Kanturk emerge from group stages for the first time with win over Charleville

Kanturk saw off fellow North Cork side Charleville in what should go down as one of the best games of hurling played in Cork in years.

 Kanturk's Alan Walsh is tackled by Charleville's Darren Butler during the Co-Op Superstores Premier SHC at Buttevant . Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Cork PSHC: Kanturk 4-20 Charleville 3-21

Kanturk march out of the group stages of the Co-op Superstores PSHC for the first time after seeing off fellow North Cork side Charleville in what should go down as one of the best games of hurling played in Cork in years.

The pair went at it from the first to the final whistle in Buttevant as Charleville needed a result to avoid any chance of a relegation battle while Kanturk needed to ensure their spot in the quarter finals was in their own hands.

Nothing asked or given from either as Charleville were first to raise a green flag, Tim Hawe making no mistake inside 30 seconds. David Forde has seen his effort cleared off the line but Hawe was to make no mistake – the perfect start for the Avondhu men.

Hawe was impressive throughout for the men in red while Darragh Fitzgibbon was on song to drive his side on in the second half in what was a wonderful display of hurling from both sides.

Charleville also had Conor Buckley, Danny O’Flynn and Forde on song with keeper Cian Collins making two top class saves.

For Kanturk, Alan Walsh gave a masterclass of attacking hurling with Aidan Walsh, Ian Walsh and Lorcan McLoughlin all going really well in a game that had it all.

Brian O’Sullivan in the middle was also impressive however centre forward Lorcan O’Neill must take great credit for the win as he dug deep from the first to the final whistle – a true leaders display.

Kanturk set about reeling in the men in red with Brian O’Sullivan proving lethal from placed balls – the sides level with 10 on the clock before Hawe landed another sucker punch on the Duhallow lads with his second major of the game – Kanturk looking vulnerable at the back every time Charleville entered the attacking third.

Five points on the bounce in five minutes pushed Charleville into a five-point lead but again not surprisingly Kanturk hit back, this time a couple of O’Neill efforts and 1-1 from Rory Sheehan put the game back in the melting pot.

The sides traded scores to the interval, Cork star Fitzgibbon coming more into the tie as the game ratcheted up several more notches on the entertainment scale.

Kanturk headed to the dressing rooms for the half time interval deserved leaders (1-14 to 2-8) but this one would explode as soon as the players returned.

Forde raised green moments after the ball was thrown in again to level the tie and again Charleville made a break for home from a long way out.

Fitzgibbon bagged three super scores with Hawe and Buckley chipping in also but Kanturk kept the tie to just three before this one would turn in less than 90 seconds.

A point from O’Sullivan was followed by a brace of great goals from Alan Walsh.

The number 13 would round off his hat-trick on 55 with one of the finest goals you would ever hope to see on a hurling pitch – Fitzgibbon hitting back with five points to keep this one tight to the final whistle.

The loss, while heroic, does nothing for Charleville’s mind-set however no question if they play like this again they really are too good to go down.

For Kanturk – well, the quarters await and if I was a manger of one of the other sides in the draw I would be hoping to stay well clear of the men from the banks of the Allow.

Scorers for Kanturk: Alan Walsh (3-3); B O’Sullivan (0-6, 4fs); R Sheehan (1-1); L O’Neill (0-4); Aidan Walsh (0-3), I Walsh (0-2); T Walsh (0-1).

Scorers for Charleville: D Fitzgibbon (0-10, 6fs); T Hawe (2-2); C Buckley (0-5); D Forde (1-0); O O’Connell, D Casey, J O’Brien, D O’Riordan (0-1 each).

KANTURK: G Bucinskas; J McLoughlin, J Browne, C Mullane; L McLoughlin, R Walsh, T Walsh; B O’Sullivan, P Walsh; R Sheehan, L O’Neill, Aidan Walsh; Alan Walsh, L O’Keeffe, I Walsh.

Subs: J Fitzpatrick for L O’Keeffe (44).

CHARLEVILLE: C Collins; D Butler, F Cagney, J Madigan; A Dennehy, D O’Flynn, R Carroll; O O‘Connell, D Fitzgibbon; G Kelleher, C Buckley, D Casey; A Cagney, D Forde, T Hawe.

Subs: D O’Riordan for G Kelleher (inj)(25), B O’Connell for R Carroll (Half Time), R Carroll for J Madigan (50).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).