Division 1 HL: Kanturk and Carrigaline finish level after a thriller in fiery clash 

Kanturk: 3-20 

Carrigaline: 3-20 

After an enthralling game, Kanturk and Carrigaline had to settle for a point apiece after playing out a thriller in the RedFM Division 1 Hurling League at Kanturk on Sunday morning.

With just two games remaining after this one and with both teams occupying the relegation spots, it was most important to get the win for both so the draw doesn’t do either team any good especially for Kanturk who are now effectively relegated while Carrigaline remain two points off safety.

It was a bonkers encounter and for so long, it looked like the visitors would prevail leading by eight points early on and also up eight points with 23 minutes to go, but Kanturk made a storming comeback and looked to have won it only for Brian Kelleher to rescue Carrigaline with a pressure free.

There was plenty of bite in this one and tempers did flare up on several occasions throughout including after the full-time whistle, but no red cards were handed out.

The South East team couldn’t have wished for a better start. They scored 2-2 inside the first seven minutes. The accurate Brian Kelleher with two frees while Kevin O’Reilly bagged their goals.

The green flags were brilliantly finished but special mention must go to Éanna Desmond who assisted both goals with delicious passes.

Kanturk did settle with three unanswered points, Rory Sheahan (free), Alan Walsh and James Fitzpatrick with the scores.

Carrigaline did reply with three points of their own, Ronan Kelleher with two and a Brian Kelleher free, 2-5 to 0-3 after 17 minutes.

Both teams did cancel each other out for a period, both swapping the next six points, 2-8 to 0-6 with four minutes to the break. Alan Walsh did bisect the posts for Kanturk as they finished the half strong in the hope of reeling in their opposition.

A Brian Kelleher free did restore Carrigaline’s healthy advantage but a Liam O’Keeffe goal did bring Kanturk to within five points after 29 minutes. It was a powerful finish after Carrigaline had failed to clear their lines.

A Harry Andrews point gave Carrigaline a 2-10 to 1-7 half-time advantage.

Brian O’Sullivan did land a long range free for Kanturk followed by a Colin Walsh white flag, but failure to convert goal chances did look costly at the time. They missed four inside the first eight minutes of the new half.

Carrigaline rattled off four unanswered points with impressive midfielder Andrews tacking on a score.

The teams exchanged points as Eddie Murphy’s team were looking good, 2-15 to 1-10 ahead after 37 minutes.

But, Kanturk’s revival was purely down to sheer hard work, determination and character. Led on by the majestic centre-back O’Sullivan and Alan and Colin Walsh, the team in green and white hit five of the next seven points, 2-17 to 1-15 with a quarter of the game remaining.

Kanturk were given a huge boost when O’Sullivan converted a penalty after Alan Walsh was fouled, game on after 47 minutes. 

Once more, the teams swapped points before Kanturk went ahead after Daniel O’Connell expertly finished his shot into the bottom corner of the Carrigaline net, 3-16 to 2-18 with 10 minutes to go.

O’Sullivan and Lorcan O’Neill pushed Kanturk three clear after great scores, but a Desmond goal tied up matters with a minute of normal time left, 3-18 apiece. 

Both teams pointed in the space of 20 seconds of each other as a draw looked on the cards until Colin Walsh pushed Kanturk ahead after a great point. A priceless victory for Kanturk looked likely, but there would be more drama.

In keeping with a memorable second half, Brian Kelleher kept his cool to land a wonderful free from long range to make sure his team took the share of the spoils.

Scorers for Kanturk: B O’Sullivan 1-5 (0-3 f, 1-0 pen), A Walsh 0-6, D O’Connell 1-1, J Fitzpatrick 0-3, L O’Keeffe 1-0, R Sheahan (0-2 f), C Walsh 0-2 each, L O’Neill 0-1.

Carrigaline: B Kelleher 0-11 (0-7 f), K O’Reilly 2-0, E Desmond 1-2, R Kelleher, H Andrews 0-3 each, T Vaughan 0-1.

KANTURK: G Bucinskas; J McLoughlin, M Healy, C Mullane; R Walsh, B O’Sullivan, L McLoughlin; C Sheahan, L O’Neill; D O’Connell, C Walsh, L O’Keeffe; R Sheahan, A Walsh, J Fitzpatrick.

Subs: No subs made.

CARRIGALINE: C McCarthy; B Cronin, K Kavanagh, D Stack; D Greene, P Mellett, C Vaughan; H Andrews, N O’Keeffe; C Kearney, E Desmond, R Kelleher; T Vaughan, K O’Reilly, B Kelleher.

Subs: No subs made.

Referee: Wayne King (Banteer).