Kilbrittain 2-15

Davidstown-Courtnacuddy 1-16

JOHNNY CAROLAN REPORTS

IT WAS their biggest test in more ways than one, but Kilbrittain passed it in a hugely impressive fashion.

Clonmel Sportsfield will also remain in the affections of those with black and amber loyalties after Saturday’s AIB All-Ireland Club JHC semi-final win over Wexford’s Davidstown-Courtnacuddy. The prize is of course a place in the final and a January trip to Croke Park.

Playing the best team they had met all year, Kilbrittain had to deal with the toughest conditions of their eight-game championship campaign but, at the end, their 100 percent record was still intact.

Kilbrittain celebrations begin in Clonmel. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Leading by four points as normal time was about to conclude, Kilbrittain’s defence was finally breached as the Wexford and Leinster champions found the net. The prospect of extra time seemed a possibility but Kilbrittain’s defending in the four minutes of injury time was assiduous, ensuring no equalising chance materialised, in open play from a scoreable free.

When the pressure was relieved, Mark Hickey was on hand to double the lead – it meant that Davidstown-Courtnacuddy had to chase a winning goal but their hopes were in vain and the final whistle brought joy for the travelling Kilbrittain support.

‘As soon as they got the goal, the fourth official very helpfully told us that there were five minutes left,’ said Kilbrittain manager Joe Ryan, ‘so I thought we'd be under pressure.

‘We had spoken about it at half-time about learning – I thought they were excellent in the second half, there was no backchat, there were no silly frees given away.

‘You saw the conditions, it was really, really hard. I'd say it was an absolutely absorbing game to watch.’

Kilbrittain's Philip Wall under pressure from Eoin Cloke of Davidstown-Courtnacuddy. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

It was a great contest and that late four-point lead for Kilbrittain was the biggest either side held at any stage. What will be pleasing for the Ambers – beyond the ability to come out top in such an attritional battle – was how they responded to the two occasions, one in each half, where they fell behind.

Having had the better of the opening stages without translating that fully to the scoreboard – Ronan Crowley and Bertie Butler, both excellent throughout, had early goal chances but shot just wide and over, respectively – Kilbrittain were down 0-8 to 0-7 after Oisín Doyle, excellent from dead balls for Davidstown-Courtnacuddy pointed a free from his own 65.

Within a couple of minutes, they were back in front, though – after Mark Hickey went for goal from a free, the shot was saved but the ball stayed in the Davidstown-Courtnacuddy half and Butler and captain Philip Wall combined to set up Hogan to fire home.

That strike ensured that they led by 1-8 to 0-10 at half-time, though the advantage could have been even greater, with Luke Griffin flashing a shot wide following a Darragh Considine’s delivery.

Kilbrittain's Conor Hogan is challenged by Seán Fitzpatrick of Davidstown-Courtnacuddy. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Joe Doyle had Davidstown-Courtnacuddy level on the restart. Hickey’s sixth had Kilbrittain back in front but Pauric Doyle and then Hayes had points to put the Slaneysiders ahead by 0-13 to 1-9.

There was no panic, however: Hickey tied matters again with his ninth of the day and another goal was on the way. Colm Sheehan started the move with a good ball to Conor Hogan, who kept possession despite losing his footing and then, despite looking to be crowded out, kicked the sliothar to Griffin, who made no mistake.

It was an important score, not least because they wouldn’t add another almost a quarter of an hour. The excellent Hayes (two) and Tomás O’Connor had points as Davidstown-Courtnacuddy levelled again but Kilbrittain stood up when needed.

Bertie Butler, deployed as a third midfielder, made some big plays while Seán Sexton and Josh O’Donovan were tireless in that area. After Hickey put them back in front, Sexton was fouled for two more converted frees 2-13 to 0-16 with 57 minutes on the clock.

And yet, that lead could have been wiped out. Davidstown-Courtnacuddy sub Tom Quigley found Joe Doyle, whose shot came back off the post; Kilbrittain broke and Hickey was fouled, firing over his 11th point.

The importance of the four-point advantage was underlined when Lucas Fitzpatrick did manage to get a Davidstown-Courtnacuddy goal but it proved to be their last score.

Kilbrittain did enough to secure the win and now they will get to grace the Croke Park turf.

Scorers

Kilbrittain: Mark Hickey 0-12 (10f); Luke Griffin, Conor Hogan 1-0 each; Tomás Sheehan, Ronan Crowley, Bertie Butler 0-1 each.

Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Oisín Hayes 0-10 (7f, 1 65); Lucas Fitzpatrick 1-1; Pauric Doyle 0-2; David Dunne, Joe Doyle, Tomás O’Connor 0-1 each.

Kilbrittain: David Desmond; Darragh Considine, James Hurley, Eoin O’Neill; Tomás Sheehan, Aaron Holland, Colm Sheehan; Seán Sexton, Josh O’Donovan; Mark Hickey, Bertie Butler, Ronan Crowley; Luke Griffin, Philip Wall, Conor Hogan.

Subs: Nick O’Donovan for Colm Sheehan (35-37), Conor Ustianowski for Considine (40), Declan Harrington for Hogan (56), Tom Harrington for Griffin (60+4).

Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Seán Cooper; Seán Fitzpatrick, Eddie Kelly, Seán Nicholson; Jack O’Regan, Tomás O’Connor, James Kelly; Barry Nolan, Brian Smith; David Dunne, Lucas Fitzpatrick, Pauric Doyle; Joe Doyle, James Doyle, Oisín Hayes.

Subs: Rhyan Whelan for Nicholson (26, injured), Eoin Cloke for Smith (50).

Referee: Nicky O’Toole (Waterford).