Kilmurry find the goals and lock down Buttevant to book third-straight county final
KEY GOAL: Kyle Kelleher of Kilmurry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Kilmurry are giving plenty of value to their followers as they made it to a third-consecutive county final, setting up a battle with their fierce rivals Canovee.
They did with an intensity-packed performance which straitjacketed a free-scoring Buttevant side who had blitzed 12 goals in their three group games. They didn’t manage a shot at the target here while Kilmurry converted both of theirs through Brian Hinchion and Kyle Kelleher.
Having defeated Cobh in the 2022 Junior A decider and left gutted by a late St Finbarr’s goal in last year’s Premier Junior final, a Mid Cork derby awaits this time around. For extra spice, Canovee emerged the victors when these two clubs from the same parish met in the group stage.
Buttevant won the toss and chose to play against a significant wind for the first half. Kilmurry set out to test their resolve with a suffocating press.
Their intensity squeezed a steady flow of turnovers, with Gearóid O’Mahony, Kelleher, and James O’Mullane especially prominent disruptors. The opposition dangermen Mark Lenehan (who finished his championship with 6-14) and Conor Hanlon (4-13) had their supply depleted.
At the other end, Kilmurry’s left-footed kickers swung over a string of sweet scores. Liam Wall had their first trio, including two peaches from open play, interrupted by a sole Lenehan reply.
In the 14th minute, they struck a 1-1 sucker punch. Wall teed up fellow citeóg Lloyd Asling for a point and they set up to press the kick-out. When it went short, Hinchion was quickest to the ball and rounded the keeper to finish.
Buttevant changed approach to go long and had immediate success with midfielders Anthony O’Neill and Aaron Trimm taking two marks each.
A couple of missed frees delayed their progress but they eventually found form, with three points in a row from Lenehan (0-2) and a Michael O’Neill curler.
Buttevant were back within one score but there was one more twist before the break. Jamie O’Brien tripped Pádraig Brehanu and was sent to the sin-bin. Wall slotted the free to leave it 1-5 to 0-4 at the change of ends.
A turnover inside the 21 allowed Brehanu to extend the advantage, although Conor Hanlon cancelled that out once his side had been restored to 15 men.
A Hinchion turnover enabled Lawrence Asling to reopen a six-point lead but when Trimm claimed a mark and won a free, Lenehan took the responsibility to convert.
Kilmurry found the killer blow in the 50th minute. Wall dashed into space down the right and Kelleher was steaming off his shoulder to fire into the bottom corner before limping off in the aftermath.
Buttevant battled on with a David Hanlon free and spectacular wind-assisted points from Lenehan, Jamie Whelan, and Conor Hanlon.
All of a sudden, it was a one-score game, 2-7 to 0-10, entering stoppage time.
Buttevant never got their shot. Kilmurry nicked the ball and struck on the counter through Joe O’Mullane, who chose a point over a potential goal, and Alexander Asling.
There was the consolation of a Lenehan free before Buttevant were reduced to 14 men with Anthony O’Neill receiving a straight red card.
L Wall (0-4, 2 frees); B Hinchion, K Kelleher (1-0 each); A Asling, Lawrence Asling, Lloyd Asling, P Brehanu, Joe O’Mullane (0-1 each).
M Lenehan (0-6, 2 free); C Hanlon (0-2); J Whelan, D Hanlon (free), M O’Neill (0-1 each).
R Donovan; M Walsh, N O’Riordan, J O’Brien; B O’Riordan, S Madigan, J Whelan; A O’Neill, A Trimm; J O’Neill, D Hanlon, K Lenahan; C Hanlon, M Lenehan, M O’Neill.
K Crowley for O’Brien (38), R Fowley for J O’Neill (38), D Keane for M O’Neill (47).
J McDonnell; A O’Mahony, W Ronan, G O’Mahony; Lloyd Asling, A Asling, T Collins; K Kelleher, James O’Mullane; L Wall, Lawrence Asling, R Duggan; B Hinchion, John O’Mullane, P Brehanu.
J McGinn for Brehanu (43), Joe O’Mullane for Kelleher (52, inj).
P Beausang (Midleton).
