Walsh on song for Kanturk

DESPITE playing his third big game in seven days, Aidan Walsh inspired Kanturk to a quarter-final slot in the IHC at Milford on Saturday.

The centre forward, who was also recovering from a bee sting on his foot, was outstanding, scoring a brilliant 1-8. Goalkeeper Anthony Nash was another who rose to the challenge with a series of top drawer stops.

Kilworth toiled hard but shorn of the injured Damien McNamara, Adrian Mannix and Paudie Lynch they were fully stretched. Still, they could have easily sneaked a draw.

Kanturk, as well as Walsh’s dazzling performance, and the resolute Nash had towering performances from Lorcán McLoughlin who drilled over a few crucial frees while Donagh Duane rarely put a foot wrong at full back. Outside him, wingback Cathal Burke also caught the eye.

They didn’t look likely winners early on when Kilworth, playing into the wind, pushed four points ahead, mainly through Noel McNamara’s free-taking.

Only for Nash, the gap might have been greater. Eventually, the Duhallow side reaped the rewards from his huge puck outs and while never gaining parity they stayed in touch courtesy of the magnificent Walsh and McLoughlin.

They trailed by two points before Walsh skilfully hit the net on 25 minutes, and they kept applying pressure to lead 1-9 to 0-10 at the interval. Their best patch though was straight after the restart when they hit four points while keeping Kilworth at bay.

However, points from Whelan and Joe Cahill saw the Avondhu men come within two points with eight minutes remaining.

Nash saved again, as Kanturk stretched the lead out to 1-18 to 0-16. But, just after sub James Moakley pointed, another sub Ned O’Brien was hauled down. Whelan’s fiercely struck penalty meant a one-point match, until the clock won out.

Scorers for Kanturk: A Walsh 1-8, L McLoughlin 0-8 (6fs), C Burke, D Kenneally 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilworth: N McNamara 0-8 (6fs, 1 65), L Whelan 1-3 (1-0p), B Tobin, W Condon, N Byrne, S O’Brien, J Moakley, J Cahill 0-1 each.

KANTURK: A Nash; S Leneghan, D Duane, E O’Connor; W Murphy, D O’Riordan, C Burke; L McLoughlin, D O’Connor; I Walsh, A Walsh, A O’Connor; M O’Riordan, J Healy, D Kenneally.

Subs: J Carver for I Walsh (59 mins).

KILWORTH: K Walsh; D Tobin, K Lane, A O’Hara; T Twomey, W Twomey, M McNamara; D Cahill, N Byrne; B Tobin, W Condon, J Cahill; N McNamara, S O’Brien, L Whelan.

Subs: N O’Brien for W Condon (41), J Moakley for S O’Brien (51).

Referee: P Downey (Inniscarra).