Bradley delivers at the death to snatch victory for Aghabullogue

An Intermediate ‘A’ Hurling final now awaits Aghabullogue, as does a tilt at the Munster Intermediate Football championship.

Aghabulogue players and mentors celebrate after defeating Uibh Laoire's in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Cork PIFC final: Aghabullogue 2-12 (2-2-8) Uibh Laoire 2-11 (2-3-5) 

Matthew Bradley had kicked 0-20 for Aghabullogue in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork PIFC going into Sunday’s final in SuperValu Pairc Uí Chaoimh. With time up he had added a ’45 and a free to his tally while operating as a playmaker for his side. Then, with the sides level at 2-11 each in the 62nd minute, he found room for one more tune.

As was fitting for the champions, it was a superb team move. The irrepressible Paul Ring started it with a beautiful pass to David Thompson, Thompson offloaded to Bradley who in turn dropped it onto his trusty left boot that guided the ball over the bar at the Blackrock End. Point number 23 for Bradley, and none sweeter.

Uibh Laoire went searching for the equaliser, Ring was there to stop them. They went looking again and got it into the hands of Cathal Vaughan. Vaughan had already kicked three scores from outside the arc. He lined up the effort for number four, but his effort was half blocked, Aghabullogue picked up the break and Pa O’Driscoll called time on an absorbing contest. Aghabullogue, the Cork Senior Hurling champions of 1890, will be playing senior football in 2026.

A point between them, a kick of a ball. Was it ever going to be any other way?

Both teams were just so well matched, moving the ball with accurate kick passing again and again. Player-of-the-match, Ring, was everywhere for Aghabullogue, his opposite number 5, Kevin Manning, played in a similar vein. Vaughan raised two orange flags from play, as did Aghabullogue midfielder Adam Murphy.

They even employed the same tactic of withdrawing their number 13 but for two very different reasons. Ciaran O’Riordan played out the field for Uibh Laoire in an attempt to create space for Chris Óg Jones inside, while Bradley came out to conduct the Aghabullogue orchestra with Luke Casey his concertmaster.

The minimum separated them at the end, but the reason for that difference was that Aghabullogue were a more balanced side. They had six scorers to Uibh Laoire’s four, in Breandán O’Sullivan they had another wing back to drive them forward, Dhani Merrick offered them a type of inspiration that cannot be measured while Murphy and Colm Gillispie gave them the edge at midfield.

Aghabulogue's John Corkery has his shot saved by Uibh Laoire's Joe Creedon during the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

However, in the first half they squandered much of the advantage that their midfield duo gave them. Aaron O’Sullivan gave them the lead only for Vaughan’s first two-pointer to put Uibh Laoire in front but soon Aghabullogue had amassed four wides. Their first goal then arrived when Casey palmed to the net after a Bradley free dropped short and was palmed down by Joe Creedon.

Ian Jones then palmed a pass from his brother, Chris Óg, to the net. Casey landed a point soon after, but after Aghabullogue playing all of the football, the sides were tied at 1-2 at the end of the opening quarter.

Uibh Loaire then went on to enjoy their best period of the game. Vaughan landed a two-point free, Creedon made a sensational save from John Corkery while Chris Óg Jones bubbled with menace, clipping over a point, planting a goal and bringing a great save out of Aghabullogue ‘keeper, John Buckley. That made it 2-5 to 1-3, Bradley with the Aghabullogue score, as his side looked punch drunk coming up to the interval.

They needed leadership, and Adam Murphy provided it. He had already claimed two kickouts cleanly, and that gave him the confidence to swing over his first two-pointer. Casey then brought his first-half tally to 1-2, and 2-5 to 1-6 seemed a lot more manageable.

Then, in the third quarter, they put themselves in the position to win it. Casey, Bradley and Pauric O’Sullivan raised white flags, captain John Corkery goaled after a superb team move and Murphy hit another one from outside the arc to put them 2-11 to 2-7 to the good going into the final quarter.

Now it was Uibh Laoire’s turn to see what was under the bonnet. There was plenty. Vaughan raised another orange flag, he then raised a white one and when Ian Jones was fouled, Chris Óg tapped over the free to level the game for the third time with six minutes to go.

That six minutes came and went, before Bradley wrote himself into local lore.

An Intermediate ‘A’ Hurling final awaits Aghabullogue, as does a tilt at the Munster Intermediate Football championship. That will be a challenge that their manager, Ray Keane, will be planning for already.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: L Casey (1-3), A Murphy (0-4 2 2pt), J Corkery (1-0), M Bradley (0-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 ’45), P O’Sullivan and A O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Uibh Laoire: C Vaughan (0-7, 2 2pt, 1 2pt free), C Óg Jones (1-3, 0-2 frees), I Jones (1-0), S O’Riordan (0-1).

AGHABULLOGUE: J Buckley; C Smyth, P Dilworth, D Merrick; P Ring, S Tarrant, B O’Sullivan; C Gillespie, A Murphy; P O’Sullivan, J Corkery (c), A O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for E O’Sullivan (48), D Thompson for P O’Sullivan (58) 

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

Subs: S Pickering for B O’Leary (39), B Cronin for C O’Riordan (49) 

Referee: Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).