O'Sullivan hits late winner as Castlemagner pip Kanturk to complete three-in-a-row tilt

At the end of the hour, the Duhallow JAFC honours went to the reigning holders, Castlemagner offering all their class and experience to collect their ninth outright title

Sat, 18 Oct, 2025 - 20:59

John Tarrant

Duhallow JAFC Final: Castlemagner 1-7 (1-1-5) Kanturk 1-6 (1-1-4)

BUSINESS as usual for Castlemagner as they completed a three in a row in the Duhallow JAFC Final by overcoming a gritty Kanturk at a rainswept Cullen.

At the end of the hour, the honours went to the reigning holders, Castlemagner offering all their class and experience to collect their ninth outright title after a physically-demanding assignment.

Kanturk’s second team weren’t short of effort nor commitment, right in the hunt up to the last whiste. But a brave showing came up short when Castlemagner substitute Max O’Sullivan delivered a late match-winning point.

It wasn’t an occasion for attractive football, the driving diagonal crossfield rain mitigated against decent free-flowing fare.

That made for a tough but always engaging battle. Castlemagner manager Niall Dunne hit the nail on the head to gladly accept a narrow victory.

“We expected a testing challenge, really had to dig it out," he said. "What probably stood to us was a tough game against Lismire earlier in the campaign in similar conditions — difficult to play a long quick ball through the hands, the type of football we like to play. Sometimes, these games turn into a test of character. Coming down the stretch, we never panicked, we always felt the lads would get over the line. Sure enough, they did”.

A slow burner from the outset, both sides attempted to adjust to tough conditions. Castlemagner appeared to adapt better, rewarded on a lead point from Danny Lenihan. And Castlemagner hit the challengers with a wounding blow, Lenihan and Evan Magner provided the opening for midfielder Conor O’Sullivan to net.

After Lenihan added a two-pointer free, Kanturk refused to be knocked off stride, Matthew Deady placed Eoin Geaney for a well-taken goal. That score lifted Kanturk and a Danny Cronin point cut the arrears 1-4 to 1-2 at half time.

No surprise, conditions worsened on the restart, Castlemagner shading matters territorially. However Kanturk were right back in the hunt once minor player Cronin posted a two-pointer free, his side trailing 1-6 to 1-5.

The tension and excitement rose a further notch when young Cronin added a pointed free to tie up matters. However Castlemagner summoned up a burst, a well -orked move allowing substitute Max O’Sullivan to bisect the uprights.

Late on, Kanturk mounted a series of raids in search of parity only to be repelled by a resilient Castlemagner defence.

Scorers for Castlemagner: D Linehan 0-4 (1tpf, 2f), Conor O’Sullivan 1-0, Cormac O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan, M O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kanturk: D Cronin 0-5 (1tpf, 2f), E Geaney 1-0, E O’Keeffe 0-1.

CASTLEMAGNER: T McAuliffe; A O’Keeffe, D Murphy, A O’Leary; C Murphy, T Fitzmaurice, S Cronin; Conor O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan; C Cromin, E Magner, D Lenihan; Cormac O’Sullivan, Cillian O’Sullivan, T O’Riordan.

Subs: M O’Sullivan for A O’Keeffe (35), S Tobin for Cillian O’Sullivan (42), B Healy for S Cronin (42).

KANTURK: J Fullerton; N Forde, D O’Connor, A Murphy; P Leahy, L Cashman, J Moylan; P O’Keeffe, E Geaney; M Deady, D Cronin, G Kenehen; E O’Keeffe, S McAuliffe, D Bradley.

Subs: C Boyce for S McAulliffe (37), A O’Keeffe for P O’Keeffe (45), O Daly for D Bradley (49), P O’Keeffe for M Deady (59).

Referee: John Hartnett (Boherbue).