Fitzmaurice fires Finuge as foes' feisty fight-back fizzles out

Finuge 0-14 Cappamore 1-6

He once again turned on the style in the Finuge colours as they dispensed with the challenge of Limerick champions Cappamore in the opening round of the Munster Junior Club championship yesterday.

Leading his side's charge from the centre back position, Fitzmaurice travelled deep into enemy territory and was rewarded with four stylish points, all from play.

Cappamore, playing above their station on the day, held their more experienced rivals in most other departments and for a period early in the second half, when they held a two points advantage, looked as if they might cause an upset.

Finuge reached the north Kerry final 24 hours earlier and were without Paul Galvin, injured in that game against St Senan's.

John Griffin, Fitzmaurice and Conor Galvin had them 0-6 to 0-2 ahead after 26 minutes, but the game took on a new dimension when Limerick player Diarmuid Sheehy slipped past their defence to despatch the ball past keeper John Coleman.

With their tails up, Cappamore went forward again and Dave Kennedy made it level at the break.

Much to the delight of the Limerick fans, Cappamore went ahead with snap points from Niall Leahy and Tom O'Donoghue inside five minutes of the re-start, but, unfortunately for them, managed just one more score to the finish.

Finuge tightened up at the back, where Mike Quilter and Eamonn Breen snuffed out the threat from Dave Kennedy and Niall Leahy, and taking inspiration from Fitzmaurice, they went on to control matters.

However, while they turned the tide on the scoreboard, they could never afford to relax against a home side that battled to the finish.

Scorers; Finuge: E Fitzmaurice 0-4, C Galvin 0-3, J Galvin, K Fitzmaurice 0-2 each, E Breen, M Corridon, F. Fitzmaurice 0-1 each.

Cappamore: D Sheehy 1-0, N Leahy 0-3, D Kennedy 0-2, T O'Donoghue 0-1.

FINUGE: J Coleman; E Galvin, P Corridon, M Quilter, E Breen, E Fitzmaurice, M Cronin; T McKenna, C Galvin; G Lovett, M Corridon, R Thornton, F Fitzmaurice, J Griffin, R Galvin. Sub: K Fitzmaurice for Thornton.

CAPPAMORE: B Leahy; K Hickey, S Lane, D Deere, B Sheehy, D Sheehy, M Ryan; S Sheehy, D Leahy; D O'Dwyer, L Cronin, D Kennedy, C Cronin, N Leahy, T O'Donoghue.

Referee: M Condon (Waterford).