Kanturk top their group after 17-point victory over O'Donovan Rossa
Kanturk's John McLoughlin is tackled by O'Donovan Rossa's Kevin Davis, during their Senior AFC clash in Kilmichael. Picture: David Keane.
In what was a complete and utter non-contest, Kanturk cruised to victory over O’Donovan Rossa in Kilmicheal on Sunday evening.
A return of 3-7 in the second period to Skibb’s 0-4 highlighted the difference in class, and ensured top spot in Group 3 of the SAFC for Kanturk.
O’Donovan Rossa, who managed just one score from play in four attempts across the hour were annihilated from start to finish.
Leading at the break 0-9 to 0-5, Kanturk were unstoppable on the resumption.
Three white flags without reply took their lead to seven after 38 minutes, and while Skibb got one back from a David Shannon free, a goal from Lorcán McLoughlin finished it.
Admittedly, it was fortunate but certainly deserved – as Ian Walsh’s point attempt came off the upright and Daniel O’Connell reacted, quickly giving it to McLoughlin, who finished into the open net after 41 minutes, 1-12 to 0-5.
The action died down for the next 15, though O’Donovan Rossa finally hit their first point from play after 51 minutes, when Sean Fitzgerald split the posts.
Skibb had slightly improved and almost found the back of the net when Thomas Hegarty shot from close range, and as his shot trickled wide, Elliot Connolly tried to tap it into the open net – but somehow he missed.
That summed up Rossa’s day.
Despite Skibb’s improvement, Kanturk had still outscored their opponents 0-3 to 0-2, and in the final four minutes of action found the back of the net twice more.
First in the 58th minute. O’Connell’s fisted attempt came off the crossbar and fell to Cork’s Paul Walsh, goal.
Next, in additional time, Alan Walsh’s thunderous finish into the roof of the net wrapped up the scoring with Kanturk 17-point winners.
From the start, the north Cork side made brilliant off ball runs and were able to find space on both flanks with Tommy Walsh and Brian O’Sullivan impressive, but they weren’t clinical enough in the first 25 minutes, and their dominance wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard.
They had a two-point lead but considering Skibb’s failure to score from play in the entire first half, it should have been far more – and their six wides to Rossa’s one showed that.
Skibb’s one wide came from the boot of Kevin Davis – the only man on his team to take a shot from play in the first period, as a mistake from Kanturk in the eighth minute allowed him through, but his close range shot was tame and wide.
Once Kanturk opened the scoring in the fifth minute they led until the end, but frees from Kevin Davis ensured Skibb stayed with them in the first half.
The west Cork outfit were down 0-5 to 0-4, but Kanturk turned their fortunes around when Tommy Walsh won their first free on 25.
Ian Walsh converted, and they hit three more on the bounce.
The final kick of the half was an outside of the boot effort from Tommy Walsh, as he was picked out by Grantas Bucinskas before scoring, 0-9 to 0-4 at the break.
They certainly didn’t look back in the latter half.
P Walsh 1-2, I Walsh 0-4 (0-1 f), D O’Connell, G Bucinskas 0-3 (0-1 f) each, L McLoughlin, Alan Walsh 1-0 each, C Clernon 0-2, Aidan Walsh, T Walsh 0-1 each.
K Davis 0-6 f, D Shannon (f), S Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
J Fullerton; J McLoughlin, T Walsh, B O’Sullivan; M Healy, R Walsh, L O’Neill; Alan Walsh, Aidan Walsh (Cpt); P Walsh, C Clernon, D O’Connell; G Bucinskas, C Walsh, L McLoughlin.
C Mullane for I Walsh (41, inj), B Healy for L McLoughlin (55), G Kenehan for Clernon (60+1).
R Price; D Daly, S Fitzgerald, D Hourihan Jnr; K Hurley, P Crowley (Cpt), D O’Donovan; R Byrne, D Shannon; C Coombes, K Davis, E Connolly; I Harte, T Hegarty, N Daly.
P O’Neill for P Crowley (HT inj), L Harte for Coombes (52), S Crowley for T Hegarty (57, inj).
David Murnane (Macroom)
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