Kiskeam triumph and bridge 38-year gap

Kiskeam 0-19 Adrigole 0-9

Apart from the opening quarter, during which Adrigole trailed 0-4 to 0-2 after being four down, there was never any doubt about the outcome of this final which drew a capacity crowd to the well-prepared Iveleary club grounds. It was in attack where Kiskeam held all the aces. Moving like a well-oiled machine they ripped through the Adrigole defence time and again with great pace and precision, and a number of their points were magnificently created and superbly taken by Donal O’Leary, Donie Herlihy, John Angland and man of the match Billy Dennehy. For Adrigole it was yet another heartbreaking day. Already without the services of the late John “Lack” O’Sullivan, they were forced into a change when Kieran O’Sullivan-Greene had to cry off with a hand injury. Using the long ball to perfection, Kiskeam raced into a four-point lead inside the opening 10 minutes as Adrigole’s short passing game broke down through over-elaboration, and even at that early stage of the match, the signs looked ominous for the Beara champions.

It took Adrigole until the 13th minute to open their account with a Michael Harrington point and when Brendan Ger O’Sullivan added another from a 45 two minutes later, it looked as if this final would develop into a rousing contest.

Unfortunately not. Tightening up considerably in defence, Kiskeam took a firm grip, and with John Herlihy’s pace posing endless problems for an overworked Adrigole defence, the points began to flow and at half time the Duhallow champions were comfortably in front, 0-9 to 0-3.

Obviously deciding to throw caution to the wind, Adrigole moved Michael Harrington to centre forward and Brendan Ger to full forward for the second half and they were given a glimmer of hope with points by Fergal Carey, Harrington and O’Sullivan, all in the space of five minutes.

However Kiskeam were not to be denied their day, and in a blistering nine minute spell, they killed off the Adrigole challenge with six unanswered points to lead by double scores, 0-16 to 0-8, at the end of the third quarter.

Totally in control, Kiskeam could afford the luxury of bringing on five subs and still not upset the rhythm of their team, and it was fitting that the Dennehy brothers Jimmy and Richard, should finally win county championship medals on the field of play with their beloved club.

Scorers: Kiskeam: N. Cronin 0-5 (0-3 frees); D. O’Leary (0-1 free), D. Herlihy, J. Angland, B. Dennehy 0-3 each; M. Angland, J. Dennehy (free) 0-1 each.

Adrigole: BG O’Sullivan 0-3 (0-1 free, 0-1 45); M. Harrington 0-3; T. O’Shea, F. Carey, D. Carey 0-1 each.

KISKEAM: S. O’Sullivan; J. O’Connor, M. Angland, B. Breen; S. Murphy, D. Angland, D. Cremin; E. O’Mahony, P. O’Leary; D. O’Leary, J. Angland, J. Herlihy; D. Herlihy, B. Dennehy, N. Cronin. Subs. J. Dennehy for B. Dennehy; E. Angland for S. Murphy; R. Dennehy for P. O’Leary; D. O’Leary for N. Cronin; J. O’Sullivan for D. Herlihy.

ADRIGOLE: M. O’Sullivan; S. O’Sullivan-Greene, Sean Joe O’Sullivan, J. O’Shea; Shane Joe O’Sullivan, T. O’Shea, D. Carey; M. Harrington, H. Buckley; Paul O’Sullivan, BJ O’Sullivan, P. Goggin; Pat O’Sullivan, K. O’Neill, F. Carey. Subs. D. O’Sullivan for Paul O’Sullivan; B. Goggin for Sean O’Sullivan-Greene; M. O’Sullivan for P. Goggin; A. O’Sullivan for K. O’Neill; J. Crowley for F. Carey.

Referee, D. Linehan (Nemo Rangers).