Kilbrittain crowned Cork Premier Junior champions after pulsating Glen Rovers clash 

Kilbrittain captain Philip Wall raises the Jimmy O'Mahony cup after defeating Glen Rovers in the C0-Op Superstores Cork Premier JHC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Cork Premier JHC final: Kilbrittain 0-22 Glen Rovers 2-15 

With just a single point to spare, Kilbrittain are the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier JHC champions after they prevailed in perfect conditions at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Friday night.

Inspirational captain Philip Wall is the proud new owner of the Jimmy O’Mahony Cup, and his club will play in the Intermediate A grade in 2026.

From a position of being four points up in second-half stoppage, they were very glad to hear the PA announce ‘there will be at least one minute of additional time’, as Evan Murphy blasted a close-in free to the net.

There was no more time left for Glen Rovers to find the levelling point.

Kilbrittain had to weather a Glen storm earlier, needing to reel them in as the Blackpool side led 1-9 to 0-10 at the interval. There remained only a couple of points between the teams on the home stretch.

Their wide count of 11, to 6 for the Glen, could have come back to haunt them, but the winners clung on for dear life, helped in no small part by a contribution of nine significant points from free-taker Mark Hickey.

For a final that was impossible to call beforehand with the two teams taking the direct route to the last four, it certainly lived up to its billing.

Great credit to the Glen’s second string, who fought to the bitter end.

Kilbrittain were quick to settle with Hickey forcing a tremendous save from Ben Heffernan in the opening minute, and the resultant ’65 was converted by Hickey. Luke Griffin doubled their lead a minute later before Shane Busteed replied for the Glen.

The scores started to flow for Kilbrittain with some excellent points from Conor Hogan, Seán Sexton, Hickey and Griffin to leave them coasting 0-6 to 0-1 after a hectic first five minutes.

The interlinking play from Kilbrittain was exemplary.

Kilbrittain captain Philip Wall and players celebrate. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Glen Rovers needed to steady the ship and it was Conor Dorris who came to their aid, and his white flag was followed by a Fiachra O’Driscoll point.

Goalkeeper Heffernan was in the thick of the action again, before a majestic strike from Dorris brought them within two.

The deficit remained at two on the quarter hour mark, 0-7 to 0-5.

Points from Hickey and Ronan Crowley restored Kilbrittain’s four point advantage.

A number of missed opportunities upset the Kilbrittain momentum.

Instead, it was the Glen that stormed into the contest, striking 1-2 without reply. The goal was struck from the 20 metre line, a rocket by Gearóid Mulcahy. Before that Evan Murphy converted a long-range free and there was also a point from Calvin Healy to go into the ascendancy for the first time in the 27th minute.

The game had turned on its head. And with Dorris and Mulcahy finding some high-quality white flags, they went to the dressing-room after four minutes of stoppage time, 1-9 to 0-10 up.

The scoreboard was quick to move after the resumption, and it was all Kilbrittain’s way. Their half-time pep talk brought a change of mindset.

Sensing opportunities, a trio of points arrived from Hickey, Wall and Crowley to regain the lead.

A Mulcahy point was the sole response.

Hickey raced on goal but his effort went wide. A let off for the Glen.

Wall won two vital frees which Hickey converted.

At the three-quarter mark, the west Cork outfit had stretched the margin to two points 0-16 to 1-11.

Murphy was clinical from frees for Glen Rovers, and they remained in the hunt.

Conor Ustionowski came on for Kilbrittain and made an instant impact, winning a free which Hickey put over.

The difference bounced between two and three.

Glen Rovers were looking for a goal, but Thomas Sheehan and Aaron Holland made vital interceptions.

Ustionowski won another free, 0-20 to 1-14, with three minutes of regulation remaining.

Crowley arrowed over a free. A minute later Dale Tynan replied.

Josh O’Donovan’s second point on 60 minutes gave Kilbrittain a four-point cushion.

The goal Glen Rovers sought arrived from Murphy.

But the clock was not on their side.

Kilbrittain listed their number eight jersey as their first sub, and the name was Oisín Gillain. It was a fitting tribute to one of their rising stars, who died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome in March of this year at the age of 18.

Their midfielder Seán Sexton wore number 18 on the field of play.

Kilbrittain have a Munster club semi-final to look forward to next month, in the meantime, there is a triumph to be savoured.

Scorers for Kilbrittain: M Hickey (0-9, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), R Crowley (0-4, 0-1 free), P Wall (0-3 each), L Griffin and J O’Donovan (0-2 each), S Sexton and C Hogan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Glen Rovers: E Murphy (frees) and G Mulcahy (1-3 each), C Dorris (0-4), A O’Sullivan, F O’Driscoll, C Healy, S Busteed and D Tynan (0-1 each).

KILBRITTAIN: D Desmond; D Considine, J Hurley, E O’Neill; A Holland, T Sheehan, C Sheehan; S Sexton, J O’Donovan; M Hickey, P Wall (Capt), R Crowley; C Hogan, L Griffin, B Butler.

Subs: C Ustionowski for L Griffin (48), D Harrington for B Butler (53), T Harrington for C Hogan (61).

GLEN ROVERS: B Heffernan; D Dunlea, G Marshall, Z Lynch; D Coughlan (Capt), D Noonan, A O’Sullivan; G Mulcahy, F O’Driscoll; G Kennefick, K McCarthy Coade, C Healy; C Dorris, E Murphy, S Busteed.

Subs: D Tynan for G Kennefick (20 inj), J Corkery for A O’Sullivan (26-27 temp), J Corkery for C Healy (50), E O’Sullivan for D Noonan (55), D Long for S Busteed (56), C O’Brien for A O’Sullivan (61).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers).