PIFC final: Kilshannig and Aghabullogue looking to maintain upward momentum 

Tonight’s McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC final is a fascinating one to say the least.

Kilshannig meet Aghabullogue at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with throw-in at 7.30pm with a place in the senior football ranks for 2025 the prize. 

It has been some journey for both clubs over the last few years. Kilshannig were a Junior A football team as recently as 2019 while for the team from Muskerry, they are going for back-to-back counties having won the IAFC last year.

This decider is also a repeat of the 2022 IAFC final when Kilshannig won comfortably on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-10. They were very unlucky in their first season up at the Premier Intermediate grade when the Avondhu outfit got pipped at the post by a point in the semi-final by a seasoned team in Bantry Blues last year. 

Had Cork footballer Killian O'Hanlon been playing that day in Coachford, Kilshannig might well have won, but he was sidelined due to an injury.

They weren’t too far away and would have been one of the favourites for the championship before this campaign got underway. There was a change of management with Rathmore native Denis Reen the new man at the helm. The Kerry man was previously in charge of Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, while he led Kiskeam to glory at this grade back in 2016.

The team in blue and yellow have shown great form this year, winning their three group games by a handsome margin against Castletownbere, Rockchapel and Macroom. A +26 scoring difference ensured their passage straight into the semi-final for the second year on the bounce.

They showed character and resilience against Iveleary, down 1-9 to 1-5 after 55 minutes, Kilshannig rallied with Darragh O’Sullivan prominent as the game went to extra time. Éanna O’Hanlon’s goal proved vital as the Avondhu team won 2-11 to 1-11 in a gripping semi-final contest two weeks ago. 

They have a well balanced team, excellent footballers with no shortage of height and physicality in the team. Colm O’Shea, Shane O’Connell and Eoghan Burke are very good defenders with Bill Curtin and Killian O'Hanlon formidable around the middle of the pitch. Up front, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Tom Cunningham and Éanna O’Hanlon all know where the posts are.

Many might be surprised by Aghabullogue reaching the final, but they have richly deserved their place in the showdown. They have carried on their form and momentum that finally saw them exit the Intermediate A grade last year. The enlisting of Ray Keane as boss before this season got underway has been a shrewd move and he has brought the team onto the next level. It has been well documented at this stage that he led St Finbarr’s to the Cork SFC title in 2018.

Aghabullogue booked a direct route to the last four after beating Aghada, Ilen Rovers and Iveleary in their group. A semi-final meeting with Muskerry rivals Naomh Abán was going to test them in every way, but passed it when John Corkery pointed late on to win the game for his side, 0-11 to 1-7.

The victory was also achieved without former Cork footballer Paul Ring, who suffered a nasty injury five days before the game at training. It made the win more impressive.

Paul Dilworth, Aaron O’Sullivan and Tom Long have stood out in the Aghabullogue defence while Colm Gillespie has really kicked on this year in midfield. Up front, Corkery, Matthew Bradley and Luke Casey have done the bulk of the scoring.

It should be a very interesting final. Kilshannig will start as favourites, but it wouldn’t be a shock if Aghabullogue prevailed and in the process achieve a second successive county title and join the senior ranks. They were a Junior A football team in 2004.