Kilbrittain 3-21

Russell Rovers 1-13

TOM LYONS REPORTS

DISPLAYING all the experience and confidence of All-Ireland champions and playing a marvellous brand of hurling on their maiden voyage in the intermediate grade, Kilbrittain started this campaign in style.

The Black and Amber crushed the challenge of hapless Russell Rovers in the first round of the Co-op Superstores Intermediate A Hurling Championship in Ballinhassig on Sunday.

A first-half blitz that produced four points in the opening two and a half minutes, a lead of 0-10 to 0-1 after 15 minutes and a half-time lead of 17 points saw Kilbrittain at their brilliant best – their teamwork, long striking and score-taking absolutely flawless.

Of the 2-17 scored by Kilbrittain in the first half, with all six forwards getting their names on the score sheet, 2-14 came from play.

Kilbrittain did have a breeze to their backs which they used to perfection when hitting some marvellous long-range points. They copper fastened their lead with a pair of goals in the closing minutes of the half, the first in the 29th minute from Luke Griffin, a one-handed pull after Philip Wall had hit the post, and the second in the 32nd minute when Conor Hogan burst through two tackles to finish to the net.

On this occasion the Shanagarry outfit just didn’t know what hit them, managing only a single point in the opening quarter. Even though there was an improvement in the second quarter with five points, the game was done and dusted by half time, 2-17 to 0-6.

Kilbrittain's Philip Wall gets possession ahead of Russell Rovers' Pierce Cummins. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

‘Realistically, we didn’t expect that gap between the sides today,’ said a satisfied Kilbrittain manager Joe Ryan.

‘We put a lot of pressure on ourselves coming into this game after a poor finish to the league. We asked questions of the lads that we needed to see something. Fair play to the lads, they produced it today in the first half.

‘You plan and hope for a good start, sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t, today it did with four quick points.

‘It’s all about momentum and this win will give us that as we face Bandon in the next round. That will be the real test.’

A blitz start saw Kilbrittain four points in front after only 150 seconds with scores from the returning Philip Wall, Ronan Crowley (sideline cut), Luke Griffin and Josh O’Donnell, who had a great first half as a roving corner forward.

There was no let-up as they rifled over six more points in the first quarter, with Griffin, (two), Crowley (two), O’Donovan and Mark Hickey finding the target from all distances and angles. Beausang, his knee heavily strapped, had Rovers’ only score in reply.

0-10 to 0-1 in front, Kilbrittain stretched the lead with two more scores starting the second quarter, from Hickey (free) and O’Donovan, while Luke Griffin rattled a shot off the crossbar.

Shell-shocked Rovers finally began to show traces of their form, and had three in-a-row from Jack McGrath, Kevin Tattan and Beausang (free).

However, after Wall and James Kennefick swapped points, Kilbrittain regained their momentum. Following points from Crowley and Eoin O’Neill, they struck the first fatal blow with Griffin’s goal in the 29th minute. McGrath had a Rovers’ point, but Kilbrittain answered with points from Hickey (65) and Griffin.

They really turned the screw with a second goal, from Conor Hogan, in the 32nd minute. It was an incredible lead of 17 points at the break.

Kilbrittain's Darragh Considine defending against Russell Rovers' Jack McGrath. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

A forgettable second half saw Kilbrittain increase the lead to 20 points, Hickey and Crowley (two) scoring, before taking the foot off the pedal.

Rovers never stopped trying and were rewarded with three scores from Beausang, and a great solo goal in the 42nd minute. Beausang followed with two pointed frees, plus a David Crotty point to put a more respectable look on the scoreboard.

Rovers had to try for goals from frees in the closing stages but the Kilbrittain backs stood firm, conceding only two points to Luke Duggan-Murray and Beausang.

Philip Wall, just returned from his six-month sojourn in Australia and a huge asset to his side, finished the game in style with a point and a last-second goal when he blocked the goalkeeper’s clearance and raced through to finish to the net.

The 3-21 to 1-13 victory was indeed a great introduction to the intermediate grade for the Black and Amber, who now face a mouth-watering local derby with Bandon on August 23rd in Ballinspittle.

OUR STARS: Josh Beausang stood out for Rovers and you could pick any one of Josh O’Donovan, Luke Griffin, Philip Wall and Ronan Crowley as man-of-the-match on the day.

Scorers

Kilbrittain: Philip Wall 2-3; Ronan Crowley 0-6 (1 sl); Luke Griffin, Mark Hickey (1f, 1 65) 0-4 each; Conor Hogan 1-0; Josh O’Donovan 0-3; Eoin O’Neill 0-1.

Russell Rovers: Josh Beausang 1-7 (4f, 1 65); Jack McGrath 0-2; Kevin Tattan, James Kennefick, Luke Duggan-Murray, David Crotty.

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

Subs: Fionn Ustionowski for J O’Donovan (49), Adam Griffin for E O’Neill (55).

Russell Rovers: Ross Walsh; Kieran Aherne, Paul Lane, Kevin Tattan; Fintan Murray, Pierce Cummins, Liam Fitzgerald; James Kennefick, Jamie Scannell; Luke Duggan-Murray, Mark O'Dwyer, Brian Hartnett; Jack McGrath, Kevin Ivers, Josh Beausang.

Subs: David Crotty for J Scannell (40), Shane O’Donoghue for F Murray (40).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).