Lenahan heroics help Buttevant to Cork JBHC glory

An individual return of 1-10 from target man Mark Lenahan propelled Buttevant to top honours.

Noel O'Callaghan, Vice Chairperson of Cork GAA, presents the cup to Kevin Lenehan and Chris O'Toole, Buttevant. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

Cork JBHC final: Buttevant 2-16 Uibh Laoire 1-10 

An incredible individual return of 1-10 from target man Mark Lenahan propelled Buttevant to top honours in the Co-Op Superstores confined JBHC final at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

It capped a good few weeks for the north Cork side as they already secured the Division 2 Avondhu title.

After regrading this year, the victory also marks their return to junior A, this despite losing midfielder Seamus Madigan to a leg injury in the 13th minute.

In this stunning team display they led throughout, but credit Ito Uibh Laoire - situated in the village of Inchigeela and last won this competition in 1986 - they were there to the bitter end with Jim Power’s goal from a free coming in stoppage.

Both are successful football clubs as well.

It took Lenahan a mere 37 seconds to split the posts, and there was one from Madigan a couple of minutes later. Lenahan’s second white flag put them three up after seven minutes.

Sean O’Riordan settled Uibh Laoire with their opening point, but play was then held up for a short while as the unfortunate Madigan was helped from the field.

Buttevant forged further ahead following another brace from Lenahan - his third point was a superb strike from out on the right flank.

Uibh Laoire refused to yield and were right back in it with unanswered points from Jamie Maguire, Liam Kearney and a real beauty from Sam Pickering to leave just the minimum in it.

Meanwhile, Buttevant had a goal opportunity that tailed wide in the 29th minute from David Keane.

In the three minutes of injury time, Buttevant found two more scores from Lenahan and corner-back Denis O’Sullivan to go to the break 0-7 to 0-4 in front.

Another two goal chances were missed early in the second-half from Aaron Trimm (wide) and then Lenahan (went out for a sideline).

Uibh Laoire weathered that storm.

But when Lenahan was put through by Donal Ryan in the 37th minute, there was no stopping his bullet to the top corner.

Ten minutes into the second-half, Buttevant were 1-10 to 0-5 up.

Uibh Laoire proved stubborn, the next two scores going their way courtesy of Jim Power and Shane Galvin.

Buttevant were far more threatening, and goalkeeper David Dineen was forced to make a point-blank save from Shane O’Callaghan, tipping the sliotar over the bar.

A second goal for Buttevant seven minutes from time sealed the deal. It came after a long-rang free from Chris O’Toole was tipped to the net by Donal Ryan.

Jim Power pulled a goal back at the death.

Scorers for Buttevant: M Lenahan (1-10, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65 ), D Ryan (1-0), S O’Callaghan (0-2), D O’Sullivan, S Madigan, D Keane and N O’Riordan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Uibh Laoire: J Power (1-2 frees), S O’Riordan (0-3), L Kearney (0-2), S Pickering, J Maguire (free) and S Galvin (0-1 each).

BUTTEVANT: B O’Shaughnessy; C Kennedy, K Lenahan (J-Capt), D O’Sullivan; J Whelan, C O’Toole (J-Capt), J O’Neill; J O’Brien, S Madigan; D Keane, A Trimm, A O’Neill; D Ryan, M Lenahan, S O’Callaghan.

Subs: K Crowley for S Madigan (13 inj), A Horgan for A O’Neill, N O’Riordan for J O’Neill (both 43), E O’Donoghue for S O’Callaghan (56), M O’Connell for J O’Brien (58).

UIBH LAOIRE: D Dineen; J Pickering, D O’Donovan, B Murphy; K Manning, J Power, D O’Riordan; J O’Donovan, S O’Riordan; B O’Riordan, J Maguire, L Kearney (Capt); S Galvin, J Phelan, S Pickering.

Subs: B O’Leary for J Phelan (half-time), J Sweeney for J Maguire (39), A Sweeney for S Galvin (55).

Referee: Pa Beausang (Midleton).