Liam Wall strikes late to capture county for Kilmurry after gripping battle with Canovee
Joy for Kilmurry after beating Canovee. Picture: Jim Coughlan
Kilmurry defeated fierce rivals Canovee by a single point to claim the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC title at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Friday night.
This local derby between two teams from the same neck of woods in Muskerry drew a huge and vocal crowd to Cork GAA HQ and they weren’t disappointed in what was a final to remember. It wasn't a classic, but it was gripping right to the end before Cormac Linehan’s side finished well, hitting the last two points including the winner from Liam Wall after 63 minutes.
After losing the decider 12 months ago to St Finbarr’s second team, Kilmurry have finally got over the finishing line as they join the Intermediate A football ranks for the 2025 campaign.
Disappointment for last year’s County JAFC winners Canovee as their bid to win a second consecutive promotion comes to an end at the last hurdle. They had chances right at the death but nothing came to fruition.
The all-Muskerry derby started at a frantic pace with two gorgeous points from both teams inside the first two minutes, Lloyd Asling scoring a boomer for Kilmurry after 23 seconds following a pass by Brian Hinchion. Canovee replied with a lovely curling effort from marksman Jack Kelleher.
The Carrigadrohid side were having the lion’s share of possession and were much more purposeful early on. Kelleher added a free before they created an excellent goal opportunity after five minutes, Conor Dodd gave a clever pass to Odhran O’Driscoll, but the latter’s effort went narrowly wide from close range when a green flag looked a high possibility.
It was a let off for Kilmurry as they slowly grew into the game as they slotted over three unanswered points through the Asling brothers, Alexander and Lawrence, and Liam Wall (free), 0-4 to 0-2 after 10 minutes.
After a fast start which got the large crowd on their feet, scores were hard to come by for the next while, with both defences on top and also a heavy shower made things challenging. Points from Mark Healy and James Moynihan did tie up matters with nine minutes to the break.
In what was a topsy-turvy half with both sides enjoying a purple patch, Kelleher and the industrious Conor Dodd added white flags to give Canovee a two-point lead, 0-6 to 0-4 after 24 minutes. Kilmurry registered their first score in 18 minutes when Wall pointed a close in free with two minutes to the interval, but they trailed by a point at half-time, 0-6 to 0-5.
The team in green and gold were level 38 seconds into the new half when that man Wall slotted over an easy free and the same player pushed Kilmurry in front, a splendid point from long range. James O’Mullane pushed his side’s lead out to two points until Canovee’s first score of the half was timely and a massive one. William Ahern’s floated delivery into the square, aimed for Brian McNabola, fell nicely for Connor O’Neill, who dived in and punched the ball into the net after 37 minutes, 1-6 to 0-8.
The encounter got scrappy with so much on the line. Wayward shooting and misplaced passes dominated the next few phases of play. The first score after the green flag didn’t come until 17 minutes later when the brilliant James O’Mullane drew Kilmurry level with six minutes remaining of normal time.
It was time for a hero to step up in the closing stages as the game went into four minutes of added time. Wall converted a close in free after 63 minutes to send the Kilmurry supporters into raptures. There was still time for Canovee to draw parity or even win the game.
O’Neill had a goal chance but heroic defending from James O’Mullane denied a certain goal for Canovee after 64 minutes. O'Neill then had a chance to draw his side level but his free dropped short before Canovee had a 45 in the seventh minute of added time to send the game to a replay. Conor Dodd stepped up but he didn't find the target.
Glory for Kilmurry, heartbreak for Canovee.
L Wall 0-5 (0-4 f), James O’Mullane 0-2, A Asling, Lawrence Asling, Lloyd Asling, 0-1 each.
J Kelleher 0-3 (0-1 f), C O’Neill 1-0, C Dodd, J Moynihan, M Healy 0-1 each.
J McDonnell; G O’Mahony, A O’Mahony, W Ronan (c); B Hinchion, T Collins, A Asling; K Kelleher, James O’Mullane; L Wall, Lawrence Asling, R Duggan; Lloyd Asling, John O’Mullane, P Berhanu.
Joe O’Mullane for P Berhanu (43), O Keane for G O’Mahony (50, inj), J McGinn for Lloyd Asling (58).
B Cheasty; B Ring, E Lehane, C Cronin; W Ahern (c), R Delaney, O O’Driscoll; A Murphy, C Dodd; C O’Neill, D McMahon, J Moynihan; J Kelleher, B McNabola, M Healy.
P O’Leary for D McMahon (43), S Riordan for C Cronin (57), E Dodd for J Moynihan (58), S O’Connor for J Kelleher (59), P Healy for M Healy (63).
Ciarán Murphy (Glanworth).
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