Ross Oil

Mid Cork Junior Football Championship Final:

An excellent Ross Oil 2013 Mid Cork Junior Football championship came to a fitting conclusion at Macroom with a great final, which drew a very large crowd to the Castle Grounds in glorious conditions.  Underdogs Kilmichael won, and few would begrudge them this reward after so many disappointments over the past 26 years, least of all Kilmurry who themselves won last year after a long fruitless period.  It was a fine occasion and all arrangements by host club, Macroom GAA, were excellent.  The match programme produced by Board PRO Dave Lee was great value and the presence of the pipe band from Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh added to the memories of the final for the contestants and their dedicated supporters from the respective neighbouring parishes.  

Kilmichael   2-9   Kilmurry   0-9

Kilmichael are Mid Cork Junior Football champions for the first time since 1987 (when Kilmichael defeated Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh at Macroom) after their defeat of Kilmurry at the Castle Grounds, Macroom. Unfancied Kilmichael were in the right frame of mind and may have surprised Kilmurry with the intensity and quality of their challenge.  They thoroughly deserved their win and delighted their large following who were ecstatic after the game and who could blame them?

Kilmichael scored two goals, each of them ital.  The first came in the 17^th minute when Daniel Twomey sent over a high cross from the right wind and Peter Kelleher was under it to out jump the defenders and fist to the net.   This goal put Kilmichael 1-2 to 0-3 in front and gave them a tremendous boost.  Kilmurry were only two points in arrears with five minutes remaining when Kilmichael finally settled the issue with a goal from a James O'Leary penalty, after Finbarr Dromey had been brought down in the goalmouth.  After this there was clearly no way back for Kilmurry, as Kilmichael were never going to loosen their grip on proceedings.

The Man of the Match award went to Kilmichael's Simon Foley, listed at wing back but playing as a sweeper in a seven man defence with Alan Murphy withdrawn from the attack to man mark at number 7.  Simon Foley did an enormous amount of covering for his fellow defenders and repeatedly surged out of defence to put the pressure back on Kilmurry.  He had plenty of support as Kilmichael had outstanding performers in every part of the field.

Kilmurry scored first with a point from a William Buckley free after two minutes and it took Kilmichael until the 8^th minute to open their account when goalkeeper Shane Masters came up to kick over a ‘45'.  From the kick out Kilmurry came up field and Buckley kicked his second point, this one from play.  Kilmichael were level within minutes through another ‘45', again pointed by goalkeeper Masters.  Greg Barrett restored the lead for Kilmurry but in the 17^th minute Kilmichael got a major boost when another Daniel Twomey high centre from the right wing was met by the fist of Peter Kelleher who rose highest in the goalmouth and the ball nestled in the Kilmurry net. William Buckley kicked a point from a free in reply but Conor Cotter and Daniel Twomey had superb points for Kilmichael to open up a three-point lead by the interval.  Kilmichael were now doing well around midfield where Finbarr Dromey and Michael Twomey were getting strong assistance from their half forward line of Conor Cotter, Peter Kelleher and James O'Leary. Kilmichael led by 1-4 to 0-4 at the break and were now playing well enough to suggest that Kilmurry would have to raise their game to succeed.

William Buckley had a Kilmurry point within 20seconds of the restart but Colm Dromey replied for Kilmichael five minutes later. James Kelleher, an effective half time substitute for Kilmurry scored a fine point, but Kilmichael replied, James O'Leary the scorer. Greg Barrett pointed from a free in the 42^nd minute and when Jonathan Buckley added a point three minutes later the score was 1-6 to 0-8 at the three quarter stage and Kilmurry were coming into the game.  Two points in a minute, one each from Daniel Twomey (a constant threat) and James O'Leary in the 48^th minute, restored Kilmichael confidence and composure.  James Kelleher, under pressure, still managed to kick over a final Kilmurry point in the 23^rd minute but the second Kilmichael goal followed and was decisive.  Finbarr Dromey ran on to a Conor Cotter pass in the Kilmurry goalmouth and was taken down.  Referee John Ryan, who had a fine game, awarded an undisputed penalty which James O'Leary blasted to the net via the upright, Peter Kelleher added a point a minute later and the Kilmichael supporters were in full cry for the final minutes as they roared their favourites home.

Scorers: Kilmichael: Js.O'Leary 1-2 (1-0 pen.), P. Kelleher 1-1, S. Masters 0-2 (‘45's), D. Twomey 0-2, C. Cotter and Colm Dromey 0-1 each.   Kilmurry: Wm. Buckley 0-4 (0-2 frees), G. Barrett 0-2 (frees), Js Kelleher 0-2, J. Buckley 0-1.

Kilmichael: Shane Masters: Colin Murphy, John O'Riordan, Adrian Kelly: Cian Dromey, Finbarr Buckley, Simon Foley: Finbarr Dromey, Miceál Twomey: James O'Leary, Peter Kelleher, Conor Cotter: Alan Murphy, Colm Dromey, Danny Twomey. Subs:  Dermot O'Riordan (57 mins.) and Alan Dromey(58 mins.). Also: Brendan Crowley, Damien Crowley, Darragh Foley, Stephen Kelleher, Donal O'Brien, Brendan Cotter, Niall O'Callaghan, Shane Foley, Donal Kelly and Denis O'Donoghue.

Selectors: Kieran O'Leary, Dermot O'Riordan and Shane Prendeville.

Kilmurry: Jason Mc Donald; Adam Healy, Kevin Barrett, William Barrett; Liam Long, David O'Leary, Pat O'Sullivan; James White, Eoin Creedon; David McCarthy, Dave O'Halloran, Jonathan Buckley; Alan O'Sullivan, Greg Barrett, William Buckley. Subs: James Kelleher (h/t) and Michael Linehan (37).Also: Pat O'Callaghan, Finbarr Crowley, Michael Kelleher, Denis Sheehan, Eoin Barrett, Daniel Cahalane, Liam White, Ian Murphy, Padraig Berhanu, Michael John O'Mahony, Liam Murray, Sean Murray, Sean Long, Patrick Grainger, Tim Irwin, Robert Cahalane.

Selectors: Sean Murphy, Raymond O'Sullivan, Pat Clifford.

Referee: Mr John Ryan, Macroom.

Mr J.J.Long, Cathaoirleach, Roinn Mhuscrai, CLCG presented the trophy to winning team captain John O'Riordan after the game and complimented both teams and referee John Ryan for the most entertaining, sporting game they had provided.  He thanked Ross Oil for their sponsorship, the Macroom club for the arrangements for the final and wished Kilmichael every good fortune as they face Mitchelstown in the opening round of the county championship.

Mr Tim Holland, Ross Oil Ltd., represented the sponsors at the presentation.

An occasion to live long in the memory of the people of  Kilmichael parish and their joy was so evident!.