Superb Kilshannig make statement with impressive win over Bishopstown
DOUBLE TEAM: Kieran Twomey, Kilshannig finds his route to goal blocked in the McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A Football championship: Kilshannig vs Bishopstown at Mallow GAA. Picture: Larry Cummins
Kilshannig backed up their opening-round victory over Clyda Rovers by producing a stellar performance against Bishopstown in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC in Mallow on Saturday evening.
In their second year playing senior, they showed they do belong with all the other top teams in this grade.
In a stunning display, 12 different scorers demonstrated a strong panel effort, and considering it was done minus Éanna O’Hanlon, who is sidelined through injury, it was a true statement win.
Ahead by 0-14 to 0-7 at the interval, and in front of a strong local support in the north Cork venue, they ramped up the pressure in the second half with goals in the 46th and 59th minute from Tom Cunningham and Alan O’Connell respectively.
With two wins from two, they are now in a very healthy position ahead of their final group match against Éire Óg.
This is a youthful Bishopstown squad, and after coming so close against the mid Cork club in round 1, they were outfought in a lot of areas.
They failed to convert a few goal chances in the first half from Jack Tompkins (son of Larry) and Conor Dunne, and while it might have settled them, Kilshannig closed them down at every opportunity, leaving Gary Holland and Kieran McFadden to share most of the scoring for Brian Cuthbert’s side.
Yet, following a Dunne two-pointer, they only trailed by six points midway through the second half, 0-18 to 0-12.
But a brilliant fourth-quarter surge that included two green flags, led to a highly impressive 18-point winning margin for Richie Ryan’s charges.
Former county player Killian O’Hanlon started the rout, and demonstrating he has not lost any of his class, he kicked a two-pointer free after he was fouled himself.
What followed was an unanswered 1-5, and all from play. Either side of Cunningham’s goal, there were points from Jack Twomey, Jack O’Hanlon, Michael Murphy, Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Colm O’Shea.
Kevin Murphy grabbed Bishopstown’s only score during that period in the 52nd minute.
Kilshannig stepped up another notch. In between substitute Donnchad O’Doherty and Jack Twomey points, Alan O’Connell found the back of the net.
The first half was more hard fought.
After 10 minutes, Kilshannig led four points to three - one of them a real beauty by Michael Murphy.
Kieran Twomey’s two-pointer in the 16th minute stretched the lead to four.
Two outstanding efforts from McFadden reduced the margin 0-7 to 0-5.
In the final 10 minutes of the first half, the winners laid down a marker when outscoring Bishopstown seven to two.
The other fixture in this group between Clyda Rovers and Éire Óg due to be played on Sunday is postponed due to a bereavement.
A O’Connell (1-3), T Cunningham (1-2), Darragh O’Sullivan (0-1 free), J Twomey, K Twomey (1 2pt) and J O’Hanlon (0-3 each), K O’Hanlon (2pt free) and M Murphy (0-2), E Healy, C O’Shea, D O’Doherty and Diarmuid O’Sullivan (0-1 each).
G Holland (0-5, 0-2 frees), K McFadden (0-4), C Dunne (0-2 pt), K Murphy and H Wixted (0-1 each).
: G Creedon; C Murphy, E Burke, M Murphy; C O’Shea, B Curtin, E Healy; T Cunningham, K O’Hanlon; Darragh O’Sullivan, A O’Connell, J O’Hanlon; J Twomey, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, K Twomey.
Subs: D O’Doherty for Diarmuid O’Sullivan (48), D Guiney for C Murphy (53), C O’Connell for K O’Hanlon (55).
: C Hynes; M Murphy, L Hogan, M Scally; K McFadden, H Wixted, K Murphy; B McCarthy, J Murphy; P Casey, O Foley, J Tompkins; S Collins, C Dunne, G Holland.
Subs: N Crowley for B McCarthy (half-time), B Cahill for S Collins (48), S Sheridan for J Tompkins (53).
: Robert Whelan (Kilworth).
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