Listowel too strong for Kilmurry in Munster junior football final
Kilmurry's Kyle Kelleher goes past Listowel's Ger McCarthy during the AIB Munster Junior Football final at Mallow. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
DISAPPOINTMENT for Kilmurry as they were beaten by Listowel Emmets in the AIB Munster Junior football championship final at Mallow.
It was the second year in a row the Cork side lost the decider, as they were beaten by Fossa last year, as Kerry’s domination of this competition continues.
Kerry sides have now won this championship 19 times, with Knocknagree being Cork’s last winner in 2017, the county’s third title since the competition started in 2001 on a trial basis for two years, before it was officially continued in 2003.
Kilmurry will be disappointed with their display as they never really got going, in part down to a superb display by the Listowel defence who didn’t give them an inch all day.
With a strong wind and driving rain it was difficult to play any decent football so it was no great surprise to see it took nine minutes before either side registered a score.
Before that Padraig Brehanu had a shot for Kilmurry which went across the goal before the danger was cleared. Listowel took the lead when David Keane pointed from a free, made easier when the ball was brought in front of goal after some decent by a Kilmurry player.
They added a second, again from a free, but this time it was Sam Tarrant who pointed after 13 minutes.
The Kerry champions had two chances to increase their lead a minute later but they squandered both, shooting wide when it looked easier to score.
On a positive note, at least the rain has stopped by now and the level of football started to improve.
It took until two minutes into injury time for the first score from play, when Bryan Sweeney got Listowel’s third point, with Tarrant adding their fourth from a free.
Kilmurray failed to score for the first half to see the Kerry side 0-4 to no score in front at halftime, thanks to their superb defending.
Another free from Keane increased Listowel’s lead as Kilmurry were finding it difficult to break down their defence.
Score of the game came after 38 minutes when an inch-perfect pass from Joe Joe Grimes, the former Clon player, found Sean Keane to make it 0-6 to no score.
Kilmurry finally got off the mark after 39 minutes when Tomás Collins got on the end of a good team move to point.
But their chances weren't helped when they were reduced to 14 after 48 minutes when Kyle Kelleher was sent off for a second yellow card offence.
Another free from Tarrant stretched Listowel’s lead to 0-7 to 0-1 with nine minutes to go, before Eddie Healy had the first real goal chance for them. Healy was on the end of a long ball in but his first-time shot was easily saved by Jason McDonnell.
Jason McVeigh increased their lead with a fisted point after 56 minutes, the third score from play to this stage.
Brian Hinchion pointed for the Cork side but at this stage, it was no more than a consolation score as Listowel were well in control.
Greg Barrett made the scoreline more respectable from Kilmurry’s viewpoint with an injury-time goal
The winners will now go on to face Lahardane MacHales from Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final.
S Tarrant 0-3 f, D Keane, S Keane (0-1 f) 0-2 each, B Sweeney J McVeigh 0-1 each.
G Barrett 1-0, T Collins, B Hinchion 0-1 each.
C Keane; C Pierse, N Collins, M Kennedy; J McElligott, E Healy, C Mulvihill; JJ Grimes, J McVeigh; S Keane, J McElligott, E Browne; B Sweeney, S Tarrant, D Keane.
A O’Rourke for G McCarthy (39), D Lynch for D Keane (44), D Leahy for C Mulvihill (57), C Holly for S Tarrant, J Moriarty for S Keane (both 59).
J McDonnell; B Hinchion, K Barrett, G O’Mahony; D Cahalane, W Ronan T Collins; K Kelleher, J O’Mullane; L Aisling, A Aisling, R Duggan; P Brehanu, L Wall, S Warren.
J O’Mullane for S Warren (35), R Leahy for R Duggan (46), G Barrett for A Aisling (54), J McGinn for P Brehanu (58).
Timmy McGrath, Limerick.
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