Cloughduv won their 21^st Mid Cork crown when they defeated Kilmichael, appearing in their first ever A final at Coachford. 

Dave McCarthy and Darragh Ring had early Cloughduv points, Conor Cotter replied for Kilmichael.  Darragh Ring pointed for the winners in the 7^th minute, Peter Kelleher was fouled and Darragh Foley pointed the resultant free and Stephen O’Leary made the first of several outstanding saves from the talented Joe Ryan.  Ring and Foley swapped points from frees, 0-4 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter. Ring and Conor Cotter now exchanged points from play and Darragh Foley pointed a 25^th minute free to level the scores.  The Cloughduv goal came in the 28^th minute and was an opportunistic effort from Brian Ahern who was on hand to whip to the net when the sliotar came down off the upright. An injury to Peter Kelleher caused a delay for treatment after which Darragh Foley pointed a free and Joe Ryan had a point from play to leave Cloughduv two points clear at the break, 1-6 to 0-7. 

 

On the restart, Peter Kelleher cut a sideline ball over the bar but points from Brian Ahern and Dave McCarthy raised a one-goal gap between the teams and Joe Ryan’s point in the 36^th minute mad it 1-9 to 0-8.  Cloughduv could not break through for a goal however as Stephen O’Leary was outstanding for Kilmichael in goal and outside him James O’Leary gave a superb exhibition of full back play.  Trevor Tobin had a point for Kilmichael but Cloughduv had points from Joe Ryan, Brian Ahern, Darragh Ring and Donal Corkery to put themselves in a very strong position, leading by 1-14 to 0-9 with less than ten minutes remaining.  Finbarr Dromey revived Kilmichael hopes with a kicked goal in the 26^th minute but Cloughduv were masters and had late points from Joe Ryan and Sean Curzon to end the scoring.     

Cloughduv: Jonathan Buckley; William Ahern, Aidan Ahern, Paul O’Sullivan; Andrew Cronin, David O’Leary, Aidan Murphy; Ger Ahern, Darragh Ring: James McCarthy; Brian Ahern, Sean O’Connor: Dave McCarthy, Joseph Ryan, Donal Corkery. Subs:  Michael Deasy (42), Liam Long (55)and Sean Curzon (58).

Kilmichael: Stephen O’Leary; John O’Riordan, James O’Leary, Dermot O’Riordan; Donal O’Brien, Finbarr Buckley, Luke Hennigan; Simon Foley, Conor Cotter; Colm Dromey, Peter Kelleher, Miceál Masters; Darragh Foley, Kieran O’Leary, Brendan Cotter. Sub: Trevor Tobin(33), Finbarr Dromey (50), Cian Dromey (50), John O’Mahony (52).

Man of Match Award: Andrew Cronin, Cloughduv.