Kilmurry breeze past Cashel King Cormacs to reach Munster JFC final 

Kilmurry: 4-23 

Cashel King Cormacs: 1-2 

Kilmurry have booked their place in the AIB Munster Club JFC final for a third successive season after crushing Tipperary side Cashel King Cormacs at a damp and blustery Fethard Town Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Muskerry team were so dominant in what was an impressive showing from the recently crowned Cork Premier JFC winners. Cashel King Cormacs were depleted with their hurlers playing Watergrasshill next Saturday in the Munster IHC decider.

After losing the last two provincial finals to Kerry opposition, Kilmurry will hope it’s third time lucky when they meet another Kingdom side in Firies in two weeks. They would have preferred a tougher test here though in preparation for that.

Kilmurry had a strong wind advantage in the first half, and even despite that, they were in total command in every sector of the pitch right from the throw-in. The Muskerry side who were managed in this one by David Drummond in the absence of Cormac Linehan, hit three points without reply in the first ten minutes. Liam Wall with two efforts and a Brian Hinchion beauty from an awkward angle.

Kyle Kelleher pointed before Cashel King Cormacs ventured into Kilmurry’s half for the first serious time after 12 minutes resulting in a free in front of goal but Dylan O’Grady put his effort wide. The one-way traffic showed no signs of abating with Lawrence Asling and a Joe McGinn free extending Kilmurry’s advantage, 0-6 to 0-0.

Kilmurry had it all their own way. Ryan Leahy set up Wall for a great goal opportunity after 18 minutes but Wall’s effort went wide from an acute angle when a green flag looked likely. James O’Mullane pointed before Cashel King Cormacs caught Kilmurry cold with a goal after 24 minutes when Cian McGrath finished superbly into the roof of the net, 0-7 to 1-0.

The Muskerry side finished the half strong with four unanswered points through the Asling brothers, Lloyd and Lawrence, Joe McGinn (free) and sub Joe O’Mullane. Kilmurry also had the ball in the back of the net two minutes into added time courtesy of Lawrence Asling but it was ruled out for a square ball, 0-11 to 1-0 at half-time.

Cashel King Cormacs were wind assisted for the new half, but it mattered little in this particular match. Kilmurry had two goal chances in the space of a minute early into the second half, but Lawrence Asling and Wall saw their efforts excellently saved by Cashel King Cormacs goalkeeper Gearóid Slattery.

The team in green and gold tacked on white flags through a McGinn free and Lloyd Asling before Cashel King Cormacs registered their first point after 35 minutes when O’Grady converted a free.

A minute later, Kilmurry got their goal that they craved when Wall finished low into the net and that was followed quickly by a Ryan Leahy green flag, 2-13 to 1-1 after 38 minutes. James O’Mullane pointed before Mikey McDermott picked up a black card for the beaten team with 20 minutes to go.

The lively Joe O'Mullane slotted home beautifully for Kilmurry’s third green flag after 42 minutes, 3-14 to 1-1. Kilmurry kicked five points on the trot to lead 3-19 to 1-1 with still ten minutes remaining.

The Mid-Cork side hit 1-2 without reply with Lawrence Asling getting the goal after 53 minutes, 4-21 to 1-1. Jack Browne did land a point for his side before Donal Ryan received a black card for the Tipp team.

Kilmurry landed the last two points from James O’Mullane and Leahy to cap off a professional showing. 

Scorers for Kilmurry: L Wall 1-4, James O’Mullane 0-6, Lawrence Asling 1-3, J McGinn 0-4 f, Joe O’Mullane, R Leahy 1-1 each, Lloyd Asling 0-2, K Kelleher, B Hinchion 0-1 each.

Cashel King Cormacs: C McGrath 1-0, D O’Grady (f), J Browne 0-1 each.

KILMURRY: J McDonnell; O Keane, W Ronan (c), Lloyd Asling; B Hinchion, T Collins, A Asling; K Kelleher, James O’Mullane; L Wall, Lawrence Asling, R Duggan; R Leahy, John O’Mullane, J McGinn.

Subs: Joe O’Mullane for John O’Mullane (20, inj), D Linehan for R Duggan (42, inj).

CASHEL KING CORMACS: G Slattery; M Morrissey, O Dwan, D Maloney; C McGrath, A Browne (j-c), P Brosnan; R Anglim, D Ryan; L Riordan, A Maloney, A Skeffington; M McDermott, D Brennan, D O’Grady.

Subs: P Morrissey for M Morrissey, R Minogue for D Brennan, J Browne for D O’Grady (all 40), D O’Grady for R Anglim (52), M Morrissey for A Moloney (56).

Referee: Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh (Kerry).