Russell Rovers defeat St Catherine's to end five-year gap for Cork Premier JHC title

They were on top from the the third minute when Brian Hartnett netted, and with two more goals following in the second half - the first by captain and former county footballer Ciarán Sheehan was a killer blow as it came when St Catherine’s had reduced the deficit to three - there was no escaping the fact the Dave Dorgan managed and Donal Óg Cusack coached side were the better team.

Russell Rovers' third goal was the clinching score from Luke Duggan Murray after he collected a pass from Josh Beausang in the second of five minutes stoppage.

With that, the Jimmy O’Mahony Cup was on its way to Shanagarry. Beausang, once more, was their top-scorer with 0-7, three from play.

The winners were also boosted when centre-back James Kennefick got his red card rescinded after a hearing by Munster GAA the evening before the game.

Not so good news though for St Catherine’s Richie O’Connell, who failed to have his red card overturned. Defeated finalists in 2023, they were also forced to line out minus injured midfielder Kyle Wallace (introduced in second half), but with a number of other injuries to contend with, Denis Walsh’s team were under pressure.

And they made a nervous start.

Meanwhile, Brian Hartnett’s ground shot after a delivery from Fintan Murray broke his way, resulted in a Russell Rovers goal and the men from Shanagarry, Churchtown south, Ballycotton and Garryvoe were up-and-running.

Encouraged by the promising start, twice they denied the Saints successive goal shots, the first from Seán O’Donoghue which was brilliantly saved by Ross Walsh and the follow-up from Brian Mulcahy came back off the post.

When the ball was worked straight down the field, Beausang rifled over from play. Another brace was added for them to lead 1-3 to 0-2 after quarter of an hour.

St Catherine’s were getting very little change out of the Russell Rovers defence, their second point not arriving until the 15th minute.

There was another dead ball effort from Beausang and an excellent one from play before Brian Mulcahy landed a third point for St Catherine’s.

Beausang (twice) and Ruairí Cummins contributed to an eight point lead for Russell Rovers on the approach to the break.

St Catherine’s, with centre-back Oisín Fitzgerald trying his best to rally the troops, finished with a Galvin free, to leave the half time score; 1-8 to 0-4.

St Catherine’s sub William Leamy was straight into the action, so to was centre-forward Galvin, who supplied three points from play.

With their bench making an impact, Eoghan O’Riordan cut the gap to three points midway through the half, 1-11 to 0-11.

Then, up stepped skipper Sheehan with Kieran Walsh and sub Jack McGrath involved in the build-up, and Sheehan crashed the net from close range.

St Catherine’s Eoin Davis was forced to go for goal from a 30metre free and when that was saved three minutes from time, they were running out of clock.

Dan Mangan came in for St Catherine’s, and while he won three frees, they couldn’t get the goal they so badly needed.

The Russell Rovers support went into rapture when Luke Duggan Murray netted goal number three at the death.

Scorers for Russell Rovers: J Beausang (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), L Duggan Murray (1-2), B Hartnett (1-1), C Sheehan (1-0), R Cummins, K Walsh and K Moynihan (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Catherine’s: R Galvin (0-2 frees) and B Mulcahy (0-1 free) (0-5 each), E Davis (free), E O’Riordan, S O’Donoghue, D Mangan (free) and K Wallace (0-1 each).

RUSSELL ROVERS: R Walsh; K O’Brien, E O’Sullivan, K Tattan; F Murray, J Kennefick, R Cummins; D Moynihan, K Walsh; L Duggan Murray, K Moynihan, M O’Dwyer; J Beausang, C Sheehan (Capt), B Hartnett.

Subs: P Lane for F Murray (43), D Ruddy for M O’Dwyer (47), J McGrath for B Hartnett (50), S Walsh for K Tattan (56), K Ivers for K Moynihan (65).

ST CATHERINE’S: E Davis; F O’Connell, E O’Riordan (J-Capt), P Keane; C Hegarty (J-Capt), O Fitzgerald, K Neville; K O’Donoghue, J Hayes; J Neville, R Galvin, E Condon; B Mulcahy, K Barry, S O’Donoghue.

Subs: W Leamy for K Barry (half-time), K Wallace for K O’Donoghue, S Cotter for J Hayes (both 37), G O’Brien for K Neville (43), D Mangan for E Condon (50).

Referee: Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers).