Kilmurry regained the Ross Oil JAFC Final with a strong late rally against Aghinagh before a huge crowd at the Castle Grounds, Macroom. The first half was very even and the sides were locked together before Aghinagh struck in dramatic circumstances for two goals to gain a seven point advantage.  However Kilmurry got in for a vital goal before half time and had cut the gap to two points by the time the half time whistle sounded. The second half saw Aghinagh largely outplayed but they hung in there until almost the very end before Kilmurry got in for two late goals to take their eighth title.

Kilmurry’s David O’Halloran opened the scoring from a free but Aghinagh equalised from a Donal Corkery free and William Coakley then put them in front. Joseph Ryan converted a free for Kilmurry, 0-2 apiece at the end of the first quarter.  In the 20^th minute, the game took a dramatic turn when Aghinagh’s  Seamus O’ Leary was brought down by the Kilmurry goalkeeper Jason McDonald who was injured and had to be stretchered off the field, receiving a black card for the challenge!  Joseph Ryan took over as the goalkeeper but Seamus O’Leary blasted an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net to put Aghinagh in front.  Donal Corkery then pointed a free before putting William Coakley clear for a smashing goal for Aghinagh.  Kilmurry who now trailing by seven points appearing in their third final in a row, they hit back with a really fine goal.  Aghinagh lost possession in attack, Kilmurry broke down the right wing and Pádraig Berhanu put a perfect pass across into the path of Daniel Cahalane who took the ball in full stride and placed a superb shot into the far corner of the Aghinagh net. Two points followed from Jonathon Buckley and Alan O’Sullivan and the score was now 2-3 to 1-4 and Kilmurry were certainly back in contention.

Aghinagh converted a free from Donal Corkery in the opening minutes of the second half which remarkably was their only score for the entire second half.  Kilmurry dominated possession but their only reward was a point from a Greg Barrett free.  With the game entering the final stages Jonathon Buckley landed a terrific free on 53 minutes which reduced the gap to the minimum and the sides were level following another point from a David O’Halloran free in the 54^th minute, 2-4 to 1-7 now.  A minute later it was all over as Kevin Barrett broke up an Aghinagh attack and galloped out of his own defence, the clearance went to Jonathan Buckley who billowed the Aghinagh net from close range and immediately after Kilmurry attacked again and this time Daniel Cahalane squeezed the ball past Paul O’Sullivan to wrap up the title for Kilmurry. 

Kevin Barrett, Liam Long, James White, David O’Halloran and team captain Greg Barrett were outstanding for Kilmurry. Goalkeeper Jason McDonald suffered a leg injury and will be out of action for some time.

Scorers: Kilmurry: D Cahalane 2-0, J Buckley 1-2 (2f), D O’Halloran 0-2 (2f),   G Barrett (f), J Ryan (f), A O’Sullivan 0-1 each.  Aghinagh: W Coakley 1-1, S O’Leary 1-0, D Corkery 0-3 (3f’s).

 

Kilmurry: Jason McDonald; Liam Long, Kevin Barrett, William Barrett: Dave O’Halloran, David O’Leary, Adam Healy; James White, Greg Barrett: Jonathan Buckley, Finbarr Crowley, David McCarthy; Jonathan Buckley, Joe Ryan, Pádraig Berhanu. Subs:  Alan O’Sullivan (21), Eoin Barrett (h/t), Michael Kelleher (55), Liam Buckley.

Aghinagh:  Paul O’Sullivan; Paudie O’Sullivan, Alan Hourihan, Jeremiah Kelleher; Dermot O’Callaghan, Dave Barry, Miceál Corkery; Mikey O’Brien, William Ambrose; Sean Kelleher, Seamus O’Leary, Trevor Burns; William Coakley, Donal Corkery, Declan Ambrose. Subs: Kieran Lehane (38), James Ambrose (48), Donagh McCarthy (52), Sean Horgan (57), Con Lehane (59).