Aghabullogue see off Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan to book Munster IFC final showdown with An Ghaeltacht
ANOTHER BIG WIN: Aghabullogue's Matthew Bradley tries to get past Askeaton's Niall Barry. Pic: David Creedon.
A closing four-point flurry saw Aghabullogue shake off the determined challenge of Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan to advance to a Munster IFC final against An Ghaeltacht.
Matthew Bradley kicked nine points, including the crucial two-point free in the 53rd minute, as the Coachford club weren’t made to regret a series of missed goal chances.
ABK also had their share of opportunities, with John Buckley’s hard-earned seventh clean sheet in eight games vital to their success.
Ray Keane started seven of the dual stars who delivered a second county double to Aghabullogue in three years last weekend.
After toasting that Intermediate A hurling title, the Cork representatives looked sharp from the throw-in.
Evan O’Sullivan was out in front to lay the ball off for Bradley’s opener. When they won the kick-out, the corner-forward added a second inside two minutes.
It should be noted that Aghabullogue were playing into a strong wind blowing over the City End as they marched into a four-point lead.
Both times, wing-back Breandán O’Sullivan gave the pass for captain John Corkery and Evan O’Sullivan to kick points.
Danny Neville opened ABK’s account with their third attempt after a good turnover by Alan McGrath. The Limerick footballer felt he should’ve received a return pass moments earlier when racing towards goal.
Bradley was in dazzling form as he latched onto Pádraig O’Sullivan’s long punt for a wonderfully measured point. Then, he got onto the end of good work by Luke Casey and Pádraig O’Sullivan to unleash a powerful shot at goal, which Jamie Dolan did well to palm over.
ABK got in for a goal chance when Paul O’Shaughnessy spun his marker. The full-forward’s shot cannoned back off the post and ricocheted out for a 45, which Dolan converted.
Colm Gillespie wrestled possession of the kick-out for Aghabullogue, which led to Bradley’s fifth point. All came from play into the wind as they led 0-7 to 0-2.
Niall Barry did well to cut out the final pass for another Aghabullogue goal chance. From there, the Treaty team got on top for the remainder of the half. They penned in Aghabullogue from the kick-outs and began to pepper shots at the posts.
Joey Rushe slotted a free, but ABK needed two-pointers with the breeze at their backs. They didn’t get them, missing their four efforts from beyond the arc.
They still had a pep in their step going into the changing rooms, thanks to a second Rushe free followed by Neville chipping over. While ending the half with a greater shot count (Aghabullogue’s 10 to their 14), ABK trailed 0-7 to 0-5 at midway.
From the resumption, ABK extended their streak to four unanswered points with a Rushe free trimming the deficit to the minimum.
Aghabullogue began to benefit from the conditions with three on the trot in response.
Evan O’Sullivan took a mark from the ABK kick-out to provide Luke Casey with a point. Bradley added a free before a couple of half goal chances. Pádraig O’Sullivan’s effort was blocked by Luke Gammell, and Casey had a drop shot deflected away by Patrick Moran. Bradley nailed the subsequent 45 for a 0-10 to 0-6 lead.
Remarkably, ABK rallied to level for the first time, starting with Pádraic Murphy’s well-worked point. They traded goal chances as Bradley flashed wide of the target before Murphy’s blast was brilliantly saved by Buckley.
Play was called back for the first of two Rushe frees. Then, Neville’s third made it 0-10 apiece with 11 minutes to play.
Casey got in for another goal chance but pulled his shot wide. Just as the game threatened to escape Aghabullogue’s control, Aaron O’Sullivan was fouled for a two-point free. Bradley made perfect contact to drill it between the posts.
They could’ve wrapped it up moments later. Casey got around the keeper, only for John Fitzsimons to save with his feet. The corner-back also got in the way of David Thompson’s rebound. Play was called back for Thompson to pop over a free.
ABK went in search of a goal, but Colm Gillespie countered for the insurance score. Thompson sent a final goal chance wide, Aghabullogue’s 10th of a hit-and-miss second half.
M Bradley (0-9, 1tpf, 1 free, 1 45); C Gillespie, J Corkery, E O’Sullivan, L Casey, D Thompson (free) (0-1 each).
J Rushe (0-5, 5 frees); D Neville (0-3); J Dolan (45), P Murphy (0-1 each).
J Buckley; C Smith, D Merrick, P Dilworth; P Ring, S Tarrant, B O’Sullivan; C Gillespie, A Murphy; P O’Sullivan, J Corkery (capt), A O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.
C O’Sullivan for P O’Sullivan (48), D Thompson for E O’Sullivan (52), OisÃn O’Connell for A O’Sullivan (57).
J Dolan; B Casey, J Fitzsimons, N Barry; L Gammell, P Moran, S Colgan; S Gallagher, A McGrath (capt); J O’Meara, D Neville, P McMahon; J Rushe, P O’Shaughnessy, P Murphy.
S Whelan for Gallagher (52, inj), C O’Flaherty for O’Shaughnessy (58), J O’Sullivan for McMahon (60), S Hallinan for Fitzsimons (60).
N Quinn (Clare).
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