Kilmurry learn little from facile win ahead of Firies final showdown

In the ’22 and ’23 showdowns they were defeated by Fossa and Listowel Emmets.

This time they take on Firies.

The Cork champions certainly won’t read too much into their trouble-free semi-final in Fethard Town Park 4G on Saturday against a seriously understrength Cashel King Cormacs.

“No, you wouldn’t get a whole lot out of that,” said coach David Drummond. “It was very facile in the end. Unfortunately we learned nothing and that is no disrespect to Cashel King Cormacs. I think they had their focus on other areas today, they are out in the hurling next weekend against Watergrasshill.” 

This non-contest was done and dusted by half-time when wind-assisted Kilmurry led 0-11 to 1-0 - the Cashel King Cormacs major blasted in the 24th minute by Cian McGrath. They were ultra defensive during this period denying the visitors at least two good goal chances.

Lawrence Asling did find the net in first-half stoppage but the goal was disallowed for a square infringement.

Kudos to their goalkeeper Gearóid Slattery too - an All-Ireland winner with Tipperary minor footballers in 2011 - who despite being beaten four times overall made a number of outstanding saves throughout the hour.

Other than that, the story is all about Kilmurry who made light work of getting past a depleted opposition with the four goals arriving in the second-half.

Top-scorer Liam Wall grabbed the first in the 36th minute after the ball was brilliantly worked through the lines.

Just another two minutes elapsed before Wall set up Ryan Leahy for Kilmurry’s second green flag.

Then, as if the task was difficult enough, Cashel King Cormacs lost Mikey McDermott to a black card in the 40th minute, and while he was off the field sub Joe O’Mullane crashed home a third goal.

Lawrence Asling completed the rout six minutes from time.

Cashel King Cormacs were down to 14 again in the 58th minute when Donal Ryan received a black card.

Nine different scorers contributed to the Kilmurry result, including six from play from influential midfielder James O’Mullane.

Meanwhile injuries picked up by forwards John O’Mullane and Rory Duggan will be monitored this week.

“This is our third year in the final and facing a Kerry team. We haven’t succeeded yet,” Kerry native Drummond reflected.

“We’ll take it from here and prepare well in the next two weeks, and please God things will work out for us.” 

Scorers for Cashel King Cormacs: C McGrath (1-0), D O’Grady (free) and J Browne (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kilmurry: L Wall (1-4), Lawrence Asling (1-3), James O’Mullane (0-6), R Leahy and Joe O’Mullane (1-1 each), J McGinn (0-4 frees), Lloyd Asling (0-2), B Hinchion and K Kelleher (0-1 each).

CASHEL KING CORMACS: G Slattery; M Morrissey, O Dwan, D Moloney; C McGrath, A Browne (J-Capt), P Brosnan; R Anglim, D Ryan; L Riordan, A Moloney, A Skeffington; M McDermott, D Brennan, D O’Grady.

Subs: R Minogue for D Brennan, P Morrissey for M Morrissey, J Browne for D O’Grady (all 40), D O’Grady for R Anglim (53), M Morrissey for A Moloney (56).

KILMURRY: J McDonnell; O Keane, W Ronan (Capt), Lloyd Asling; B Hinchion, T Collins, A Asling; K Kelleher, James O’Mullane; L Wall, Lawrence Asling, R Duggan; R Leahy, John O’Mullane, J McGinn.

Subs: Joe O’Mullane for John O’Mullane (20 inj), D Linehan for R Duggan (42 inj).

Referee: Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh (Kerry).