Cork PIFC: Early storm eases slick Kiskeam past Castletownbere
Gene Casey wins the ball for Kiskeam against Castletownbere in the McCarhy Insurance Group Premier IFC at Inchigeela. Picture: John Tarrant
Kiskeam join Macroom at the top of a hotly competitive Group 2 in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC thanks to a merited victory over Castletownbere at Inchigeela on Sunday.
When the sides met in the preliminary phase last season, Kiskeam bagged four goals to enjoy an eight-point triumph and confirm a quarter-final slot. Yes, much closer on this occasion yet Kiskeam’s fusion of work-rate and polished finishing helped deliver telling scores. Indeed, the slicker movement of the Kiskeam attack proved the ultimate difference, particularly in the opening half.
Castletownbere paid dearly for a sluggish initial spell when they trailed by 13 points at the interval, while they improved on the turnover, they had too much ground to make up.
From a stalemate opening series of games three weeks previously, both teams securing draws, this game was of enormous significance. Kiskeam showed three changes of personnel from the starting side against Aghada, Eoghan Daly, Adrian Carroll and Mike Casey returning from injury. Castletown provided a single alteration with Oisín Murphy gaining selection at the throw-in.
Operating against the breeze in the first half, Castletownbere enjoyed a positive start, Fintan Finner pointing. Kiskeam responded with a two-point free converted by Seán O’Sullivan.
Though Fenner tied up matters, Kiskeam exposed a critical gap in the Town defence on 10 minutes, a long ball from Carroll found full-back Jack O’Connor in an advanced position to lay off to fellow defender Jack Daly to find the top corner of the net.
Kiskeam remained sharper, Thomas Casey bisecting the posts and a two-pointer from Paul O’Callaghan extended their position 1-5 to 0-2 midway through the opener. If anything, the tempo of Kiskeam’s game quickened. Their defence held sway under the leadership of Kieran O’Connor, county player Seán Meehan, Gene Casey and Adrian Carroll dominated the midfield region.
Sweeping forward, Kiskeam offered the perfect advertisement for attacking football, seven points delivered on the spin, highlighted by an orange flag from O’Sullivan. Castletown broke a barren 18 minutes without a score, Fenner found the target. That score was cancelled out by Thomas Casey.
The sides traded further points to Declan Dunne and AJ O’Connor for Kiskeam to enjoy a commanding 1-14 to 0-4 advantage at the break. Kiskeam extended their lead, O’Sullivan pointing on the restart before Castletown received a much-needed boost with a well-taken Lee Kelly goal.
A blow for Town saw substitute Tomás Murphy pick up a black card when conceding a penalty. Credit keeper Gerard Healy for saving superbly from O’Sullivan, yet they trailed 1-16 to 1-5 at the three-quarter stage.
Kiskeam lost Adrian Carroll to black card offence. As the tempo dropped, Castletown answered through Gary Murphy and Fenner’s two-pointer.
In fairness, the peninsula men generated momentum down the home straight, Fenner added orange flags, too late in the day, the game already won by the Duhallow side.
As it stands, all four teams in the group remain in contention to advance to the knockout phase, the matter will be resolved on Saturday, September 12, when Kiskeam face Macroom in a top-of-the-table clash at Kanturk while Castletownbere encounter Aghada at Rossmore.
S O’Sullivan 0-8 (1 2pt f, 1 2 pt, 0-1 f), J Daly 1-0, P O’Callaghan (2pt), S O’Riordan, T Casey 0-2 each, A J O’Connor, M Casey, D Murphy 0-1 each.
F Fenner 0-11 (2 2pt f, 1 2pt, 0-2 f), L Kelly 1-0, D Dunne, J Spenser, G Murphy 0-1 each.
B Daly; J Daly, J O’Connor, Michael Casey; D Murphy, E Daly, K O’Connor; S Meehan, G Casey; A Carroll, A J O’Connor, P O’Callaghan; S O’Sullivan, T Casey, S O’Riordan.
Maurice Casey for A J O’Connor (47), D Scannell for S O’Riordan (51), M Cronin for S O’Sullivan (59).
G Healy; D Walsh, J Rosales Harrington, B Murphy; M Orpen, T Collins, D Hanley; A O’Sullivan, O Murphy; U Murphy, F Fenner, J Hanley; J Spenser, D Dunne, L Kelly.
T Murphy for J Hanley (24), J Harrington for J Spenser (44), G Murphy for O Murphy (44).
Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).
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