Darragh O'Sullivan rescues Kilshannig against Aghabullogue after a cracking decider 

Kilshannig: 1-14 

Aghabullogue: 1-14 

Kilshannig and Aghabullogue will have to meet again after playing out a pulsating draw in the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night.

It was a game that swung so many times, with both sides enjoying a sustained period of dominance, but it did look like Aghabullogue were going to claim the prize for the first time and complete back-to-back counties after pushing two points clear going into added time. Kilshannig dug deep though with a pair of Darragh O’Sullivan frees ensuring there will be another day out.

The Avondhu side looked in trouble early in the second half as they trailed by six points, but led on by the O’Hanlon brothers, Killian and Éanna, Kilshannig rallied and led by two points with 12 minutes to go before Aghabullogue took over until Denis Reen’s side showed composure right at the end. 

It was a great game of football, with very little lateral play with both sides going at it hammer and tongs. It will be a match that will be remembered for a long time to come. It was exciting from start to finish with the teams level on six occasions.

Kilshannig had more chances, but Aghabullogue were wonderful to watch and were clinical when they got their chances. They will be frustrated that they didn't hang on, but their senior dream is still alive.  

Matthew Bradley got Aghabullogue up and running with a fine point after four minutes, but Kilshannig were building up a head of steam as they rattled off three unanswered points through Darragh O’Sullivan, Éanna O’Hanlon and a mighty 45 from Killian O’Hanlon.

The teams were level for the second time when the O’Sullivan brothers, Aaron and Evan, pointed for the Muskerry side, 0-3 each after eleven minutes. Bradley nudged his team in front before Kilshannig created the first goal opportunity of the night after 18 minutes when Éanna O’Hanlon set up Alan O’Connell but the latter’s effort hit the side netting from what was an acute angle.

After going 13 minutes without a score, the aforementioned Éanna O’Hanlon kicked a point for the Avondhu outfit followed by Darragh O’Sullivan’s second effort. The excellent Aaron O’Sullivan drew his side level after 23 minutes following a neat team move, 0-5 each.

Ray Keane’s troops finished the half stronger with white flags from captain John Corkery and Pádraic O’Sullivan, 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

And the team in green and white continued where they left off with two quick-fire points at the start of the second half, courtesy of Luke Casey and a sublime effort from Corkery, outside of the boot.

Kilshannig did settle as they landed two of the next three points before Aghabullogue goaled after 37 minutes when Corkery slid the ball into the back of the net. It looked like it was going wide but it crept into the bottom corner, 1-10 to 0-7.

The goal woke Kilshannig from their slumber as they tacked on four unanswered points, Darragh O’Sullivan with two, one from a free, and also two from impact sub Diarmuid O’Sullivan, 1-10 to 0-11 after 42 minutes.

Denis Reen’s resilient team went ahead with a fortuitous goal with 12 minutes to go when Alan O’Connell finished well after the ball fell nicely for him after Darragh O’Sullivan’s effort was blocked down. That was followed by an Éanna O’Hanlon effort, Kilshannig two clear, 1-12 to 1-10.

Aghabullogue are made of stern stuff and they weren’t going to lie down, a free from sub David Thompson reduced the deficit down to one going into the last 10 minutes. And this amazing game was deadlocked when leader supreme Corkery bisected the posts.

The game was in the melting pot, before Aghabullogue added points from Aaron O’Sullivan and Casey as the game ticked into three minutes of added time. A pair of Darragh O’Sullivan frees saved the 2022 IAFC winners as the game goes to a replay.

Scorers for Kilshannig: Darragh O’Sullivan 0-6 (0-3 f), E O’Hanlon 0-4, A O’Connell 1-0, K O’Hanlon (0-1 f, 0-1 45), Diarmuid O’Sullivan 0-2 each.

Aghabullogue: J Corkery 1-3, L Casey, A O’Sullivan 0-3 each, M Bradley 0-2, P O’Sullivan, D Thompson (f), E O’Sullivan, 0-1 each. 

KILSHANNIG: G Creedon; M Twomey, E Burke, S O’Connell; C Murphy, C O’Shea (c), E Healy; B Curtin, S Murphy; T Cunningham, K O’Hanlon, A O’Connell; E O’Hanlon, K Twomey, Darragh O’Sullivan.

Subs: Diarmuid O’Sullivan for K Twomey (38), C O’Sullivan for S Murphy (39), C McMahon for B Curtin (47), C O’Connell for A O’Connell (58).

AGHABULLOGUE: I O’Sullivan; C Smith, M Dennehy, P Dilworth; B O’Sullivan, T Long, A Murphy; C Gillespie, D Merrick; A O’Sullivan, J Corkery (c), P O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.

Subs: D Thompson for E O’Sullivan (47), C O’Sullivan for P O’Sullivan (55).

Referee: Andrew Whelton (Clonakilty).