O’Brien scoring ace as Charleville cruise past hapless Kenmare

CHARLEVILLE cruised to an emphatic 11-point win in this Munster Club JHC quarter-final in front of one of the biggest crowds seen at Kenmare’s Fr Breen Park in a number of years.

Charleville got off to a dream start when wing-forward Derry Murphy drove through the Kenmare defence, before placing James O’ Brien, who billowed the Kenmare net. Charleville then tacked on three quick points, one from Derry Murphy and two from James O’Brien as they raced 1-3 to 0-0 clear inside the opening 10 minutes.

Kenmare responded with a James Duncan point, their only score from play, but were dealt a blow in the 11th minute when midfielder Jimmy Wharton received a straight red card for a wild swing on Charleville’s James O’Brien.

Seán O’Regan scored four points from frees as Kenmare staged a mini comeback, but Charleville led by 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time.

In the second half, with an extra man Charleville took over, adding on six further points. Kenmare failed to score in the second-half, despite the best efforts of Alan O’Leary and Seán O’Regan.

Charleville with centre-back Danny O’Flynn, wing-back Barry McCarthy and forwards James O’Brien and Alan O’Connor, outstanding, advance to the Munster semi-final.

Scorers for Charleville: J O’Brien 1-6 (3fs), A Cagney 0-2, D Murphy, M Kavanagh, M Gammell, F O’Callaghan, A O’Connor 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kenmare: S O’Regan 0-4fs, James Duncan 0-1.

CHARLEVILLE: S O’ Connor; M O’Flynn, C Fitzgerald, A Dennehy; B McCarthy, D O’Flynn, B Dennehy; M Gammell, J Casey; G Kelleher, D O’ Sullivan A O’Connor; J O’ Brien, D Murphy, M Kavanagh.

Subs: F O’ Callaghan for O’Brien (45), N O’Keeffe for Gammell (45), P Gammell for A Dennehy (45), S Butler for M O’Flynn (54).

KENMARE: S Mac Gearailt; J Healy, DJ Brennan, M Fitzgerald; P Moriarty, P O’Shea, A Crowley; K O’Sullivan, J Wharton; J Duncan, S O’ Regan, TP O’ Connor; P O’Connor, L O’Shea, A O’Leary.

Subs: K Fitzgibbon for L O’Shea, S Duncan for S O’Regan (46), S Ryan for Healy (50).

Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary).