Kanturk minors bounce back from hurling loss to reach football final

Kanturk minors bounce back from hurling loss to reach football final

After the disappointment of a hurling final loss to St Colman's, Kanturk bounced back on the football front to reach the P2 decider. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Kanturk 3-10 Carbery Rangers 1-6

THREE goals fired Kanturk into the Premier 2 Minor Football Championship final, helping the Duhallow club to offset the disappointment of losing the hurling decider last wee.

Kanturk produced a solid showing throughout after a slow opening quarter and were worthy winners by full-time. 

Carbery Rangers got off to a perfect start when Ciarán Santry almost ripped the net when he got a goal in the opening minute.

Santry slotted over a point for the West Cork men moments later, which was added to by a Conor Twomey score.

Kanturk gradually grow into the contest as the opening half went on.

Colin Walsh was to get a number of well-taken points to reduce the gap back down to a point by the quarter of an hour mark.

Peadar O’Rourke was then to respond in kind to extend the Ross advantage.

But it was Kanturk that ended the opening half on a high when Sam Hopkins finished off a fine passing move on the break to the back of the net.

Kanturk got another Colin Walsh point, as they lead 1-5 to 1-3 at the half time interval, with everything to play for heading into the second half.

It was Kanturk who got the first scores after the break, with Brian Healy, Rory Sheahan and Grantas Bucinskas calmly slotting the ball over the bar. 

Alan Walsh also was to score in what was a fruitful early second half Kanturk spell, with Carbery scoring through Michael Maguire to see the West Cork side trailing by five points with 20 minutes remaining.

Then Kanturk found the back of the net, courtesy of what was a cracker of a finish by Cian O’Sullivan in the 45th minute of play. Rangers, who scored through a Niall Keane free, threw everything at them and put an almighty effort to get a late lifeline back into the contest and had two decent goal opportunities.

But Kanturk put the icing on the cake when Grantas Bucinskas finished with a fine goal in second-half stoppage time.

Scorers for Kanturk: G Bucinskas 1-2, C O’Sullivan 1-1, C Walsh 0-3, S Hopkins 1-0, B O’Sullivan, B Healy, A Walsh, R Sheahan 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: C Santry 1-1, P O’Rourke 0-2, M Maguire, N Keane (f), C Twomey 0-1 each.

KANTURK: D O’Connor; E McAuliffe, J O’Connor, M Hooton; E Hayes, T Walsh, C Sheahan; B O’Sullivan, A Walsh; G Bucinskas, C O’Sullivan, D Grey; S Hopkins, C Walsh, B Healy.

Sub: R Sheahan for Grey (h-t).

CARBERY RANGERS: A O’Brien; D O’Dwyer, C Hayes, C Eady; S Linehan, S O’Mahony, K Scannell; B Kerr, M Maguire; D Calnan, C Twomey, N Keane; C Santry, E Browne, P O’Rourke.

Sub: G O’Donovan for Browne (50).

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).

more Cork GAA articles

Seán Walsh scores a point as Shea Downey attempts a block 1/3/2026 Donegal v Cork: Rebels make two switches with Darragh Clifford added to bench
Cork minors go with unchanged side for All-Ireland semi-final Cork minors go with unchanged side for All-Ireland semi-final
Derry v Donegal - Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final No TV coverage for Donegal–Cork leaves fans disappointed

More in this section

Amy O’Connor scoring a point 6/6/2026 Cork firmly focused on Tipperary clash
Cork v Armagh - LGFA TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 It's do or die for Cork ladies footballers in All-Ireland championship
Seán Walsh scores a point as Shea Downey attempts a block 1/3/2026 Donegal v Cork: Rebels make two switches with Darragh Clifford added to bench

Sponsored Content

Discover the heart and soul of Irish Whiskey at Midleton Distillery Experience Discover the heart and soul of Irish Whiskey at Midleton Distillery Experience
Aimee Connolly’s content room is pretty in pink Aimee Connolly’s content room is pretty in pink
Gas Networks Ireland, committed to conserving and enhancing biodiversity Gas Networks Ireland, committed to conserving and enhancing biodiversity
Contact Us Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited

Add Echolive.ie to your home screen - easy access to Cork news, views, sport and more