Impressive Kilshanning footballers march on in Munster Intermediate Championship
Kilshannig’s Diarmuid O’Sullivan sinks one in the net during the AIB Munster GAA Intermediate Club Championship clash with Rathkeale. Picture: Chani Anderson
Kilshannig moved into the last four of the Munster IFC on Sunday afternoon as they easily saw off Limerick champions Rathkeale in front of a large home crowd in Glantane.
Led by their on-field general Killian O’Hanlon, the Avondhu side looked all the way winners after taking the lead on 11 minutes but still had to put in a shift to ensure that they didn’t let this one slip.
O’Hanlon was at the centre of everything but he was far from the only one to show his wares, Conor Murphy at corner-back, Colm O’Shea at centre-back and Éanna O’Hanlon at full-forward all put in serious shifts. As did the O’Sullivan brothers, Diarmuid and Darragh in the corner-forward positions.
For Rathkeale, Andrew White at 13, Mikey Morrissey at full-forward and the midfield pairing of Barry Coleman and Tommy Dillane impressed – even as Kilshannig pushed hard to end this one early.
In the opening five minutes of this clash one would have been forgiven for assuming that the Limerick lads were the favoured side as Rathkeale dominated possession and territory and scored the opening point of the game – tasty score from Coleman.
Kilshannig got to grips with proceedings soon after and a nice point on the turn from full forward Éanna O’Hanlon settled the home side to the delight of over 500 home supporters.
It would take another five minutes for Kilshannig to get their second however like busses, when the scores came they came in numbers, a brace from Tom Cunningham were quickly followed by a goal and a point from Diarmuid O’Sullivan.
A brilliant move started by Éanna O’Hanlon set Darragh O’Sullivan through and the corner forward passed to the onrushing Diarmuid – Kilshannig motoring towards a substantial halftime advantage.
Credit to the Limerick champions, they battled away and a pair of frees from Andrew White kept them in touch however Kilshannig added three more to their tally before the interval sending them in at the break up by seven, 1-8 to 0-4.
It didn’t take long for the victors to register the first score of the second half, Diarmuid O’Sullivan sending one over the black spot but again Rathkeale hit back with a 45 from Morrissey.
The game looked to be ambling to a finish from that point on with a goal from Darragh O’Sullivan putting the result beyond doubt on 45 minutes. A brace of Kieran Twomey points followed before a wonder goal from Rathkeale full-back Bryan Meade lifted a cheer from both sets of supporters.
Andrew Meade would bag the last score of the game cutting the gap to a respectable six points – both sides likely content with the manner of the scoreboard.
Kilshannig will now have two weeks to prepare for a very different proposition as the legendary Austin Stacks come to Glantane.
Diarmuid O’Sullivan 1-2, Éanna O’Hanlon 0-4, Darragh O’Sullivan 1-0, T Cunningham, K Twomey 0-2 each, K O’Hanlon (f), C O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
A White 0-4 f, B Meade 1-0, M Morrissey 0-3 (0-1 45), B Coleman, A Meade 0-1 each.
G Creedon; C Murphy, E Burke, M Twomey; S O’Connell, C O’Shea, E Healy; C O’Sullivan, T Cunningham; C O’Connell, K O’Hanlon, A O’Connell; Diarmuid O’Sullivan, É O’Hanlon, Darragh O’Sullivan.
K Twomey for Diarmuid O’Sullivan (41), S Murphy for C O’Connell (43), M Twomey for E Healy (46), J O’Hanlon for É O’Hanlon (49), P Walsh for C O’Shea (51).
M White; M Sheahan, B Meade, P Mulcaire; A Shanagher, J Hennessey, M Maune; T Dillane, B Coleman; P White, M Meade, E O’Donnell; A White, M Morrissey, P Wilmott.
David Clancy for N Sheahan (ht), R Stapleton for P Wilmott and E Barrett for M Sheahan (both 53).
E Morrissey (Waterford).
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