Kilshannig conquer Aghabullogue to grab Premier IFC crown and ticket to Cork's senior ranks
O'hanlon His Celebrates Kilshannig's Cool Pic: Opening Eanna Customer: Goal Eddie O'hare
For the first time since 1991, Kilshannig will be playing senior football after they defeated Aghabullogue in the replay of the final of the Cork PIFC in Pairc Uí Chaoimh this afternoon.
That makes it two promotions in three seasons for the Avondhu side and they will play Rathkeale in the Munster championship next weekend. For Aghabullogue, the dream of back-to-back titles is over as they just fell short after another enthralling encounter.
If an excellent opening period earned Kilshannig the initiative, it was the way in which they handled some adversity in the second half that earned them the title.
They led by 2-7 to 1-4 at the interval, their goals coming from Éanna O’Hanlon and Diarmuid O’Sullivan, but when the game re-started, it was Aghabullogue who were on the front foot.
An Aaron O’Sullivan free and a point from Matthew Bradley left four between them 10 minutes into the second period, and then John Corkery broke through the Kilshannig line.
Bill Curtin dragged him down, earning a black card for his trouble, and when Bradley slotted over the resultant free, the scene seemed set for Aghabullogue to chase Kilshannig down.
It was not to be, however, as the Avondhu side went on to give an exhibition of how to manage the clock. They held possession, they probed, and they sucked the life out of the game.
Colm O’Shea drove forward for his second score, Darragh O’Sullivan kicked a monster of a free to put them five ahead and though Luke Casey responded with a beauty of his own, when Curtin came back on the field, Kilshannig led by 2-9 to 1-8.
David Thompson did point a free immediately for Aghabullogue to leave just a goal in it, but they needed a goal, and that meant Kilshannig defence was not to be breached.
Fittingly, O’Sullivan finished the scoring with another sublime free in injury time, and Kilshannig will be playing senior football in 2025.
The pace of last week’s contest was relentless, and that pace carried through into the opening exchanges here.
Kilshannig were full of intent as they carried the ball through the Aghabullogue defence early and often. Éanna O’Hanlon gave them an early lead, and yet, despite their early dominance, they trailed by 0-2 to 0-1 after eight minutes as Matthew Bradley and Adam Murphy pointed for Aghabullogue.
Successive points from Colm O’Shea and Alan O’Connell put Kilshannig back in front and then they started to pack a real punch. They pressed the Aghabullogue kick-out and pinned them in, and that led to two goals in a minute.
Éanna O’Hanlon had faltered when presented with two early sights at goal, but when his brother, Killian, gave him a third chance, he made no mistake, slotting the ball past Ian O’Sullivan.
Darragh O’Sullivan, Kilshannig’s saviour last weekend, had his first shot of the evening soon after, and when it came back off the post, Diarmuid O’Sullivan was on hand for major number two to make it 2-3 to 0-2.
Aghabullogue just couldn’t break out as Ciarán O’Sullivan made his presence felt at midfield for the Avondhu side, but when they finally won some possession, John Corkery, who else, was on hand to turn defence into attack.
He in turn fed Evan O’Sullivan, but when Bill Curtin got a hand on O’Sullivan’s pass, the danger seemed to have passed. However, Luke Casey had a swing on the loose ball, and Aghabullogue were back in business.
That made it 2-3 to 1-2 on the quarter hour, and then, finally, there was a lull. Both defences got on top with Eoghan Burke impressive for Kilshannig and Brendán O’Sullivan doing well for Aghabullogue.
Kilshannig had a bit more cutting though, as three points from Darragh O’Sullivan and a mark from O’Hanlon outdid points from Corkery and Aaron O’Sullivan for Aghabullogue to make it 2-7 to 1-4 at the interval.
Aghabullogue tried manfully to reel them in from there, but there was to be no denying Kilshannig.
E O’Hanlon (1-2, 0-1 Mark), Darragh O’Sullivan (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 Mark), Diarmuid O’Sullivan (1-0), C O’Shea (0-2), A O’Connell (0-1).
L Casey (1-1), M Bradley (0-3, 0-2 frees), A O’Sullivan (0-2, 0-1 free), J Corkery, D Thompson (free) and A Murphy (0-1 each)
G Creedon; S O’Connell, E Burke, B Curtin; E Healy, C O’Shea (c), C Murphy; T Cunningham, C O’Sullivan; C O’Connell, K O’Hanlon, A O’Connell; É O’Hanlon, Darragh O’Sullivan, Diarmuid O’Sullivan.
K Twomey for Diarmuid O’Sullivan (42), S Murphy for C O’Connell, C McMahon for A O’Connell (58), M Twomey for Healy (60), J O’Hanlon for McMahon (blood, 62-63).
I O’Sullivan; C Smith, M Dennehy, P Dilworth; B O’Sullivan, T Long, A Murphy; C Gillispie, D Merrick; P O’Sullivan, J Corkery (c), A O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.
Subs: S Tarrant for Dilworth (28), D Thompson for P O’Sullivan (47), J Lane for Gillespie (58) C O’Sullivan for Evan O’Sullivan (58).
Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).
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