Barry Walsh stars as Killeagh claim Premier 2 MHC title

Killeagh have won the Cork Premier 2 MHC for the second year running after beating a spirited Shandrum side in Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday evening

Mon, 09 Oct, 2023 - 20:49

Darragh Leen, Pairc Ui Rinn

Cork Premier 2 MHC final

Killeagh 1-25 Shandrum 2-17

Killeagh have won the Cork Premier 2 MHC for the second year running after beating a spirited Shandrum side in Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday evening. A virtuoso performance by Cork minor Barry Walsh helped Killeagh on their way to victory with Sean Meade also putting on a fine display in the full-forward line.

Shandrum put up a serious fight in the second period but the quality of Killeagh shone through in the latter stages of the game and they eventually pulled away, dominating the last ten minutes with score after score.

It couldn’t have been a better start for Killeagh with a goal and a point in the opening minute. The goal came after the ball was released from a scramble and luckily fell to Barry Walsh in the square who unleashed it into the net. Shandrum shot back soon after, though, with a goal of their own after five minutes from Liam Coughlan who spun the last man and had space to bury it, which he did with aplomb.

It was the kind of half of hurling that you couldn’t take your eyes off for a second, more akin to a basketball game with scores every other second. Whatever Killeagh talisman Barry Walsh did Shandrum’s Johnny Murphy matched, with the two number twelves running the show. Walsh alone managed 1-7 in the first period with Murphy scoring five points of his own.

The sides only had two between them at the break at 1-11 to 1-9. The second half was equally eventful and full of drama. Shandrum started to get a stranglehold on the game with four scores on the bounce that included a goal from star man Johnny Murphy on 37 minutes when he somehow got a hurley to the ball in a goalmouth scramble. With two more scores for Shandrum from midfielders Turloch O’Neill and Liam Coughlan, it looked like the tide was turning but Killeagh made sure that didn’t happen.

Nothing short of clinical in the last 15 minutes, Killeagh wrestled back control of the game with ten of the next twelve scores to win the day, six of those coming from man of the hour Barry Walsh adding to his incredible tally of 1-14. Ben Geary scored two points late to seal the deal on a memorable day for Killeagh.

Scorers for Killeagh: B Walsh (1-14, 3f), S Meade (0-6), B Geary (0-2), Ben Walsh, J Coleman, C Deane (0-1 each).

Scorers for Shandrum: J Murphy (1-9, 4f), L Coughlan (1-1), T O’Neill (0-2), B Carrol, C Ring, C O’Gorman, D Ryan and B Jordan Reidy (0-1 each).

Killeagh: F Murphy; T Considine, H Connon, M Doherty; O Cunningham, B Walsh, C Brennan; F Brennan, J Coleman; M O’Donovan, C Deane, B Walsh; C Burns, S Meade, B Geary.

Subs: R O’Connor for O Cunningham (27), J Ogbebor for C Burns (43), A Brenner for M O’Donovan (59), E Roche for B Geary (62).

Shandrum: P Noonan; E Sheehy, E Walsh, E Keating; B Carroll, J Hogan, D Ryan; T O’Neill, L Coughlan; L O’Mahony, C Dunne, J Murphy; B Jordan Reidy, B O’Gorman, C Finn.

Subs: C Ring for C Dunne (14), P O’Connor for L O’Mahony (50).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers).