Killavullen beat Charleville to win first Avondhu title in 23 years
The Killavullen team celebrate after their win over Charleville. Picture: John Hannon
KILLAVULLEN are North Cork Junior A Football Championship winners following their well-deserved win over Charleville in the JAFC final at Buttevant on Sunday.
Exchanges were close early on. Eoin Birchill opened their account with a free.
In the third minute, Danny O'Flynn worked the ball well for Mark Kavanagh who pointed.
A period of sustained pressure by Killavullen saw them take control.
On top in the half-back line and midfield sectors, their attack in regular supply had six points in a seven-minute period, scored by Billy Norris, Jamie Magner, Liam Cronin, Patrick O'Grady (2) and Ronan Barry as they moved 0-7 to 0-1 clear.
Charleville found it hard to get back into contention.
Jack Callaghan pointed two frees.
In the 21st minute, good play by Liam Fox led to another great point by Patrick O'Grady.
Jack Doyle had a Charleville point in the 25th minute. At half time Killavullen led 0-8 to 0-4.
The expected Charleville fightback on the changeover did not materialise.
Eddie Cotter was denied a goal by a great save by Jesse Smyth.
By the 40th minute, Eoin Birchill landed two frees 0-10 to 0-4. David Forde then placed Conor Buckley for a fine point.
Both sides then made a number of substitutions.
In the 55th minute, Jack Callaghan pointed a free.
Killavullen finished out the game very strong and four points in succession by Seamus O'Mahony, Eoin Birchill, Patrick O'Grady and Liam Fox saw them run out easy winners.
For Killavullen it was their first time in a JAFC final since winning the Cork County JAFC title in 2000.
For Charleville, it was their second defeat in a row in the final.
Arthur O'Keeffe, Chairman Avondhu Board, presented the Synergy Fermoy Credit Union cup to the winning captain Eoin Birchill. Liam Cronin was named Man of the Match and Killavullen will now meet the South East champions in the Cork County JAFC quarter-final.
E Birchill 0-4 f, P O'Grady 0-4, B Norris, L Fox, R Barry, J Magner, L Cronin, S O'Mahony 0-1 each.
J Callaghan 0-3 f, C Buckley, M Kavanagh, J Doyle 0-1 each.
J Angland, C O'Connor, F Magner, P Angland, P O'Sullivan, L Cronin, S Bartley, L Fox, R Barry, J Magner, E Birchill (c), P O'Grady, E Cotter, B Norris, P Looney.
B Cotter for S Bartley, K Lane for P Looney, R O'Regan for E Cotter, S O'Mahony for R Barry, E Buckley for B Norris.
J Smyth, J Kavanagh, B O'Connell, D O'Sullivan, J Buckley, M O'Flynn, J Meade, D O'Flynn, S O'Sullivan (Capt) J Doyle, C Buckley, J Callaghan, J O'Brien, D Butler, M Kavanagh.
J Kilcommons for J Buckley, T Hawe for J O'Brien. J Madigan for D Butler, D Forde for J Doyle.
Colm Maher (Buttevant).
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