Kilshannig enjoy a winning start on win over Kiskeam in SFL opening game of the season

Kilshannig 1-14

Kiskeam 0-13 

Cork County Premier Intermediate Champions Kilshannig commenced the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork County Football League Division 3 on a winning note thanks to a deserved away victory at Kiskeam.

Having secured Senior A status thanks to delivering a vastly improved performance in a replay to overcome Aghabullogue in last season’s decider, Kilshannig under team manager Denis Reen have returned with renewed vigour for a new season.

Operating a fluent brand of play, Kilshannig availed of an early Darragh O’Sullivan goal to lay the perfect platform. 

In fairness, Kiskeam got to grips with the situation to shade matters at the interval only for Kilshannig to retrieve the situation, their menace grew as the contest progressed to gain reward on the scoreboard and success.

Straight from the off, Kilshannig seized the initiative, O’Sullivan darted in along the end line to raise the game’s only green flag. 

The home side found their feet once Adrian Carroll delivered a two pointer.

Now Kiskeam drew a positive response from the play of A J O’Connor, Gene Casey, Carroll and Thomas Casey. 

With Daniel Fitzgerald, Paul O’Callaghan and Shane O’Riordan on target, that helped Kiskeam enjoy a narrow 0-9 to 1-5 advantage at the break.

Kilshannig grabbed the reins of control on the restart with Eoin Burke, Shane O’Connell, Bill Curtin and Eanna O’Hanlon enjoying a grip in the key departments. 

That allowed productive movement for O’Sullivan and O'Hanlon to point for the initiative to switch to the visitors.

Kiskeam remained in touch with Fitzgerald and Thomas Casey adding points. 

The high intensity football continued at either end, O’Hanlon boomed over a two pointer for Kilshannig to put some daylight between the sides.

Again Kiskeam sought to retrieve the situation, Casey points offered encouragement. 

The most serious of questions were being asked of Kilshannig, to their credit, they came up with the answers, late points from Darragh and Ciaran O’Sullivan sealed the outcome.

The perfect start to the campaign for Kilshannig ahead of facing Iveleary in Game 2 with Kiskeam away to Clyda Rovers.

Scorers for Kilshannig: D O’Sullivan 1-5, E O’Hanlon 0-4, M Murphy 0-2, B Curtin, T Cunningham, C O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Kiskeam: T Casey 0-5, D Fitzgerald 0-4, A Carroll 0-2, P O’Callaghan, S O’Riordan 0-1 each.

KILSHANNIG: G Creedon; T Kavanagh, E Burke, P Walsh; S O’Connell, B Curtin, E Healy; C O’Sullivan, T Cunningham; S O’Connell, E O’Hanlon, M Murphy; D O’Doherty, D O’Sullivan, B O’Connor. Subs. J Kearney, D Twomey, S O’Riordan.

KISKEAM: A Casey; D Murphy, A J O’Connor, J Daly; P O’Mahony, K O’Connor, Michael Casey; G Casey, A Carroll; D Fitzgerald, T Casey, P O’Callaghan; S O’Riordan, C Noonan, Maurice Casey. Subs. J Angland, J O’Connor, M Collins.

Referee: D Hickey (Millstreet).