Cork Premier IFC: Kiskeam rally to grab share of spoils against Aghada

Kiskeam finished strongly to earn a draw against Aghada

Aghada captain Kyle O’Shea with referee Conor McCarthy and Kiskeam captain Thomas Casey before their PIFC game.

Cork Premier IFC: Aghada 2-11 (2-0-11) Kiskeam 1-14 (1-2-10) 

Aghada and Kiskeam had to settle for a draw following a gripping McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC clash at Donoughmore on Saturday.

In a game which ebbed and flowed, both teams will reflect on the meeting with an element of disappointment, knowing the game was there to be won, but also relative relief that a hard-earned point was gained.

Group 2 is now very finely balanced, Macroom and Castletownbere also drew on Saturday, 1-13 apiece.

Recent history favoured Kiskeam, who defeated their East Cork opponents in the league back in April, in a campaign which seen Aghada prop up the table. But it’s a different ball game when the championship rolls around.

In an entertaining first half, both teams went blow for blow. Aghada controlled the early proceedings, with Diarmuid Phelan and Joe McKenna registering scores in the opening four minutes. Paul O’Callaghan responded with Kiskeam’s first point of the afternoon, moments before Jake O’Donoghue added to the Imokilly outfit’s advantage.

The first two-pointer of the contest arrived nine minutes in, courtesy of O’Callaghan. The north Cork side grabbed another score three minutes later, with Seán O’Sullivan making his mark, to leave the score at 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of Kiskeam.

Cian Hegarty notched the first goal of the clash for Aghada in the 14th minute, before Jack Colbert and Jamie O’Hanlon each raised the white flag for the Imokilly team, either side of an unfortunate injury for former Cork star Pearse O’Neill.

McKenna and Phelan combined again for Aghada minutes later to stretch the advantage. The East Cork side were in the groove and converting their chances, a stark contrast to their opponents, who were passing up opportunities.

Good fortune soon arrived for the Duhallow side, who finished the first half the stronger team. A two-pointer from O’Sullivan in the 24th minute kicked off a run of scores. Two more from O’Sullivan and one from O’Callaghan just before the break left the score at 1-7 to 0-9 in favour of Aghada.

Upon the restart, Kiskeam continued their form. Two scores in quick succession from Shane O’Riordan and Sean Meehan edged them ahead, but their good run was halted thanks to a McKenna goal in the 37th minute. Following another O’Callaghan point, Aghada took firm control of proceedings, rattling off three scores in eight minutes to tighten their grip.

Credit to Kiskeam, they never dropped their heads and finished the game stronger. Jack Daly raised the green flag for the North Cork side in the 50th minute, and while Cian Hegarty grabbed a score for Aghada, efforts from Meehan and O’Sullivan either side levelled in the dying moments.

Neither side could find a decisive score in stoppage time, with moves breaking down and passes going astray. The best chance fell late on to Diarmuid Phelan of Aghada, but his close-range effort struck the outside of the post.

With a full-time score of 2-11 to 1-14, both teams will take positives into their remaining games.

Aghada face Macroom in Ovens in three weeks, while Kiskeam meet Castletownbere in Inchigeelagh.

Scorers for Aghada: J McKenna, C Hegarty 1-2 each, D Phelan 0-3, J O’Hanlon 0-2, J O’Donoghue, J Colbert 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kiskeam: S O’Sullivan 0-6 (1 2pt, 1f) P O’Callaghan 0-5 (2 45, 1 2pt), J Daly 1-0, S Meehan 0-2, S O’Riordan 0-1.

AGHADA: R Savage; R Murphy, J Colbert, J Norris; D Phelan, E Leahy, K O’Shea; P O’Neill, J O’Donoghue; C Hegarty, S Morrissey, S Maloney; J McKenna, J O’Hanlon, S Whyte.

Subs: D Wallace for P O’Neill (16 inj), J Tynan for S Whyte (41), F Cody for J McKenna (41), D Byrne for S Moloney (53), K Keane for S Morrissey (58).

KISKEAM: B Daly; J Daly, J O’Connor, J Carroll; D Murphy, A O’Connor, K O’Connor; S Meehan, G Casey; M Casey, T Casey, P O’Callaghan; S O’Sullivan, M Cronin, S O’Riordan.

Subs: E Daly for J Carroll (h-t), D Scannell for M Cronin (41), M Collins for M Casey (44), A Dennehy for G Casey (50), C Murphy for S O’Riordan (50).

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Carbery Rangers).