Kanturk dispatch Kilburn Gaels to progress to All-Ireland IHC semis

Kanturk 2-17 Kilburn Gaels 2-8

Ruislip was the destination for this afternoon’s All-Ireland quarter-final against London champions Kilburn Gaels and although Kanturk were somewhat below the level which delivered Cork and Munster titles in recent weeks, they got the job done with a bit to spare.

The crucial moment of proceedings, which were watched by a sizeable portion of Kanturk supporters who flew over this morning, arrived in first-half stoppages when goalkeeper Anthony Nash repelled a Stephen Lambert penalty. With the scoreline reading 0-9 to 0-5 in favour of the visitors, a goal for KIlburn Gaels would have left just the minimum between the sides at the break.

As it was, Kanturk took a four-point lead into the second-half and pulled clear with a burst of 1-3.

Liam O’Keeffe provided the opening goal, a score which he himself set up after a fine run. It was inevitable that O’Keeffe would find the net at some stage having had two goal chances in the opening period kept out.

Jody Troy's 41st-minute goal was Kilburn Gaels’ first score of the second-half. By that juncture, they trailed by 1-12 to 1-5.

Lorcan McLoughlin responded with a second Kanturk goal, his speculative effort from out the field deceiving Jack Barron.

The North Cork champions finished with nine scores, half-back and captain Lorcan O’Neill chipping in with two excellent points.

Kanturk now play Middletown of Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-final early in 2018.

F-T: @KilburnGaels 2-8 vs 2-17 @KanturkGAA @AIB_GAA @officialgaa @LONDAINGAA @MunsterGAA pic.twitter.com/dtVxjrZdhC

— the Irish World (@theirishworld) December 2, 2017

Scorers for Kanturk: L O’Keeffe (1-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65); I Walsh (0-4); L McLoughlin (1-0); A Walsh (0-1 sc), L O’Neill (0-2 each); R Walsh, D Kennelly, A O’Keeffe, D O’Donoghue (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kilburn Gaels: S Lambert (1-6, 1-6 frees); J Troy (1-1); K Kennedy (0-1).

Kanturk: A Nash; P Walsh, J McLoughlin, J Browne; L O’Neill, A Sheehy, D Browne; L McLoughlin, R Walsh; D Kennelly, I Walsh, J Fitzpatrick; L O’Keeffe, A Walsh, A O’Keeffe.

Subs: E O’Connor for A O’Keeffe (49 mins); M O’Riordan for Kennelly (54); D O’Connor Fitzpatrick (54); D O’Donoghue for I Walsh.

Kilburn Gaels: J Barron (Carlow); K Campion (Laois), N Coen (Galway), C Hickey (Waterford); W Campion (Laois), B Regan (Galway), K Kennedy (Tipperary); A O’Leary (Dublin), C McLinden (Armagh); F Collins (Tipperary), M Duggan (Clare), S Conlon (Cork); S Lambert (Galway), J Troy (Tipperary), D Reale (Limerick).

Subs: A Murphy (Kilkenny) for Reale (42 mins); S Carey (Tipperary) for O’Leary (44); J Kelly (Galway) for K Campion (50); M Lambert (Galway) for Hickey (56).

Referee: J O’Brien (Laois).