Ahane well tested as Kilmallock battle bravely
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.