Ahane well tested as Kilmallock battle bravely

Ahane 1-13 Kilmallock 2-7

But, by the skin of their teeth, using all the considerable experience gained during their championship wins in 1999 and 2000, Ahane managed to hold on, and escape with a barely-deserved victory.

It was close though, and at the end, Kilmallock’s young corner-forward Andrew O’Shaughnessy had every right to feel disgusted as he trotted off the field. Had whistle-happy referee Sean Hannon not been so premature on a couple of occasions, calling back play to award frees when the most dangerous forward on the pitch had broken clear, O’Shaughnessy could have completed a hat-trick to add to the fine opportunist goal he notched just before the break.