Kanturk take huge step towards Division 1 Hurling League survival against Douglas
Stephen Moylan, Douglas, battling Lorcán McLoughlin, Kanturk. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
KANTURK will avoid the drop in the Red FM Hurling League Division 1 thanks to this crucial victory over Douglas at Mourneabbey.
They have now won three games from eight in the campaign and are ahead of Na Piarsaigh in the table. However, as the Duhallow side defeated the northsiders, they're almost guaranteed to stay up by virtue of the head-to-head result rule.
The only scenario they'd go down now is if they lose to Fr O'Neill at the end of the month, and Na Piarsaigh beat Blackrock along with a Ballincollig win over Sars. In that case, scoring difference would cost them a place in the top flight.
A pair of frees by Brian O'Sullivan for Kanturk opened the scoring in this contest, which was added to by a fine Lorcan O'Neill point from play.
A point by Alan Cadogan got Douglas up and running which was added to by a Cian Baldwin score. However, Cadogan went off injured early, which was a blow to Douglas.
Kanturk went 0-5 to 0-2 ahead with 15 minutes played on the clock when Rory Sheahan slotted a crisp effort between the posts.
Then Douglas points through Conor O’Donovan and Joseph Harte saw proceedings levelled up. But it was Kanturk who ended the opening half strongly and added further scores through Colin Walsh, Alan Walsh and O’Sullivan.
After what was a competitive opening half of action, it was Kanturk that held the advantage, 0-10 to 0-8.
Whatever was said at the break seemed to work a treat as Kanturk came charging out of the blocks in the second half.
They found the back of the net in the 36th-minute courtesy of a Daniel O’Connell finish, who reacted quickest to finish on the rebound when an initial strike by former Cork dual star Aidan Walsh was impressive for Kanturk in the second half, including through a gem of a point from long range.
Kanturk kept the points flying over and added a succession of points courtesy of Daniel O’Sullivan and that man the impressive Brian O’Sullivan, who ended the evening with a total of 0-10 to his name.
Douglas looked to keep in touch through an O’Connell score. But there was no stopping the Kanturk tide, as Aidan Walsh landed another point which was added to be yet another point from O’Sullivan.
With the game heading into the final ten minutes, Kanturk held a 10-point lead,1-20 to 0-13, as Colin Walsh and Aidan Walsh pointed.
Kanturk produced overall an impressive collective second-half performance. There was a late goal for Douglas which arrived through Conor O’Donovan. But it was too late to change things here.
Given the display he had individually, it was somewhat fitting that Brian O’Sullivan had the final scoring say from a Kanturk perspective when he added further to his scoring tally.
Douglas will complete their league programme with an away fixture against Glen Rovers on June 30. The same weekend will see Kanturk having a home clash against Fr O’Neill’s.
As far as Kanturk are concerned, they will be looking to build on what was a very satisfactory performance against Douglas.
B O’Sullivan 0-11 (0-10 f), D O’Connell 1-3, Aidan Walsh 0-4, C Walsh 0-3, L O’Neill, Alan Walsh, R Sheahan 0-1 each.
C Baldwin 0-6, C O’Donovan 1-2, A O’Connell 0-4, J Harte 0-2 (0-1 f), S Bourke, A Cadogan, M Howell, S Moylan 0-1 each.
G Bucinskas; M Healy, J McLoughlin, C Mullane; L O’Neill, R Walsh, C Sheahan; B O’Sullivan, R Sheahan; Alan Walsh, C Walsh, Aidan Walsh; L O’Keeffe, D O’Connell, L McLoughlin.
J Fitzpatrick for Aidan Walsh (52), E Hayes for C Sheahan (54), C Clernon for C Walsh (58).
D Maher; S O’Donoghue, D Kelly, K McSweeney; D Harte, M Howell, M O’Callaghan; C Kingston, S Moylan; J Harte, B Hartnett, C Baldwin; A Cadogan, C O’Donovan, A O’Connell.
S Bourke for Cadogan (10, inj), I Lucey for Kingston (25), N Hartnett for B Hartnett (33), E Cadogan for O’Callaghan (47), P Clarke for O’Donoghue (58).
Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers).
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