Castlelyons come good late on to defeat Kilworth and land PIHC title

Castlelyons 0-19 Kilworth 0-17 

CASTLELYONS have been crowned Co-Op SuperStores PIHC winners following a hard-fought win over Kilworth in the final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.

Castlelyons had been knocking on the door over the last few years but they finally got over the line in what was an enthralling decider against a battled-hardened Kilworth side.

Castlelyons reached the final in 2020 and again in 2021, but were beaten on both occasions to Blarney and Courcey Rovers respectively. The team in green and gold weren’t going to be denied in their third final appearance in four seasons.

It was a frantic start to the game. Both teams had goal chances in the first four minutes. Anthony Spillane’s well-drilled shot went narrowly wide from close range after a minute then Kilworth had an incredible chance of raising a green flag after four minutes, but Jamie Sheehan’s goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Castlelyons’ Leo Sexton.

Kilworth showed no signs of nerves in the early stages as they hit the first three points. Eoin Carey’s long-range point the pick of the scores. After missing three frees, Castlelyons registered their first score after nine minutes through Oscar Hallihan. The sides traded points, as Kilworth led 0-4 to 0-2 after 11 minutes.

Kilworth hit two of the next three points. Anthony Spillane with a gorgeous point sandwiched between two Michael Sheehan frees, 0-6 to 0-3 after 17 minutes. Kilworth were hurling well, while Castlelyons were overplaying it, and the team in red and white pushed four points clear when Jamie Sheehan pointed.

A Colm Spillane white flag cut the deficit down to a goal before a Michael Sheehan free restored Kilworth’s four-point buffer, 0-8 to 0-4 after 25 minutes. A pair of Leon Doocey points brought the Imokilly side to within two points of their opposition approaching the short whistle. And that’s the way it stayed as Kilworth led 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval.

The sides traded points inside the first two minutes of the new half before Carey and Michael Sheehan split the posts for Kilworth, 0-11 to 0-7 after 34 minutes. Kilworth goalkeeper Killian Heggtevit made a double save after 35 minutes to deny Colm McCarthy and then Anthony Spillane. Noel Furlong’s side then tacked on three quick points to leave just a point in it, 0-11 to 0-10.

Kilworth’s response was white flags from cousins Jamie and Michael Sheehan, 0-13 to 0-10 after 40 minutes. Castlelyons were hanging in there and hit two of the next three points to leave the game firmly in the melting pot, 0-14 to 0-12. The sides traded white flags before a Fenton free left a single point between the sides with nine minutes remaining.

An Anthony Spillane point levelled up proceedings after 55 minutes. The teams swapped white flags before Brian Sheehan sent Kilworth in front after 58 minutes but a Fenton free drew parity. The aforementioned Fenton converted a free and then Anthony Spillane pushed Castlelyons two clear after 61 minutes, 0-19 to 0-17. The eventual winners held firm in the remaining two minutes of injury-time. 

Once referee Wayne King blew for full-time, relief was as strong an emotion as joy from the Castlelyons camp, after so much heartbreak they have finally broke the glass ceiling.

Scorers for Castlelyons: A Fenton 0-7 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), L Doocey, A Spillane 0-4 each, K O’Leary 0-2, C Spillane, O Hallihan 0-1 each.

Kilworth: M Sheehan 0-7 (0-6 f), B Sheehan, J Sheehan, E Carey 0-2 each, L Whelan, J Saich, C Donnellan, L Coffey 0-1 each.

CASTLELYONS: J Barry; L Sexton, N O’Leary, C Barry; C Spillane (c), D Spillane, J O’Leary; A Fenton, J Kearney; P Roche, L Doocey, C McCarthy; D Morrison, A Spillane, O Hallihan.

Subs: B Murphy for P Roche, K O’Leary for C McCarthy (both 36), S Moroney for J O’Leary (42).

KILWORTH: K Heggtveit; L Carey, K Lane, A O’Hara (jc); J Saich, D Twomey, M Gowen; L Whelan, E Carey; J Sheehan, N McNamara, W Condon; M Sheehan, C Donnellan, B Sheehan (jc).

Subs: L Coffey for C Donnellan (half-time), R Jordan for J Saich (48), P Riordan for W Condon (62, inj).

Referee: Wayne King (Banteer).