Kilmurry push on in second half against Boherbue to seal IAFC semi-final spot

Kilmurry 2-11 (2-0-11) Boherbue 0-9 (0-1-7) 

Kilmurry booked their place in the knockout stages of the McCarthy Insurance Group Intermediate A Football Championship against Boherbue at Clondrohid on Saturday afternoon.

Last year, the Muskerry club won the Premier JFC, before going on to secure the Munster title, and are now straight into the IAFC semi-final.

Knowing it was essentially win or bust, Boherbue made the early inroads in terms of the scoring, with John Corkery and Gerry O’Sullivan slotting over points. Kilmurry responded with a Liam Wall score. 

Boherbue continued to grow in momentum, with David O’Connor keeping his composure and impressively splitting the posts, as they led 0-4 to 0-1 at the quarter of an hour mark.

Ruadhán Ó Curraoin then responded with a free for Kilmurry, with Corkery landing another Boherbue score moments later. After 23 minutes, a well-worked attacking move resulted in a goal and brought the Muskerry side back level after Ó Curraoin and Alexander Asling set up Rory Duggan to finish to the net.

A point by James O’Mullane then edged Kilmurry into the lead. But Boherbue got back on level terms courtesy of a free by O’Connor.

At the break, the sides were level at Kilmurry’s 1-3 to the 0-6 to Boherbue, with everything at this particular juncture still all up for grabs in terms of knockout stage progression.

Kilmurry went back in front on the resumption as Joe O’Mullane pointed. But Boherbue then went back into the lead courtesy of a well-taken two-pointer by Dan Sheehan.

On 48 minutes Kilmurry levelled things up again at 1-6 to 0-9, with Sean O’Leary getting a good point against the wind.

It was Kilmurry that raced home impressively with the finishing line in sight.

Ó Curraoin added to his own scoring tally, with Duggan also getting back in on the scoring act with finely taken points.

Kilmurry sealed the deal in stoppage time, as William Ronan charged forward and finished to the net from close range.

After a memorable year for the club in 2024, Kilmurry are very much determined to continue their upward trajectory in 2025.

Scorers for Kimurry: R Duggan 1-2, W Ronan 1-0, R Ó Curraoin 0-3 (0-2 f), S O’Leary 0-2, James O’Mullane, Joe O’Mullane, D O’Mullane, L Wall 0-1 each.

Boherbue: D O’Connor 0-4 (0-2 f), D Sheehan (1 2pt), J Corkery 0-2 each, G O’Sullivan 0-1.

KILMURRY: J McDonnell; E Keane, W Ronan, B Hinchion; T Collins, K Kelleher, A Asling; James O’Mullane, John O’Mullane; R Duggan, R Ó Curraoin, L Asling; S O’Leary, L Wall, D O’Mullane.

Subs: M O’Leary for Collins, Joe O’Mullane for L Asling (both h-t), Collins for Kelleher (56).

BOHERBUE: D Murphy; J Daly, D Buckley, CJ O’Sullivan; D O’Sullivan, M O’Connor, C O’Keeffe; K Cremin, L Moynihan; B O’Gorman, Alan O’Connor, B Murphy; G O’Sullivan, J Corkery, D O’Connor.

Subs: D Sheehan for O’Gorman (h-t), Andrew O’Connor for O’Sullivan (48), N Murphy for Alan O’Connor (52), M O’Gorman for M O’Connor (58), C Ducey for Moynihan (59).

Referee: Niall Hayes (Carbery Rangers)