second half, drawing level after corner forward Eddie O’Connor posted two points in reply to a converted free by Kilworth’s Noel McNamara inside 38 minutes.

Another pointed free followed from McNamara, who was on target again after the resultant short puck-out went astray, leading to a foul on Jamie Sheehan.

Then the picture began to look increasingly ominous for Inniscarra after industrious Kilworth midfielder Brian Tobin and Eoin Carey were involved in the buildup to a spectacular point from ace attacker McNamara inthe 42nd minute.

The Mid-Cork men remained well in touch, 2-10 to 0-14, when Colm Casey landed an inspirational score in the 45th minute, but Kilworth stamped their authority on the proceedings in earnest during the last quarter.

The extent of their growing dominance in defence, where Nathan Byrne excelled, can be gauged from the fact that Inniscarra added just a point to their tally, courtesy of Michael Coleman from a free, before the finish.

That came in the 57th minute in response to Kilworth points Brian Tobin, Eoin Carey and Noel McNamara, from a free, which meant Inniscarra, 2-13 to 0-15 adrift, needed a late goal to have any chance of pulling the game out of the fire.

There was to be no breaching the rock-like Kilworth rearguard, however, and a flurry of points from Jamie Sheehan, the everNoel McNamara and Will Condon completed a victory that leaves them within a game of graduating to senior ranks for the first time in the club’s history.

KILWORTH: K Walsh; M O’Connor, K Lane, M McNamara: N Byrne, D Twomey, A O’Hara; B Tobin (0-2), E McGrath; S Keane, L Whelan (0-1), N McNamara (1-10, 8f); J Sheehan (1-1), E Carey (0-1), W Condon (0-1) Sub: P Moakley for O’Connor 46

INNISCARRA: J O’Keeffe; J O’Sullivan, B O’Mahony, L Ryan; C O’Leary, J O’Callaghan, C Lombard; A McCarthy (0-2), M Coleman (0-6f); D O’Keeffe, C Buckley, O McCarthy; E O’Connor (0-3), C Casey (0-4), M O’Connell. Subs, S O’Mahony for D O’Keeffe (injured), 15, S Olden for O’Callaghan (injured), 30, C Bennett for Buckley, 48, P Holland for O’Connell, 52, D Hughes for A McCarthy (injured), 59

REFEREE: B Murphy (Carrigtwohill)