Kilshannig defeat battling Uibh Laoire after extra time

"We are not cocky or anything like that but we believe in ourselves and we showed it out there today.”

Sat, 12 Oct, 2024 - 20:08

Bob Lester, Ballincollig

Cork PIFC semi-final: Kilshannig 2-11 Uibh Laoire 1-11 (AET)

IT wasn’t easy, a real battle in Ballincollig on Saturday that went to extra time, with Kilshannig summing up all their energy to beat Uibh Laoire to book their passage to the Cork PIFC decider against Aghabullogue.

After last year's defeat by Bantry at the same stage, emotions ran high in the Kilshannig camp afterwards. But, after trailing 1-9 to 1-5 with six minutes remaining, it took a huge effort and aided by two Uibh Laoire black cards in injury time they saw their chance as three late frees from top scorer Darragh O’Sullivan and one from play by Tom Cunningham took the game to extra time.

In fairness to Uibh Laoire, playing with 13 men for another six minutes of extra time, they hung on bravely and trailed by just a point, 1-11 to 1-10, entering the second period of extra time. But then a calamitous mistake in the middle of the park allowed Eanna O’Hanlon and Kieran Twomey to break away and the former fired it into an empty net with keeper Joe Creedon all at sea.

No wonder Kilshannig boss Denis Reen was emotional afterwards. “God we showed real character out there, three points down in injury time, I’m so proud. The heart and character the lads showed, especially after all the hurling we had to do in between, was so impressive.

“Uibh Laoire are a fabulous side, they never gave up, stuck to their task with 13 players. A fantastic advertisement for Cork football. But we showed our fitness out there today, we used 33 players this season and every one of them are important to the panel. No we did not go to see our final opponents Agabullogue last night. We are not cocky or anything like that but we believe in ourselves and we showed it out there today.”

In a pedestrian opening half Uibh Laoire, with Timmy Roberts and Conor O’Leary battling hard around the middle of the park, were just about the better side boosted by the inclusion of Cathal Vaughan. Darragh O’Sullivan gave Kilshannig a quick lead, but they were lucky a minute later when ‘keeper Gavin Creedon had to make a great save to deny Ian Jones a goal.

It was 0-2 apiece after the opening quarter and just a point separated the sides at the break, 0-5 to 0-4 in Uibh Laoire’s favour with O’Sullivan kicking all four Kilshannig points, one free and one mark, Roberts and O’Leary firing over super to earn Uibh Laoire a lead they just about deserved.

With Tom Cunningham and Sean O’Connell now taking s grip around midfield Kilshannig looked more threatening in the second half but it was Uibh Laoire who were first to score via an Ian Jones point. But in the 32nd minute a bit of class at last, Darragh O’Sullivan setting up half time sub Kieran Twomey who fired home from close range.

There was far more urgency in Kilshannig’s play now as they led 1-5 to 0-7 entering the final quarter. Then Chris Ôg Jones, so quite up to this point and well marshaled, came into his own. He scored a cracking 46th minute goal, set up by Aaron O’Donovan, and when he followed with two converted frees with six minutes remaining Kilshannig looked goosed.

But Kilshannig fought with every ounce of energy and aided by those two black cards to Roberts and Ciaràn O’Riordan late on the trusty boot of O’Sullivan with three frees and Cunningham brought the game to extra time at 1-9 Apiece.

Uibh Laoire had every chance in extra time trailing by just a point 1-11 to 1-10 at half time in extra time. But with Uibh Laoire chasing a leveling point a disastrous breakdown at midfield allowed O’Hanlon the winning goal and how they celebrated even if there were some fisticuffs after the final whistle.

Scorers for Kilshannig: D O’Sullivan 0-7 (0-4f, 0-1m), E O’Hanlon 1-2, K Twomey 1-0, T Cunningham, A O’Connell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Iveleary: C Óg Jones 1-3 (0-3f), C Vaughan 0-3 (0-1f,0-1 ‘45’), C O’Leary 0-2, C Galvin, T Roberts, I Jones 0-1 each.

KILSHANNIG: G Creedon; S O’Connell, E Burke, M Twomey; C Murphy, C O’Shea, P Walsh; B Curtin, K O’Hanlon; C O’Connell, C O’Sullivan, T Cunningham; A O’Connell, E O’Hanlon, Daragh O’Sullivan.

Subs: K Twomey for S O’Connell (HT), E Healy for Walsh (40), Diarmuid O’Sullivan for O’Connell (50), C McMahon for M Twomey (55), J Hanlon for O’Sullivan (74), B O’Connor for E O’Hanlon (78).

UIBH LAOIRE: J Creedon; B Murphy, D O’Riordan, C Galvin; K Manning, C O’Riordan, D O’Donovan; C O’Leary, T Roberts; A O’Donovan,C Óg Jones , B O’Leary; S O’Riordan, C Vaughan, I Jones.

Subs: K Jones for D O’Donovan (45), L Kearney for Vaughan (50), S Pickering for B O’Leary (59), B O’Leary for A O’Donovan (62), B O’Riordan for C O’Riordan (74).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).