Gaeltacht village go in for the Cill to make history

Cill na Martra 2-17 Aghabullogue 1-10

CILL NA MARTRA will be playing Premier Intermediate football for the very first time in their history in 2019.

It was a memorable day for all to savour from the Gaeltacht village at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Not only were they fully deserving Intermediate champions, Cill na Martra came out on top playing some very impressive football on occasions.

Their forwards linked up impeccably throughout and on top of their youthful flair, they also have great experience in their ranks. Amongst them is the iconic Noel O’Leary, the Cork Senior Football All-Ireland winner with Cork in 2010.

This weekend saw the Cork Jazz Festival take place, but that was far from top of the agenda for the footballers of two Mid-Cork sides.

The biggest day of the Cork club footballing calendar got underway when Cill Na Martra and Aghabullogue faced of the final of the Cork Intermediate Football Championship.

There was an openness and freedom in the approach of both sides and it was clear this pair were keen to make their most of this big occasion.

Early points at either end were most certainly on the agenda, Danny Ó Conaill and Micheál Ó Deasúna for Cill na Martra and David Thompson and Ian Barry Murphy for Aghabullogue.

Daniel Ó Duinnín scored an absolute peach of a point, which exemplified the early slickness being show by the entire forward line from his team.

Aghabullogue then however found the back of the net. It was a composed finish by Evan O’Sullivan, who finished with absolute precision once the ball was played into his path.

The reaction from Cill na Martra was a positive one and they would in fact get the next twelve scores without reply, as they well and truly stamped their authority on this game.

From further efforts from Ó Deasúna and Ó Conaill, along with points including those from Tadhg Ó Corcora and Shane Ó Duinnín, Cill na Martra were playing some wonderful attacking football and taking the scores in a manner which was just as impressive.

It became clearer that the longer we went on that Cill na Martra’s tails were up and this was slipping further and further away from Aghabullogue.

When Shane Ó Duinnín netted for Cill na Martra’s first goal, it really felt then that this was only going to end up one way.

The Cill na Martra forward line linked up impressively throughout the hour or so of play and that was witnessed very clearly in their opening goal. The ball was moved about well from Ó Conaill to Daniel Ó Duinnín, who set up his namesake before he finished neatly to the corner.

In a similar manner to the first goal, Daniel and Shane Ó Duinnín combined well for Cill na Martra goal number two, with the latter converting the opportunity once more in impressive fashion.

Aghabullogue did manage to get a number of points late on through Corkery and Thompson. By that point though the outcome of this one had long since been decided.

This very gifted Cill na Martra side broke into wild and deserved celebrations on the full-time whistle, unquestionably full value for their victory.

When those celebrations are all said and done, Cill na Martra can look forward playing Premier Intermediate Championship Football in 2019.

Scorers for Cill na Martra: M Ó Deasúna (0-7 f, 0-1 45) 0-8, S Ó Duinnín 2-1, D Ó Conaill 0-3, C Ó Duinnín 0-2, D Ó Duinnín, G Ó Mocháin, T Ó Corcora 0-1 each.

Aghabullogue: D Thompson (0-4 f) 0-6, E O’Sullivan 1-0, J Corkery 0-2, N Barry Murphy, I Barry-Murphy 0-1 each.

CILL NA MARTRA: A Ó Conaill; D MacLochlainn, A Ó Cuana, E Ó Loinsigh; G Ó Mocháin, N Ó Laoire, C Ó Laoire; T Ó Corcora, G Ó Goillidhe; M Ó Conchúir , M Ó Deasúna, D Ó Conaill; C Ó Duinnín, D Ó Duinnín , S Ó Duinnín.

Subs: S Ó Fóirréidh for Ó Conchúir (43), D Ó hUrdail for C Ó Duinnín (50), F Ó hÉaluithe for Ó Goillidhe (52), S Ó Céilleachair for Ó Corcora, G Ó Faoláin for Ó Conaill, M Ó Duinnín for S Ó Duinnín (all 57).

AGHABULLOGUE: D Moynihan; D Merrick, M Dennehy, P Twomey; B Casey, S O’Sullivan, P Ring; P Finnegan, A Barry-Murphy; M Twomey, D Thompson, N Barry-Murphy; J Corkery, E O’Sullivan, I Barry-Murphy.

Subs: R Dennehy for A Barry-Murphy (h-t), M Bradley for Twomey (34), C Smith for N Barry-Murphy (42), A Hogan for Casey(51), J Byrne for I Barry-Murphy (58).

Referee: E Sheehy (Newcestown).