Kilshanning defeat Newmarket to secure first senior win

Kilshannig 1-18 (1-1-16) Newmarket 0-14 (0-2-10)

A searching test of Kilshannig's credentials before they found their answers quickly to questions posed by Newmarket in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC at Kilbrin on Saturday evening.

Few could argue with the outcome, the promoted Premier Intermediate champions performed with intensity and a purpose to claim an impressive win. Apart from a nervous opening in their debut outing in the grade, Kilshannig put together an attractive brand of football.

Sluggish early on, Kilshannig did open the scoring with a Michael Murphy point yet Newmarket held the upperhand at midfield, that allowed Conor O’Keeffe, Aidan Browne, Cathal Browne and Barry O’Connor to deliver a run of points. 

Kilshannig proceeded to steady the ship, shaping up the better of the two sides through the impressive play of Shane O’Connell, Colm O’Shea, Eanna O’Hanlon and Jack Twomey in key departments.

Quick-fire points from Darragh O’Sullivan, O’Hanlon and O’Shea helped square up the game. And on 13 minutes, Kilshannig exposed space within the Newmarket defence, Alan O’Connell accepting a pass from his brother Shane to net from close range for the game’s only goal.

Kieran Twomey added a point before Newmarket put the brakes on the Kilshannig surge briefly, Cathal Browne obliged with a two-pointer, the ball hopping over the Kilshannig crossbar. Again Kilshannig responded in a productive spell, a run of five consecutive points from Twomey, O’Hanlon and O’Sullivan helped secure a 1-10 to 0-7 advantage at the interval.

The sides exchanged points on the restart yet Kilshannig found a slicker gear, the influential O’Shea and O’Hanlon bisecting the uprights. Kilshannig lost O’Shea to injury before the loudest cheer of the game greeted a massive two-pointer from former Cork senior Killian O'Hanlon just after entering the fray as a substitute.

Though a disappointing Newmarket answered with a Barry O’Connor point, the Glantane side continued to hold the upperhand, Twomey pointing back to back. Newmarket weren’t prepared to let their challenge completely collapse, answering back with four points that included a two-pointer free from Hugh O’Connor.

However, Kilshannig controlled the latter stages, seeing out the remaining minutes without fuss, a Jack Twomey point completed a satisfactory outing, a historic occasion for the club by recording a first-time championship victory at senior level.

A positive start to the campaign for Kilshannig, who now face Kanturk.  Newmarket will seek an improvement against Éire Óg.

Scorers for Kilshannig: E O’Hanlon 0-5 (0-2 f), K Twomey 0-4, D O’Sullivan 0-3 (0-1 f), A O’Connell 1-0, K O’Hanlon 0-2 (1 pt), C O’Shea 0-2, M Murphy, J Twomey 0-1 each.

Newmarket: H O’Connor 0-4 (0-1 tpf, 0-1 f), C Browne 0-3 (1 tp), C O’Keeffe 0-2 (0-1 f), B O’Connor 0-2, R O’Keeffe (45), A Browne, D O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

KILSHANNIG: G Creedon; C Murphy, E Burke, S O’Connell; E Healy, C O’Shea, C Geary; S Murphy, C O’Connell; A O’Connell, K Twomey, M Murphy; J Twomey, D O’Sullivan, E O’Hanlon. 

Subs: K O’Hanlon for M Murphy (38), B Creedon for C O’Shea (41 inj).

NEWMARKET: J O’Keeffe; M Browne, R Lynn, J O’Connor; P Allen, A Ryan, B Daly; C Browne, A Browne; D O’Keeffe, B O’Connor, D Hannon; H O’Connor, C O’Keeffe, R O’Keeffe. 

Subs: B Newman for J O’Keeffe (36 inj), C Crowley for D Hannon (43), E Goggin for A Ryan (43).

Referee: Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).