Aghabullogue 2-12

Uibh Laoire 2-11

NOEL HORGAN REPORTS

IT was expected to be a close affair, and the county premier intermediate football championship final proceeded along anticipated lines at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

Just a point separated Aghabullogue and Uibh Laoire in a Muskerry derby encounter that looked destined to go to a replay until Matthew Bradley landed the decisive score for the Coachford outfit at the death.

Kicked from out on the left wing, it was a point worthy to win any game. It did the trick for Aghabullogue, who, crowned intermediate A kingpins in 2023, collected a second county title in three seasons.

It’s a measure of their consistency that they fell to Kilshannig after a replay in last year’s premier intermediate decider, and it would be hard to begrudge them promotion to senior A ranks on that account.

While the game could have gone either way in the end, Aghabullogue just about deserved the win because they looked the more convincing side for much of the first half.

‘I told the lads that to be beaten by a better team is fair enough, but don’t be caught for not working, for not fighting, for not digging it out, and, to their credit, they did everything we expected of them today,’ manager Ray Keane said.

‘To be honest, I’m more proud of this group than any I’ve ever been involved with.’

Aghabullogue captain John Corkery raises the Billy Long Cup.

Aghabullogue got a lucky break in the sixth minute when a Matthew Bradley free dropped short, and Uibh Laoire goalkeeper Joe Creedon didn’t control the ball, allowing Luke Casey to make the most of a golden opportunity.

Casey’s strike pushed them 1-1 to 0-2 ahead, but it was quickly negated by Uibh Laoire’s Ian Jones, who fisted the ball home after centre-forward Cathal Vaughan had pumped it into the danger-zone.

Although erratic shooting, which brought them six first-half wides, hindered Aghabullogue’s progress subsequently, they regained the lead, 1-3 to 1-2, courtesy of a converted 45 by Bradley in the 17th minute. That chance came about after a slick raid put John Corkery through, but his shot from close-range was foiled by Uibh Laoire custodian Joe Creedon.

It was the turn of Aghabullogue goalkeeper John Buckley to prove his worth later in the first half, as he saved well from Chris Óg Jones after midfielder Conor O’Leary had plucked a ball from the clouds to initiate the Uibh Laoire attack.

Cork ace Jones wasn’t to be denied in the 26th minute, with Ian Jones completing an incisive run with a smart lay-off, leaving the former with the simple task of palming to the net.

It gave the Inchigeelagh men a flattering five-point lead, but Aghabullogue replied with scores from Adam Murphy, a two-pointer, and Luke Casey to finish the first half just 2-5 to 1-6 in arrears.

Both sides enjoyed productive spells as an absorbing battle for supremacy unfolded in the second half. A well-worked goal, netted with aplomb by John Corkery, triggered an Aghabullogue purple-patch that yielded a good score from Pauric O’Sullivan before another two-pointer from Adam Murphy left them leading by 2-11 to 2-7 at the three-quarter-mark.

But Cathal Vaughan, moved to full-forward, kicked an inspirational two-pointer, and tacked on another fine score before Ian Jones won a free that allowed Chris Óg Jones to bring Uibh Laoire back on terms in the 55th minute.

They were entitled to feel they had the momentum to push on from there, but Aghabullogue held their nerve when the crunch came, with Matthew Bradley, placed by substitute David Thompson, doing the needful to break the deadlock, and Uibh Laoire’s hearts, in stoppage time.

Needless to say, Bradley was Aghabullogue’s main hero, but Luke Casey was probably their most effective attacker overall, while John Corkery also made a telling impact at centre-forward.

Adam Murphy posted a brace of valuable two-pointers from midfield, Paul Ring had an excellent game at wing-back, and Paul Dilworth paid his way in the full-back line – his leech-like attentions ensuring Uibh Laoire’s ace attacker Chris Óg Jones had a relatively quiet outing by his own standards.

Cathal Vaughan and Ian Jones were leading lights up front for the losers, Timmy Roberts worked tirelessly at midfield, while Barry-Murphy gave a very assured performance at full back, with Sean O’Leary and Kevin Manning others to catch the eye in defence.

With the county hurling final against Bandon still to come, the first part of the double is complete.

Scorers

Aghabullogue: L Casey 1-3; M Bradley 0-4 (1f, 1 45); A Murphy 0-4 (2 2pt); J Corkery 1-0; P O’Sullivan 0-1.

Uibh Laoire: C Vaughan 0-7 (2 2pt, 1 2ptf); C Óg Jones 1-3 (2f); I Jones 1-0; S O’Riordan 0-1.

Aghabullogue: J Buckley; C Smyth, P Dilworth, D Merrick; P Ring, S Tarrant, B O’Sullivan; C Gillespie, A Murphy; A O’Sullivan, J Corkery, P O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for E O’Sullivan (48), D Thompson for P O’Sullivan (59).

Uibh Laoire: J Creedon; D O’Riordan, B Murphy, D O’Donovan; K Manning, S O’Leary, C Galvin; T Roberts, C O’Leary; S O’Riordan, C Vaughan, B O’Leary; C O’Riordan, C Óg Jones, I Jones.

Subs: S Pickering for B O’Leary (40), B Cronin for C O’Riordan (49).

Referee: W Wallis (Aghada).