Kilmacabea land first Carbery JAFC in four years

Sun, 27 Oct, 2024 - 14:25

Ger McCarthy

Kilmacabea 1-12 Diarmuid Ó Mathúna 1-4

Kilmacabea had eight points to spare over Diarmuid Ó Mathúna in capturing the 2024 Bandon Co-op Carbery Junior A Football title in Dunmanway.

The Kilmacs made up for the disappointment of losing last year’s West Cork JAFC decider and got their hands on the famous Mick McCarthy Cup for the first time in four years.

As for Diarmuid Ó Mathúna’s, their search for a first West Cork Junior A Football title goes on.

Yet all is not lost. Mathúna’s will face Ballinascarthy in next weekend’s Carbery Hunior A hurling final replay and the chance to prolong what’s been a remarkable campaign.

Saturday evening was all about Kilmacabea however, who await Douglas in this year’s junior county championship.

Bandon Co-op Carbery Junior A Football final at Sam Maguire Park Dunmanway. Kilmacabea captain Diarmuid O’Callaghan with the Mick McCarthy Cup his team’s victory over Diarmuid O’Mathunas in the Bandon Co-op Carbery Junior A Football final at Sam Maguire Park Dunmanway. Also included are (left to right): Aidan O’Rourke, Chairman Carbery GAA and Denis Mullane (Bandon Co-op). Picture: Martin Walsh.

Mathúna’s got off to a positive start thanks to a Ted O’Leary goal inside two minutes. The full-forward forced the ball over the line after Kilmacabea failed to clear an initial shot that came back off the crossbar.

Damien Gore and Donnacha McCarthy points either side of that O’Leary goal was answered by a fine Jack O’Callaghan effort.

Unfortunately for Mathúna’s, they would fail to score for the remaining 24 minutes of the opening half.

Kilmacabea assumed control and raised four unanswered white flags to lead 0-6 to 1-1 at the break. Colin McCarthy (two), Ian Jennings and Damien Gore were on target.

It could have been worse for Mathúna’s, who needed goalkeeper Oisin O’Leary to deny Martin Collins a goal on the stroke of half-time.

Collins and Sean Crowley exchanged points immediately after the restart before Kilmacabea found another gear.

Patiently retaining possession and waiting for their opportunties, efforts from Damien Gore (mark), Colin McCarthy (free and a 45) and Liam McCarthy made it 0-11 to 1-2 with 10 minutes to go.

Kevin O’Donovan managed a point in reply but Mathúna’s couldn’t find a way past their opponent’s defence for a much-needed goal.

Bandon Co-op Carbery Junior A Football final at Sam Maguire Park Dunmanway. Kilmacabea’s Colin McCarthy gets in his shot before Barry Lordan (Diarmuid O’Mathunas) approaches durimg in the Bandon Co-op Carbery Junior A Football final at Sam Maguire Park Dunmanway. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Instead, it was Ian Jennings who netted at the opposite end for a delighted Kilmacabea who ran out convincing winners.

Scorers for Kilmacabea: I Jennings 1-1, D Gore (0-1 m), C McCarthy (0-1 45, 0-1 f) 0-4 each, D McCarthy, M Collins, L McCarthy 0-1 each.

Diarmuid Ó Mathúna: T O’Leary 1-1, J O’Callaghan, K O’Donovan, S Crowley (f) 0-1 each.

KILMACABEA: K McCarthy; L Tobin, D Whooley, D Tobin; O Tobin, D O’Callaghan (c), R Hourihane; M Collins, I Jennings; D McCarthy, C McCarthy, E Shanahan; L McCarthy, D Gore, J Collins.

Subs: R Shanahan for E Shanahan (h-t), D O’Donovan for J Collins (55).

DIARMUID Ó MATHÚNA: O O’Leary; E Mangan, S Crowley, G Aherne; A Draper, C O’Sullivan (c), B Lordan; M Draper, C Mangan; R Lucey, K O’Donovan, R McCarthy; J Fleming, J Lucey, J O’Callaghan.

Subs: G O’Donovan for C Mangan (34), C O’Donovan for R McCarthy (43), N Hillard for B Lordan (52), J Fleming for J Lucey (52), M O’Sullivan for A Draper (55).

Referee: Ian McCarthy (Bandon).