County title for Kilmurry minors

Saturday November 28th, 2009

KILMURRY’S recent run of success continued as their minors won the Ulster Bank minor B county championship final on Sunday last, November 22nd, in Mourneabbey.

The pitch was in excellent condition despite the torrential rain which it had received in the days leading up to the game. The weather remained dry for the majority of the game but a strong wind was ever present.

The wind favoured Crosshaven in the first half and Kilmurry found it difficult to kick points against the wind. The first point came from Kilmurry’s Greg Barrett who kicked a long distance point in the 11th minute.

Due to good defending by the Crosshaven backs and the strong wind, this would prove to be Kilmurry’s only score of the half. The Crosshaven centre forward, Ciaran McGovern, put his side’s first score on the board when he scored a long distance free in the 18th minute. Ciaran stepped up to the mark once again in the 22nd minute when he scored another fine point, this time from play.

Crosshaven kept the pressure on the Kilmurry lads but failed to convert their opportunities into scores on numerous occasions. The last score of the half came from Crosshaven’s wing forward, Eamon Mills, who put the ball over the bar, making the score Crosshaven 0-3, Kilmurry 0-1 at the break.

The pace of the game seemed to pick up at the start of the second half and scores were to be a lot more plentiful. Kilmurry’s Alan O’Sullivan got the first score of the half when he pointed from a free in the 34th minute.

The Kilmurry men were dealt a blow just over a minute later when Damien O’Shea opened up the Kilmurry defence with a strong run up the middle and blasted the ball into the top corner of the net. The Kilmurry men kept their composure and took control of the game from this point onwards.

Kevin Barrett led by example in defence and was greatly assisted by Johnny O’Leary and William Crowley. Alan O’Sullivan got another point from a free in the seventh minute and scored again from play just over a minute later to bring Kilmurry back within a point of Crosshaven.

Kilmurry got a goal of their own in the 10th minute when a long ball in by Stephen Down, who had made an attacking run from deep in defence, found Greg Barrett who buried the ball in the top corner of the net from twenty yards out.

Greg, who had shown great leadership for his side on many occasions throughout the year, made life very difficult for the Crosshaven defenders and scored three points in the following minutes. Crosshaven got a point in the 48th minute but Kilmurry were to finish the stronger with a goal and point, from corner forward Denis Sheehan, which was to seal the game for Kilmurry. The score at the final whistle was Kilmurry 2-9, Crosshaven 1-4.

The final whistle was greeted with great joy by the Kilmurry supporters in attendance. It was the club’s second time winning this cup in three years. Diarmuid O’Donovan, chairman of the Cork County Minor Board, presented the cup to team captain Kevin Barrett.

Kevin thanked the supporters for their support throughout the year and he also thanked their management team of Donal O’Leary, Michael Garvey, Pat Browne and Noel O’Dowd.

Kilmurry team: Pat Clifford, Mark Cullinane, Kevin Barrett, Johnny O’Leary, William Crowley, Stephen Down, Paul Kearney, Colm Crowley, Colm Ryan, Greg Barrett, David Murphy, Alan O’Sullivan, Denis Sheehan, Daniel O’Connell, Liam Ryan. Subs used: Patrick Grainger, Robert Cahalane, Gearoid Hinchion and Shane Hinchion.