Kilmichael footballers land U21 title against Glenbower Rovers
Kilmichael celebrate their win over Glenbower Rovers at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Tom Browne kicked eight points to inspire Kilmichael to victory over Glenbower Rovers in the MIG U21 C Football final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G pitch on Friday evening.
The forward’s biggest contribution was a late score to gave his side a four-point cushion during a period that saw the Imokilly club push for a goal that would have forced extra time.
Browne led by example on a night that saw Glenbower Rovers hit the back of the net three times through Eoin Brenner, Paudie MacKey, and Evan Lane. It meant they kept up with the Muskerry side, who led 2-5 to 1-3 at the break.
It didn’t look like this was going to be the case as Brenner raised the game’s first green flag in the third minute following a well-worked passing routine around the square. Kilmichael got on the scoreboard 60 seconds later with a Brian Horgan 45. That was followed by Browne’s first, a fine effort from play during a spell that saw the Muskerry side have all the possession.
They used this to create space around the square, and their first sight of goal led to Ciaran Foley finding the target and making it 1-2 to 1-0 in the sixth minute.
Cian McCarthy followed that up with a ball over the top to Browne. Dan Walsh ran off his line on this occasion and the Glenbower Rovers shot-stopper made a hasty clearance to stop the forward from getting a clear sight at the goal.
Brenner retailed by getting his side’s second score and it was 1-2 to 1-1 after eight minutes. David Buckley added another to Glenbower Rovers' tally and Browne hit back by going on a 0-3 run with the pick of the bunch a curling 45.
Suddenly it was 1-5 to 1-2 and Cian McCarthy increased Kilmichael’s lead with a blistering shot that went beyond the reach of Walsh with 24 minutes on the clock.
The Muskerry side didn’t have it all their own way as Diarmuid Kelleher was given a black card at the end of the first half over a jersey pull, but the club were relieved to concede just one point before the break.
Lane got that to make it 2-5 to 1-3, and Kilmichael retaliated with a 0-4 run once the game got back underway.
A brace from Browne combined with scores from Horgan and Foley, and MacKey single-handedly got the Imokilly outfit back in the game by rattling off 1-1 at the end of that burst by Kilmichael.
At 2-9 to 2-4 with 50 minutes on the clock, it could have been the start of a frantic finish. Instead, Horgan quelled the Kilmichael nerves by slotting over from play and his side went further in front.
Ben Budds got the next score and Browne cancelled that out.
Glenbower Rovers managed to get a late goal back through Lane, and a grandstand finish ended with Browne calmly converting on the counter.
T Browne 0-8 (0-1 45, 0-1 f), C Foley 1-1, C McCarthy 1-0, B Hogan 0-3 (0-1 45).
E Lane, P Mackey (0-1 f), E Brenner 1-1 each, D Buckley, B Budds 0-1 each.
D Connolly; D Lynch, I Wood; M Downey, C Horgan, D Lynch; B Horgan, D Horgan; C McCarthy, D Kelleher, D O’Riordan; T Browne, C Foley.
Conor McCarthy for Foley (45), Z Ryan for O’Riordan (53), S Wood for Cian McCarthy (60), M Calnan for Lynch (60).
D Walsh; B Budds, H Connon; A Fitzgibbon, J Fogarty, F Brennan; G Walsh, E Lane; D Buckley, E Brenner, C Leahy; P Mackey, F Murphy.
C Burns for Leahy (h-t), D O’Brien for Buckley (45), D McCarthy for Fitzgibbon (57), J Coleman for Budds (57).
Trevor Lyons (Douglas)
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