Walsh’s goal turns the tide for gritty Kanturk
Conditions militated against good football, yet both sides must be credited for an entertaining contest . Crucially, Kanturk emerged the better balanced outfit and once Aidan Walsh punched home a 51st minute goal, his side found more zip and won their second title in three years.
The sides were deadlocked early on before a breeze-assisted Rockchapel availed of an injury to Walsh that necessitated a brief move to full-forward. Rockchapel made the most of it to strike a goal, the Kanturk defence ripped apart, Kevin Collins and Ian Guiney linking up for Seamus Hickey to finish smartly. That goal did much to boost Rockchapel’s as they gathered momentum from the positive efforts of Philip Murphy, Eamon O’Callaghan and Collins as William Murphy and O’Callaghan posted a brace of points. Steadily Kanturk raised the intensity through the assured play of Walsh and Markie Sheehy at midfield, well supported by Dave Riordan, Eoghan O’Connor and the McLoughlin brothers. And Kanturk finished the opening half in fine fettle with points from Donough Duane and Cathal Burke to level it, 0-7 to 1-4.
