Kilmacs shake off cobwebs

Kilmacabea 1-13

St Oliver Plunkett’s 1-5

DEFENDING league champions Kilmacabea began this season’s campaign with a comprehensive win over St Oliver Plunkett’s in bitingly cold Ahiohill on Sunday afternoon. 

Both sides were missing some regulars and it took the Kilmacs some time to shake off the winter cobwebs before getting a firm grip on the game in the second half. 

They were aided by a strengthening wind in that half but in the first half Plunkett’s, beaten in the first round by St James the previous week, gave as good as they got.

Scoring was understandably low in the first half as players adjusted to the heavy going and the swirling breeze. For both sides the experienced campaigners stood out but the young newcomers more than left their mark, which will please the mentors. 

Darren Whooley, the Jenningss, Clive Sweetnam, the Collins brothers, Ger O’Donovan, Richie O’Sullivan and Karl McCarthy all showed their experience for the winners but in Adrian Gore they have the makings of another star player, with Owen O’Sullivan and Timmy Nyhan also contributing well.

For Plunkett’s, Conor O’Driscoll, Conor McCarthy, Eddie O’Driscoll, Timmy Coffey and Kevin Walsh backboned the challenge but in young players Ronan McCarthy, Brian Dowling, Michael Collins and David White, they have promising talent coming through, while Sean O’Donovan at wing forward was their stand-out player on the day, kicking 1-3 of their total.

Plunkett’s had the advantage of the wind in the first half and they matched their vaunted opponents score for score, the sides being tied on four occasions. O’Donovan kicked three superb points from play for Plunkett’s, with Conor O’Driscoll kicking a fourth. For the Kilmacs, Ger O’Donovan converted two frees, while lively corner forwards, Owen O’Sullivan and Timmy Nyhan, had points from play. Just before the break David White kicked a point to put Plunkett’s in front at half time, 0-5 to 0-4.

As the wind strengthened in the second half, Kilmacabea’s grip on the game tightened. Martin and Joe Collins drove them on from midfield, while Darren Whooley was outstanding at full back and Richie O’Sullivan orchestrated the attack superbly from full forward in the absence of county player Damien Gore.

Sub Oisín O’Sullivan made an instant impact with two points, augmenting two from Richie O’Sullivan. When Karl McCarthy billowed the Plunketts’ net in the 45th minute, the Kilmacs were well on the road to victory.

In the last quarter, the Kilmacs rang the changes from the bench and further points from Darren Whooley, Ger O’Donovan (two frees), Karl McCarthy and Richie O’Sullivan brought their tally to 1-13. 

Plunkett’s also emptied their bench in the second half but despite giving their all, they had to wait until the 62nd minute to kick their only score of the second half when Sean O’Donovan expertly converted a penalty.

Scorers

Kilmacabea: Karl McCarthy 1-1, Ger O’Donovan 0-4f, Richie O’Sullivan 0-3, Oisín O’Sullivan 0-2, Darren Whooley, Timmy Nyhan, Owen O’Sullivan 0-1 each. 

St Oliver Plunkett’s: Sean O’Donovan 1-3 (1-0 pen), Conor O’Driscoll, David White 0-1 each.

Kilmacabea: Matthew O’Neill; Mark Jennings, Darren Whooley, Thomas Jennings; Donie O’Donovan, Clive Sweetnam, Adrian Gore; Martin Collins, Joe Collins; Liam Thompson, Ger O’Donovan, Colin McCarthy; Owen O’Sullivan, Richie O’Sullivan, Timmy Nyhan. 

Subs: Niall O’Regan, Karl McCarthy, Oisín O’Sullivan, Miles Tobin, Peadar O’Leary, Niall Bowkett.

St Oliver Plunkett’s: Brian Walsh; Ciarán Dullea, Timmy Coffey, Donagh Tarrant; Brian Dowling, Eddie O’Driscoll, Ronan McCarthy; Conor O’Driscoll, Conor McCarthy; Sean O’Donovan, Kevin Walsh, Michael Collins; David White, Kevin Coffey, Owen McCarthy. 

Subs: Ivor Helen, Mike McCarthy, Sean Gazner, Greg O’Sullivan, Darragh Hurley.  

Referee: Michael Collins (Clonakilty).

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