Kilshannig's second-half surge secures progress into business end 

The win secured them top spot in Group C, and as Bantry Blues drew with Macroom, the Avondhu side’s scoring difference gave them the spot in the last four.

IMPRESSIVE FORM: Killian O'Hanlon, Kilshannig, Donagh Collins, Aghada. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

Kilshannig 0-16 Aghada 1-5 

It was an idyllic evening in Glenville on Saturday and for Kilshannig the fact that their impressive win over Aghada in the Bons Secours Cork PIFC put them straight into the last four of the competition was the perfect end to a beautiful day.

For their manager, Ger Creedon, getting out of Group C was the only priority but when news filtered through that Bantry had drawn with Macroom, it made a satisfying night all the better.

“When the final whistle went, it was just that we’d got the win against Aghada and then we found out from the sideline that it looked like we were going to the semi-final so that was an added bonus. 

"But tonight, was all about getting over a very tough and good footballing team in Aghada.” 

Trailing by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break, last year’s Intermediate ‘A’ champions were extremely impressive in the second half, kicking 0-9, 0-7 of which came from play, and keeping Aghada scoreless.

They had had menace everywhere. Kieran Twomey kicked 0-3, wing-backs Bill Curtin and Colm O’Shea both bombed forwards for scores, Tom Cunningham blasted over his second, Killian O’Hanlon landed a monstrous free and substitute, Diarmuid O’Sullivan kicked 0-2. 

Aghada’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of Jake O’Donoghue to a black card and Diarmuid Phelan to injury, but there’s no doubting that Kilshannig had a significant bit more about them.

The opening half was a fabulous contest, played at pace and the quality of scores was very high. Kilshannig went 0-2 up early on but Aghada responded with four-in-a-row through Phelan, the ageless Pierce O’Neill, Diarmuid Byrne and Tim Hartnett to take a deserved lead. 

Cunningham and Ciarán O’Sullivan then levelled matters before O’Neill fed Danny Creedon who crashed the ball to the net and put Aghada in control.

Kilshannig did threaten a goal but had to make do with points from O’Hanlons Killian and Éanna and Twomey in response while Harnett’s second point gave Aghada the lead at the break.

From there, Kilshannig took over, and Creedon is more than happy to ride the wave for as long as it will take them.

“There’s a great feel-good factor in the club at the moment. We’ve a big fundraising night next week at the dogs, it’s over to the hurlers then. They’re in the semi-final of the North Cork, and we’ve a really good relationship with the hurling management. 

"This probably gives us a week or two where we can just catch our breath a little bit. It’s been one week into the next for the last while and I think we can chill a bit now!”

Scorers for Kilshannig: K Twomey (0-5, 0-2 frees), K O’Hanlon (frees), É O’Hanlon, D O’Sullivan and T Cunningham (0-2 each), C O’Shea, B Curtin and C O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Aghada: D Creedon (1-0), T Hartnett (0-2), D Phelan, P O’Neill and D Byrne (free) (0-1 each) 

KILSHANNIG: G Creedon; M Twomey, E Burke, S O’Connell; C O’Shea, B Guerin, B Curtin; J Twomey, K O’Hanlon (c); C O’Sullivan, E O’Hanlon, E O’Sullivan; B Creedon, K Twomey, T Cunningham.

Subs: C McMahon for E O’Sullivan and A O’Connell for Creedon (both 42), D O’Sullivan for C O’Sullivan (48), K O’Connell for M Twomey (52), C Murphy for Curtin (59).

AGHADA: C O’Shea; J Norris, E Leahy (c), D Collins; T Hartnett, J O’Donoghue, K O’Shea; D Phelan, A O’Connell; J O’Hanlon, D Creedon, J Tynan; D Leahy, D Byrne, P O’Neill. 

Subs: C Hegarty for Phelan (inj, 40), Phelan for Norris (53).

Referee: Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers).