Jubilation for Shanballymore after thrilling replay

Shanballymore (Cork) 0-14 Éire Óg, Annacarty (Tipperary) 1-9: The jubilation at the final whistle said it all as the players, mentors and fans from Shanballymore celebrated this Munster J’B’HC title win after an enthralling provincial final replay at Raheenagh in Limerick yesterday.

Having been denied by a late goal at the death in the drawn decider three weeks earlier, the Cork champions made no mistake in closing out the game to become the first Cork club to claim the crown since Doneraile in 2011.

Shanballymore started brightly playing into the breeze but after a shaky start Éire Óg, Annacarty got into the stride driven on by veteran John Quinn’s well struck ground shot to the net after 19 minutes.

The Cork side quickly rallied and points from captain Brian O’Reilly and Jamie Sheedy ensured they had restored parity by the interval 1-6 to 0-9.

Neither side worked the scoreboard operator for the first 14 minutes of the second- half before points by Jamie Sheedy and Micheál Burke saw the Cork men edge in front.

It was a lead they were not to relinquish despite a spirited performance from the Tipperary men and helped by late points by Brian Sheedy and Jamie Sheedy, they claimed a famous victory for the north Cork club.

Meanwhile a super individual goal from Shane Scannell 10 minutes from time gave Kilmeen-Kilbreen victory over Fedamore in the Muster J’B’FC semi-final (1-12 to 1-5). Sneem play Ballinacourty in the other semi.

Scorers for Shanballymore:

J. Sheedy (0-5, 4f); B. Sheedy, B O’Reilly, C O’Reilly (0-2 each); J Dennehy, D Roche, M Burke (0-1 each).

Scorers for Éire Óg, Annacarty:

D O’Brien (0-5, 4f); John Quinn (1-2); P. Aherne (0-2, 2-65s).

SHANBALLYMORE:

D Fitzgibbon; E O’Regan, E McHugh, A Sheedy; J Fitzgerald, S Lynch, J Hayes; M Burke, D Roche; B O’Reilly (Captain), B Sheedy, J Sheedy; P Burke, J Dennehy, C O’Reilly.

Sub:

K Barry for Roche (57).

ÉIRE ÓG, Annacarty:

J O’Dwyer, G Loughman, G O’Brien, M Fox; C Coughlan, P Aherne, M Bradshaw; S Breen, M O’Brien; Josh Quinn, J Ryan, W O’Neill; D O’Brien (Captain), John Quinn, M McGrath.

Subs:

M Buckley for Coughlan (48), D Breen for S Breen.

Referee:

A Costigan, Laois.