Division 1 HL: St Finbarr's rack up 5-30 in dominant win over Kanturk
Jack Cahalane, St. Finbarrs escapes the challenge of Christopher Mullane, Kanturk during their Red FM Hurling League Division 1 clash at Togher, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
About as high scoring as you’ll get for a club game this time of year, St Finbarr’s were utterly dominant as they brushed aside Kanturk in Togher on Friday evening in the RedFM Hurling League Division 1.
At half time this game was a contest no longer. Without the usual host of key players that have left them shorthanded for the entire league campaign – throw in the injured Rory Sheahan and suspended Alan Walsh, Kanturk were under serious pressure. They needed a flawless display and an off-night from the Barrs.
Neither of those prayers were answered.
The Barrs ran away with it. A first half tally of 2-17 put them in a commanding 16-point lead. The goals in particular outstanding. The first a flowing team move, Jack Cahalane the finisher as Ciaran Doolan and Aidan Barry worked it to him for the sixth minute major.
That made it 1-2 to 0-2. The next goal – from returning Cork U20 John Wigginton-Barrett – came at 2-9 to 0-5.
William Buckley delivered a pinpoint crossfield pass to Wigginton-Barrett. He danced past his marker with one thing on his mind. He threw the sliotar comically high in the air, batting home with power and precision into the top corner. They could have had two more goals though.
He nearly had another a minute later, while Jack O’Kelly was denied a goal by a superb leg save from Barry Kenneally late in the half. But the floodgates opened again after the restart.
In the 38th minute, O’Kelly turned provider for Buckley to grab Barrs' third. Five minutes later, Cahalane buried their fourth. And in the 48th minute, he sealed his hat-trick – set up by Aidan Barry.
By then it was 5-27 to 0-14, with the Barrs beginning to empty their bench. Kanturk managed to finish with a respectable 20 points, helped by Ian Walsh’s tally of 0-6 and Brian O’Sullivan’s long-range frees.
Lorcán McLoughlin and Daniel O’Connell also impressed, but Kanturk were simply outgunned by the better side.
The Barrs had already opened up an 11-point cushion by the 18th minute, Buckley key in the first half with some beautiful scores. He finished with 1-7 from play – despite one clear point being mistakenly waved wide.
Ciaran Doolan was outstanding at centre-back and Billy Hennessy put in a stellar 30-minute shift on return from injury. Jack Cahalane, as clinical as ever, ended the game with a remarkable 3-10, 3-4 from play.
Kanturk did finish with six scores in the final nine minutes, the pick of those efforts one worked from Christopher Mullane to O’Sullivan, then to the evergreen McLoughlin for his second point in the 58th minute.
Tom Walsh’s side now look destined to face the drop to Division 2, unless they can get a win over Carrigaline in a fortnight, which would give them a fighting chance.
J Cahalane 3-10 (0-5 fs, 0-1 65), W Buckley 1-7, J Wigginton-Barrett 1-0, C O’Connor, A Barry 0-3 each, C Doolan 0-2, D Murray, B Hennessy, B O’Connell, C Crowley, K O’Flynn 0-1 each.
I Walsh 0-6, B O’Sullivan 0-5 fs, D O’Connell 0-3, L McLoughlin 0-2, C Walsh, G Bucinskas (f), S Moylan, C Sheahan 0-1 each.
S Hurley; B O’Connell, J Burns, E Keane; A Buckley, C Doolan, C Steele; A Barry, B Hennessy; C O’Connor, W Buckley, J O’Kelly; K O’Flynn, J Cahalane, J Wigginton-Barrett.
C Crowley for Hennessy (HT), L Hannigan for Steele (36-FT, temp), J Kennefick for Doolan (42), D Murray for O’Connor (45) R Doyle for O’Flynn (48).
B Kenneally; J McLoughlin, M Healy, C Mullane; C Sheahan, B O’Sullivan, L McLoughlin; B Healy, S Moylan; J Fitzpatrick, I Walsh, D O’Connell; G Bucinskas, C Walsh, G Keenan.
Patrick O’Mahony (Kilbrittain)
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