Ballymartle 2-17 Kilworth 2-16 

BALLYMARTLE pulled out all the stops in this cracking Cork SAHC clash in the glorious Grenagh sunshine on Saturday to leave Kilworth devastated after a tough, entertaining game of hurling.

Well into added time, Ballymartle trailing 2-16 to 1-17, Darren McCarthy, always a threat, fired home a glorious goal to leave Kilworth on their knees, devastated because they had enough chances to win the game after leading 2-12 to 0-12 thanks to James Sheehan’s second goal 38 minutes into the contest.

Brian Corry did get a fine goal to reduce the margin a few minutes later, after good work by Killian McCarthy, but it was Kilworth who had the bit between their teeth only for some wasteful shooting which was to cost them dearly.

A tasty opening half saw Ballymartle first to settle with a John McCarthy point but it was Kilworth who pressed ahead with two pointed frees from Noel McNamara and another from outstanding goalkeeper Kieran Walsh, who made some terrific saves late in the first half.

Liam Whelan was excellent for Kilworth at centre-forward and with Maurice McNamara and Eoin McGrath steady in defence, Ballymartle weren’t getting scores easily.

Ballymartle upped the ante in the second quarter as three points in a row, one from Darren and two from cousin Killian McCarthy, put them ahead and it took an inspirational point from Will Condon to get Kilworth motoring again. Nothing between the sides until added time when James McCarthy and Noel McNamara combined to set up Sheehan for a super goal and last year’s beaten PIFC finalists were 1-11 to 0-9 ahead at the break thanks to goalkeeper Walsh’s awareness between the posts.

Into the second half, Sheehan’s second goal looked to be key, before Corry, after great work by Killian McCarthy, responded: 2-13 to 1-13.

In fairness, Kilworth missed a plethora of chances to put the game out of sight and Ballymartle seized theirs in the most dramatic of finales.

Scorers for Ballymartle: Darren McCarthy 1-5 (0-2 f, 0-1 65), B. Corry 1-3, J. McCarthy 0-5 (0-1 f), K. McCarthy 0-2, G. Webb and S. Cummins 0-1 each.

Kilworth: J. Sheehan 2-1, N. McNamara 0-7 (0-6 f), W. Condon 0-4, L. Whelan 0-3, K. Walsh 0-1 f.

BALLYMARTLE: P. Allen; C. Coleman, M. Tobin, L. Corry; G. Webb, E. O’Leary, S. Corry; Darragh McCarthy, E. Healy; S. O’Mahony, B. Corry, P. Geary; Darren McCarthy, K. McCarthy, J. McCarthy.

Subs: C. Allen for O’Leary (42), S. Cummins for O’Mahony (50), L. O’Callaghan for Geary (55), S. Dorsey for Healy (55).

KILWORTH: K. Walsh; M. McNamara, N. Byrne, A. O’Hara; D. Twomey, E. McGrath, M. O’Connor; J.McCarthy, J. Saich; E. Carey, L. Whelan, W. Condon; J. Sheehan, N. McNamara, B. Sheehan.

Subs: M. O’Callaghan for O’Connor (inj 40), P. Moakley for Twomey (50), D. O’Regan for McGrath (60).

Referee: T. O’Donovan (Douglas).