Kilmacabea-St James 2-8
Grenagh 1-8
IT was a day to remember as Kilmacabea-St James were crowned Rebel Óg County U18 Division 2 football champions after a thrilling victory over a determined Grenagh side in front of a large crowd in Bishopstown.
This was a contest that had everything – drama, skill, and no shortage of heart from both teams.
The opening half was a tense affair, with defences on top and scores at a premium. Kilmacabea-St James edged into a slender one-point lead at the break, thanks to points from Euan Whelton, Joe McCarthy, and Liam Dooley.
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The second half began with a powerful attack that resulted in a goal from Joe McCarthy just seconds after the ball was thrown in. Grenagh quickly responded with a goal of their own, bringing it back to a one-point game.
As the clock ticked towards the final ten minutes, Kilmacabea-St James were awarded a crucial penalty. Up stepped captain Seán Whelton, who made no mistake with a composed finish to the top of the net, stretching his side’s lead to four points.
With seven minutes remaining, the West Cork outfit looked in control, holding a six-point cushion. Yet Grenagh mounted a spirited comeback, hitting four unanswered points between the 53rd and 59th minutes to set up a nervy finish.
The final say, however, belonged to Kilmacabea-St James. Liam Dooley slotted over a vital insurance point to settle the contest and spark jubilant celebrations among the travelling supporters. In the dying moments, goalkeeper Sam Mahon produced two outstanding saves to preserve the lead and ensure the trophy was heading west.
It was a performance built on teamwork, discipline, and sheer determination – a testament to the efforts of both players and the management team of John O'Donovan, Des Murphy, Noel Crowley, Mike White, and Derek Whelton.
Scorers for Kilmacabea-St James were Sean Whelton 1-1, Joe McCarthy 1-1, Joe O'Donovan 0-2, Liam Dooley 0-2, and Euan Whelton 0-2.
