Brian O'Sullivan and Colin Walsh in lethal form as Kanturk beat Newmarket to complete U21 double

Kanturk 2-29 Newmarket 0-19 

HOT favourites Kanturk pulled away from Newmarket during the closing stages to claim a deserved victory in the Central Stores Duhallow U21 A hurling final played in Banteer.

Having captured the football equivalent, Kanturk completed the double for the first time since 2014, controlling the contest for the best part, a big physical presence offered excellent first touch and an ability to pick off scores with a massive 0-16 tally from team captain Brian O’Sullivan.

The scoreline doesn’t reflect the battling efforts of a committed Newmarket that operated with commendable desire and energy only to lose out to the greater strength and structure of a highly experienced Kanturk side featuring a number of players involved at Premier Senior level.

Kanturk served early notice of their intentions, Colin Walsh delivered a trio of points with his cousin Tommy adding a fourth. A testing early period for Newmarket but they steadily grew into the contest, offering potential from points by Hugh O’Connor and Ruarí Lynn to tie up the contest at 0-5 apiece.

However, Kanturk remained that bit sharper, strong play from the Walshs, O’Sullivan and Oisín O’Connor helped produce a telling flourish, O’Sullivan fired over seven out of eight consecutive Kanturk points.

Though Mikey Browne and O’Connor replied for Newmarket, Kanturk responded with likewise scores from Colin Walsh and Matthew Hooton to enjoy a 0-17 to 0-10 grip at the break. On the restart, O’Sullivan remained in razor-sharp form for Kanturk yet Newmarket remained in with a shout through the effective play of Jack O’Connor, Browne and Hugh O’Connor.

Points from the latter in addition to flags from Paudie O’Sullivan and Lynn narrowed the arrears 0-23 to 0-17 by the 50th min. Kanturk might well have goaled only for Colin Walsh to be denied by the butt of an upright.

However Kanturk’s physical presence and all-important experience began to tell, Fitzgibbon Cup medalist O’Sullivan pointed before inter-county senior footballer Tommy Walsh swept upfield to blast home a goal.

The one-way traffic continued, the trophy firmly gift-wrapped when substitute Stephen Sheehan netted in the last play.

Scorers for Kanturk: B O’Sullivan 0-16 (0-9 f), C Walsh 0-8, T Walsh 1-2, S Sheehan 1-0, M Hooton, A Walsh, C Hartnett 0-1 each.

Newmarket: H O’Connor 0-12 (0-7 f), R Lynn 0-4, M Browne, B O’Keeffe, P O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

KANTURK: G Bucinskas; N Forde, T Walsh, E Hayes; S Moylan, O O’Connor, C Sheahan; B Healy, B O’Sullivan; M Hootan, C Walsh, D O’Connor; D O’Keeffe, A Walsh, S O’Connor. 

Subs: R Sheahan for S O’Connor, S Sheehan for S Moylan, C Hartnett for M Hooton.

NEWMARKET: D Weathers; E Walsh, J O’Connor, M Lane; E Hourigan, D Cottrell, E Goggin; M Browne, H O’Connor; B O’Keeffe, P O’Sullivan, K Daly; G Fleming, R Lynn, P Goggin. 

Subs: A Buckley for G Fleming, G Cottrell for P Goggin.

Referee: D Twomey (Shanballymore).