Muskerry JAFC: Kilmichael land blow against Aghinagh

Kilmichael 1-12 (1-1-10) Aghinagh 1-10 (1-1-8) 

This Ross Oil Muskerry Junior A Football Championship contest at Cloughduv saw Kilmichael tear up many of the pre-championship predictions by stunning Aghinagh.

This was a gusty display from Kilmichael, who now still can harbour hopes of making the knockout stages.

Aghinagh, one of the pre-championship favourites, are now looking straight down the barrel of elimination after two consecutive championship defeats.

Managed by the former Cork minor and U20 football boss Bobbie O’Dwyer, Aghinagh settled the quicker and got the opening two scores of the contest, including a lovely curling effort by Liam Twohig.

Kilmichael got off the mark thanks to a point by Kevin Murphy. Cathal Foley almost slotted to the net a few moments later but he was denied by a fine save by Aghinagh goalkeeper Paul O’Sullivan.

Aghinagh found the back of the net on 21 minutes, when Twohig raced through and finished neatly.

Kilmichael landed over late first-half points courtesy of Tom Browne but at the half-time break, Aghinagh held the advantage at 1-6 to 0-5.

If the opening half was Aghinagh looking in command, the second half was the complete opposite.

Kilmichael started to reel their opponents in with Brian Horgan and Browne adding to the scoring tally.

Midway through the second half, a lovely free by Horgan saw Kilmichael edge ahead at 0-10 to the 1-6 of Aghinagh.

The Kilmichael excitement levels went up a notch heading into the final ten minutes. Brendan Cotter was in the right place at the right time to finish instinctively from close range.

It took 27 minutes into the second half for Aghinagh to point after the break through Twohig.

There were joyous scenes of celebration at the full-time whistle, as Kilmichael basked in the glory of a morale-boosting victory.

Aghinagh round out the group stages with what should be a spicy clash again near neighbours Clondrohid on September 14. Next up for Kilmicheal is a game against Grenagh.

Scorers for Kilmichael: T Browne 0-7 (0-6 f), B Horgan 0-4 (1 2ptf, 0-1 f, 0-1 45), B Cotter 1-0, K Murphy 0-1.

Aghinagh: L Twohig 1-7 (1 2ptf, 0-4 f), C Buckley 0-2, W Coakley 0-1.

KILMICHEAL: C Dromey; A Wood, C Cotter, G Murphy; A Kelleher, E Murphy, M Downey; D Horgan, F Dromey; K Murphy, B Horgan, S Foley; T Browne, C Foley, F Buckley.

Subs: I Wood for Buckley (h-t), B Cotter for Kelleher (50) 

AGHINAGH: P O’Sullivan; J Lynch, D O’Riordan, O Cummins; E McCarthy, T Morgans, TJ Buckley; M McCarthy, G O’Sullivan; J Kearney, L Twohig, S Kelleher; W Coakley, C Buckley, D Ambrose.

Subs: S Cummins for Coakley, S Corkery for Kelleher (both HT), S O’Riordan for Ambrose (42), L O’Leary for Kearney (52), Ambrose for O’Sullivan (57).

Referee: Peter O’Leary(Cloughduv).