Dogged performance helps Kilshannig past Macroom and into PIFC semi-finals
Eolan O'Leary of Macroom and Killian O'Hanlon of Kilshannig do battle
A Killian O’Hanlon inspired Kilshannig are straight through to the McCarthy Insurance PIFC semi-finals thanks to their dogged win over Macroom in Kanturk on Saturday evening.
In less than ideal conditions for a game the Cork star gave an impressive display in the middle third as he fought to ensure his side would leave the group stages with a perfect three from three.
The north Cork side had to dig deep in the first half against a Macroom side battling to avoid the relegation playoff game, but were well worth the victory after 60+ minutes.
O'Hanlon was ably assisted by Darragh O’Sullivan, Eanna O’Hanlon and corner forward Diarmuid O’Sullivan in the scoring stakes while his midfield partner Shane Murphy also did well against Fintan Goold and his partner Sean Kiely.
This game didn’t spark into life until the 20th minute after the sides spent the first third of the game concentrating on feeling each other out around the middle of the field.
Three points from Kilshannig and a brace from Macroom in that period – Kilshannig’s points all from Darragh O’Sullivan placed balls had the Avondhu side up by one while points from Alan Quinn and Kiely showed that the boys in green were up for the challenge, albeit in a game that failed to deliver to that point.
A piece of opportunism from Kilshannig corner forward Diarmuid O’Sullivan bagged the first goal on 20 minutes but less than 60 seconds later a surging run from Kiely set up Don Creedon who made no mistake – game back in the mix and something to cheer about for both sets of supporters.
Two more pointed frees from Quinn gave Macroom the narrowest of halftime but the second half was going to be a challenge for the Muskerry side. (1-4 to 1-3).
Kilshannig looked to have started the second half with a bang however their goal was disallowed for a square ball – Macroom living on the edge early on – but they would concede soon after as Eanna O’Hanlon would hit 1-3 in a dominant spell.
Killian O’Hanlon would score his side’s final goal on 50 minutes – this one done despite Macroom’s efforts to get some scores which might enable them to stay away from the trap door game.
Macroom will now face Ilen Rovers in that relegation game while Kilshannig will need to keep things tipping along as they prepare for what could be a month before they get back to that semi-final game.
E O’Hanlon 1-3; Darragh O’Sullivan 0-5 (Four frees); K O’Hanlon 1-1; Diarmuid O’Sullivan 1-0; C O’Connell 0-1.
A Quinn 0-5 (Four frees), D Creedon 1-0; S Kiely 0-2; J Murphy 0-1.
G Creedon; S O’Connell, E Burke, M Twomey; C Murphy, C O’Shea, E Healy; S Murphy, K O’Hanlon; C O’Connell, Daragh O’Sullivan, J O’Hanlon; Diarmuid O’Sullivan, A O’Connell, K Twomey. Subs: T Cunningham for A O’Connell (inj)(12), S O’Connell for K Twomey (inj)(27), B Curtin for C O’Shea (32), C O’Sullivan for J O’Hanlon (35), D Twomey for D O’Sullivan (50).
B O’Connell; J O’Riordan, R Buckley, D Creedon; J Murphy, M Corrigan, M Cronin; F Goold, S Kiely; C Buckley, C O’Sullivan, T Dineen; E O’Leary, A Quinn, D Twomey. Subs: C Condon for M Cronin (31), E O’Mahony for D Twomey (44), M Hunt for C O’Sullivan (44), P Lucey for T Dineen (55), S Meany for D Creedon (58).
J Kelleher (St Johns)
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