Kinsale CS celebrate U17 Munster success with big win over Mitchelstown CBS

Kinsale CS 3-17 Mitchelsotwn CBS 0-6 

Kinsale were far too strong for Mitchelstown CBS in the Munster U17 C Football final on the Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G Astro.

Two first-half goals by Darragh Winters and an outstanding performance by Ollie Buckley were the difference here.

Kinsale hit the ground running, full of confidence as Ger Murphy opened their account before talented hurler Darragh Winters, involved with the Cork U16s this year, goaled minutes later. With Kinsale owning the football, Buckley scored the first of a superb seven first-half points.

Leading 1-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes, Winters raised another green flag following a pass from Aaron Keane. With David Forde simply a colossus at the back it was 11 minutes before Lachlan Heafey opened Mitchelstown's account from a free. 

CBS eventually found their rhythm as Jamie Fitzgerald and Heafey both had points midway through the half.

Mitchelstown almost threw themselves a lifeline but Rian Fitzgerald saved brilliantly from Jack King and Oisín Lynch couldn’t finish the rebound as the halftime score read 2-8 to0-4.

There was to be no comeback for the North Cork lads in the second 30 minutes as Kinsale were in no mood the lose this final. Buckley hit the first four points of the half as they led by 2-12 to 0-4 on 10 minutes. 

With Mitchelstown unable to get sufficient possession, Murphy, Buckley and, a beauty of a score from Keane, widened the gap between the sides.

A free from Fitzgerald gave a brief glimmer of hope but that was extinguished on 50 minutes as Cillian Fitzgerald had the ball in the net.

From there to the finish, Kinsale outscored their opponents by 0-3 to 0-1 as they deservedly took the title.

Scorers for Kinsale: O Buckley 0-13 (0-6 f), D Winters 2-0, C Fitzgerald 1-0, G Murphy 0-2, L O'Regan, A Keane 0-1 each.

Mitchelstown: J Fitzgerald (f), L Heafey (0-1 f) 0-2 each, J Sheehy, J King 0-1 each.

KINSALE CS (Kinsale except where stated): R Fitzgerald (Courcey Rovers); C Fitzgerald, D Forde, D Deasy (Ballinhassig); S O'Sullivan, A Keane, L Keohane Kiely (Sliabh Rua); O Ryan, S Hurley; D Winters (Courcey Rovers); O Buckley, J Quinn (Tracton); LO’Regan (St Finbarr's), G Murphy, J Lehane (Tracton).

Subs: K Carroll for Winters (31 inj), E O'Connor for J Lehane (40), A McCarthy (Tracton) for J Quinn (45), C Deasy (Sliabh Rua) and D Murphy (Valley Rovers) for D Deasy, and S O'Sullivan (55).

MITHCHELSTOWN CBS (Mitchelstown except where stated): J Moher; S Murphy (Kilworth), W Fitzgerald (Galtee Gaels), A Walsh; J Carey (Ballylooby), O Ryan (Galtee Gaels), J Sheehy; J Hanrahan, O Leech; E English, J Keaney (Ballyporeen), J King (do); J Fitzgerald, D Reidy (Ballylooby), L Heafey.

Subs: S Reidy (Galtee Gaels) for D Reidy (25), O O’Donnell (Galtee Gaels) for O Lynch (38), N Casey (Glanworth) and R Carey (Ballyporeen) for A Walsh and J Sheehy (42), LO'Donnell (Galtee Gaels) for E English (50)

Referee: Brian Barrett (Douglas).