Kilshannig ready to face 'one of the big boys' says mentor Colm O'Dea

The Cork side will take on Austin Stacks on Sunday week after the Tralee club comfortably defeated Laune Rangers in the replayed Kerry final.

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE: Kilshannig’s Ciaran O’Sullivan and Rathkeale’s Tommy Dillane battle for the ball. Pic: Chani Anderson.

Kilshannig (Cork) 2-12 Rathkeale (Limerick) 1-9

Kilshannig will be in with ‘the big boys’ in the last four of the AIB Munster club IFC when they entertain Austin Stacks on Sunday week after the Tralee club comfortably defeated Laune Rangers in the replayed Kerry final on Saturday.

Kilshannig are through on merit courtesy of their six-point victory over Rathkeale in the provincial quarter-final at a splendidly prepared Glantane venue on Sunday, despite a late goal from Rathkeale full-back Bryan Meade.

It’s a date they’re already looking forward to.

“We’ve a big challenge coming up,” said delighted mentor Colm O’Dea.

“One of the big boys, Austin Stacks raging hot favourites, isn’t it great. They’re a famed club and to have them coming here to Glantane to play us is a massive occasion.

“Credit to all our supporters and fans. When we went into the dressing-room today the children had flags and drawn pictures and put them up on the wall.”

They’ll have reason to go painting again.

Both Kilshannig and Rathkeale won their respective county finals seven days earlier, and it was the hosts who settled quicker, kicking 1-5 without reply between the 5th and 17th minute.

Joint-captain Éanna O’Hanlon was finding space inside and he got things rolling. Tom Cunningham and Diarmuid O’Sullivan landed points before Diarmuid netted in the 14th minute after joint-captain Colm O’Shea won the kick-out.

Kilshannig’s Diarmuid O’Sullivan sinks one in the net during the AIB Munster GAA Intermediate Club Championship Quarter Final Clash against Rathkeale, Limerick. Picture Chani Anderson

This was an area they capitalised on, especially in the first half.

Leaders in every line too, from Gavin Creedon in goal and Conor Murphy at number two to Darragh O’Sullivan in the forward line, and of course recently retired inter-county star Killian O’Hanlon.

Andrew White’s pair of frees in the second quarter reduced the deficit to five points, but brothers Killian and Éanna O’Hanlon and their cousin Ciarán O’Sullivan extended the lead with delightful points, the scoreboard read 1-8 to 0-4 at the break.

It was a six-point match when Rathkeale’s Mikey Morrissey raised arguably the best white flag of the hour in the 43rd minute, 1-10 to 0-7.

A couple of minutes later, Darragh O’Sullivan hit the net for Kilshannig.

Bryan Meade’s 58th minute major was no more than Rathkeale deserved.

It must be mentioned too, the Limerick champions were without Paul White - man of the match in the county final - who had returned to Dubai earlier in the week to be at his place of work.

O’Dea felt the final scoreline was deceptive, and that the visitors deserved credit for nailing the last few scores.

“I don’t think it flatters Rathkeale at all, I think they deserve to be that close. I don’t think we played to our best at all. We’d be disappointed with the last 10 minutes we left them back into it. But a lot of positives to take from it, and stuff to work on again.

“It is always hard to play six or seven days later after winning a county final. The good thing we said was, at least Rathkeale were in the same position. There could be no excuse if they came here and beat us.

“The main thing was to win, if it was by a point, we would be delighted with it.”

Scorers for Kilshannig: Diarmuid O’Sullivan (1-2), É O’Hanlon (0-4), Darragh O’Sullivan (1-0), K Twomey and T Cunningham (0-2 each), K O’Hanlon (free) and C O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Rathkeale: A White (0-4 frees), B Meade (1-0) M Morrissey (0-3, 0-1 45), B Coleman and A Meade (0-1 each).

KILSHANNIG: G Creedon; C Murphy, E Burke, B Curtin; S O’Connell, C O’Shea (J-Capt), E Healy; C O’Sullivan, T Cunningham; C O’Connell, K O’Hanlon, A O’Connell, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, É O’Hanlon (J-Capt), Darragh O’Sullivan.

Subs: K Twomey for Diarmuid O’Sullivan (41), S Murphy for C O’Connell (43), M Twomey for E Healy (48), J O’Hanlon for É O’Hanlon (49), P Walsh for C O’Shea (52).

RATHKEALE: M White; M Sheahan, B Meade, P Mulcaire; A Shanagher, J Hennessy, D Maune; T Dillane, B Coleman; N Sheahan, A Meade, E O’Donnell; A White (Capt), M Morrissey, P Wilmott.

Subs: D Clancy for N Sheahan (half-time), R Stapleton for P Wilmott, E Barrett for M Sheahan (both 53).

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).