Kanturk outstanding in second half as they hammer O'Donovan Rossa
SECOND HALF SURGE: Kanturk's John McLoughlin is tackled by O'Donovan Rossa's Kevin Davis, during their Senior AFC clash in Kilmichael. Picture: David Keane.
Kanturk were outstanding, but they hardly faced any resistance. It was a no-show from O’Donovan Rossa, who didn’t score a point from play until the 51st minute.
Granted, Kanturk’s defence was superb – with both Tommy Walsh and Brian O’Sullivan standing out. Anytime Rossa looked to go forward, they were stopped dead.
They managed just four points in each half, and trailed by that number at the break – but it was Kanturk’s haul of 3-7 in the second period that changed the game.
The north Cork side fired over three points without reply on the resumption. Skibb responded with a free, and although fortunate, Lorcán McLoughlin’s forthcoming goal sealed the win.
Ian Walsh kicked for a point but it came back off the post, and Daniel O’Connell was quickest to it. He gave the ball to McLoughlin, who finished into the open net, 1-12 to 0-5 after 41 minutes.
In what was a 15 minute lull Rossa improved. After getting their first from play through Sean Fitzgerald, they almost found the back of the net when Thomas Hegarty shot from close range. His shot trickled wide, Elliot Connolly tried to tap it into the open net.
Astonishingly, he missed – a fitting metaphor for their performance.
Kanturk had still outscored Skibb 0-3 to 0-2 in that period, and in the final four minutes they raised two more green flags.
The first of which arrived in the 58th minute. O’Connell’s fisted attempt came off the crossbar and fell to Paul Walsh. He couldn’t have had an easier finish.
Next, in added time, Alan Walsh finished powerfully into the roof of the net after a great team move, and they finished 17-point winners.
From the start, the north Cork side made brilliant off ball runs and were able to find space on both flanks with Tommy Walsh and Brian O’Sullivan impressive, but they weren’t clinical enough in the first 25 minutes, and their dominance wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard.
They had a two-point lead but considering Skibb’s failure to point from play in the entire first half, it should have been much more – and their six wides to Rossa’s one showed that.
Skibb’s one wide came from Kevin Davis – the only man on his team to take a shot from play in the first period, as a mistake from Kanturk in the eighth minute allowed him through, but his close range shot was tame and wide.
Once Kanturk opened the scoring in the fifth minute they led until the end, but frees from Kevin Davis ensured Rossa stayed with them in the first half.
The west Cork outfit were down 0-5 to 0-4, but Kanturk turned their fortunes around when Tommy Walsh won their first free on 25.
Ian Walsh converted, and they hit three more without reply.
The final kick of the half was an outside of the boot effort from Tommy Walsh, as he was picked out by Grantas Bucinskas before scoring, 0-9 to 0-4 at the break.
The second half brought a much stronger Kanturk showing, while Skibb continued to struggle going forward.
P Walsh (1-2), I Walsh (0-4, 1 f), D O’Connell, G Bucinskas (0-3, 1f each) L McLoughlin, Alan Walsh (1-0 each), C Clernon 0-2, Aidan Walsh, T Walsh (0-1 each).
K Davis (0-6f), D Shannon (f), S Fitzgerald (0-1 each).
J Fullerton; J McLoughlin, T Walsh, B O’Sullivan; M Healy, R Walsh, L O’Neill; Alan Walsh, Aidan Walsh (Cpt); P Walsh, C Clernon, D O’Connell; G Bucinskas, C Walsh, L McLoughlin.
C Mullane for I Walsh (41, inj), B Healy for L McLoughlin (55), G Kenehan for Clernon (60+1).
R Price; D Daly, S Fitzgerald, D Hourihan Jnr; K Hurley, P Crowley (Cpt), D O’Donovan; R Byrne, D Shannon; C Coombes, K Davis, E Connolly; I Harte, T Hegarty, N Daly.
P O’Neill for P Crowley (HT inj), L Harte for Coombes (52), S Crowley for T Hegarty (57, inj).
Referee: David Murnane (Macroom)
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