Buttevant finish with a flourish to book Munster junior final spot

Buttevant will play Kerry's Ballymacelligott in the Munster Club JFC final. 

Mark Lenahan scored 1-5 for Buttevant in the Munster junior semi-final victory over Ahane. Pic: Dan Linehan

Munster Club JFC semi-final: Buttevant: 2-15 (2-0-15) Ahane: 0-11 (0-1-9) 

It wasn’t pretty but job done for Buttevant as they got past Ahane of Limerick in the AIB Munster Club JFC semi-final at Kildorrery on Saturday afternoon.

The Avondhu outfit hammered Shamrocks by 25 points in the quarter-final, but they were tested in this one against a gallant Ahane side.

Buttevant ended up with six different scorers, just two points coming from frees and surprisingly enough, no orange flags.

After a slow start, a strong second quarter resulted in Buttevant leading by six points at the short whistle.

The game was still in the melting pot in the closing stages. The Avondhu team led by four points until a black card for Ahane’s Pádraig Harnett changed the momentum of the game.

The eventual winners finished well to win by 10 points.

Joey Hanlon’s team will now take on Kerry’s Ballymacelligott in the decider in two weeks.

Buttevant made a fast start with a Conor Hanlon point after 20 seconds, but it was a nervy start from them.

Ahane replied with well-worked efforts from Dónal Dawson and Ronan Fox.

After seven minutes though, Buttevant goaled, which was a real settler.

Mark Lenahan, Buttevant getting in a shot on Ahane keeper Tristan O'Sullivan in the AIB Munster Club Junior Football Championship semi-final at Kildorrery, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

An inspirational run from captain Mark Lenahan resulted in the forward unleashing a powerful shot into the roof of the net.

The teams traded points in what was a very even start, 1-2 to 0-3 after 10 minutes.

Conor Hanlon kicked over a straightforward free, but their opposition were structured and brave and a pair of Liam Óg Glynn efforts, one which was a free, left Ahane a point behind with 13 minutes to the break.

Buttevant finished the half better as they slowly got into their stride. The black and amber put together four points on the bounce.

Mark Lenahan with two brilliant white flags and also a pair of efforts from Aaron Horgan, 1-7 to 0-5 after 26 minutes.

After being unlucky not to kick over a two-pointer, Mark Lenahan got the last score of the opening half with a point from an acute angle, 1-8 to 0-5 at the interval.

There was definitely an improved display from Buttevant on the resumption with sub Kevin Sheehan and a Conor Hanlon free tacking on efforts.

There was a lull though as Ahane kicked over three unanswered points, all from Glynn with two coming from frees.

Buttevant always had that extra gear to push on. Conor Hanlon extended the advantage to six points until Buttevant’s goalkeeper Ronan Donovan was called into action to deny Harnett a goal.

With a quarter of the game remaining, Ahane were still within distance of their opposition.

The teams swapped points with midfielder Gavin Rowsome playing a key part in Ahane remaining in the game.

A Dawson orange flag left Ahane four points adrift after 51 minutes, 1-12 to 0-11.

A crucial moment came three minutes from time when Harnett received a black card for a cynical foul.

It changed the momentum as Buttevant finished strong. They scored 1-3 without reply to win by 10 points.

David Hanlon with the goal right at the very end.

It just wasn’t Ahane’s day. Dawson missed a penalty in the middle of Buttevant’s scoring spree, which would have cut the gap to three points.

Not a brilliant performance, but Buttevant won’t care.

Scorers for Buttevant: M Lenahan 1-5, C Hanlon 0-5 (0-2 f), D Hanlon 1-1, A Horgan 0-2, S Madigan, K Sheehan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ahane: L Óg Glynn 0-5 (0-3 f), D Dawson 0-3 (1 2pt), R Fox, M Donnellan, P Donohue 0-1 each.

BUTTEVANT: R Donovan; M Walsh, J Whelan, K Crowley; S Madigan, K Bowles, J O’Neill; A O’Neill, K Lenahan; M Lenahan (c), C Hanlon, A Trimm; D Hanlon, B O’Riordan, A Horgan.

Subs: K Sheehan for B O’Riordan (29), D Ryan for A Horgan (31, inj), B O’Connor for J O’Neill (47), D Keane for A O’Neill (50), J O’Brien for K Crowley (63).

AHANE: T O’Sullivan; A Donohoe, P O’Grady, D O’Connell; I Keatley, P Donohue, C O’Connell (c); G Rowsome, R Fox; P Harnett, L Óg Glynn, P Hussey; D Dawson, M Donnellan, A O’Connell.

Subs: M O’Neill for P Donohue (h-t), M Kearney for I Keatley (43), J Lydon for A O’Connell (54), J Clifford for R Fox (inj), W McCormack for L Óg Glynn (both 59).

Referee: Evan Horan (Kerry).