PIFC: Kiskeam hit four goals past Castletownbere to set up Aghabullogue clash

Kiskeam: 4-13 (4-1-11) 

Castletownbere: 1-14 (1-1-12) 

A first championship win for Kiskeam in two years and what a time to do it.

Pure heart from the Duhallow men as they dug deep to beat Castletownbere to book a knockout spot in the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC at Newcestown on Saturday evening.

The Duhallow side were one of the likely candidates to fall into the relegation play-off on the last day of the group matches, but given this impressive victory and Macroom’s defeat to Iveleary, it opened up second spot for Kiskeam in Group 3.

This was a cracking game of football, but ultimately it was Kiskeam’s three goals on the trot in a five-minute spell midway through the second half that decided this encounter.

But they had done the hard work in the opening 30 minutes when they led by a goal at the short whistle having played against a stiff wind. Having suffered SAFC demotion last year, this timely win was greeted with a mixture of relief and delight once the full-time whistle was blown.

Their reward is a meeting with last year’s beaten finalists Aghabullogue in the quarter-finals.

The contest didn’t start as well as Kiskeam would have liked. Andrew O’Sullivan got the first score with a two-pointer after two minutes. It was a great opening for Castletownbere with the wind, but their opposition replied with a goal after five minutes.

Thomas Casey set up the on-rushing Mike Casey who finished brilliantly to the back of the net. Daniel Fitzgerald and Dave Scannell added points for Kiskeam, who were wearing Duhallow jerseys, given both teams are black and white.

A pair of Gary Murphy efforts and a beauty from Tomás Murphy drew the Beara side level after 17 minutes, 1-2 to 0-5.

Kiskeam did land two of the next three white flags with Seán O’Sullivan’s effort the pick of those scores.

Castletownbere had a wonderful goal opportunity after 26 minutes. Andrew O’Sullivan gave a delicious ball to James Spencer, but his effort was well saved by Kiskeam netminder Billy Daly.

Points from Mike Herlihy and Thomas Casey gave Kiskeam a 1-6 to 0-6 advantage at half-time.

The Duhallow side had wind advantage for the new half even if it did weaken during the break.

Castletownbere came out of the dressing rooms with a new impetus. A pair of Gary Murphy points, one which was a free, and an Andrew O’Sullivan effort drew the Beara men level after 36 minutes.

The teams traded the next four points before Andrew O’Sullivan, with the outside of his boot, gave Castletownbere a 0-12 to 1-8 lead with 19 minutes remaining. It wouldn’t get any better for them.

Their opposition put together a scoring spree that would prove crucial. Adrian Carroll kicked a two-pointer before Scannell landed his fourth point.

The Duhallow outfit would then score three goals in five minutes. Scannell with two and an O’Sullivan effort, 4-11 to 0-12 after 50 minutes. Three well-worked team moves as they sliced the Castletownbere defence open.

O’Sullivan then added a free and it looked like plain sailing for Kiskeam to the finish.

There was a kick in Castletownbere though with 1-2 without reply. Fintan Fenner with 1-1 and also a Gary Murphy point, 4-12 to 1-14 with two minutes of normal time left.

They had left their comeback too late. Kiskeam sub Shane O’Riordan put the icing on the cake for the winners with a point.

They had been more worried about avoiding going into the relegation play-off at the start of the day, they now have a knockout game to look forward to in two weeks’ time.

Scorers for Kiskeam: D Scannell 2-4, S O’Sullivan 1-3 (0-2 f), Mike Casey 1-0, A Carroll 0-2 (1 2pt), D Fitzgerald, M Herlihy, T Casey, S O’Riordan 0-1 each.

Castletownbere: G Murphy 0-6 (0-2 f), F Fenner 1-3 (0-1 f), A O’Sullivan 0-4 (1 2pt), T Murphy 0-1.

KISKEAM: B Daly; J O’Connor, Mike Casey, J Daly; AJ O’Connor, S Meehan, K O’Connor; G Casey, A Carroll; D Fitzgerald, M Herlihy, Maurice Casey; S O’Sullivan, D Scannell, T Casey.

Subs: P O’Callaghan for D Fitzgerald (h-t), E Daly for Maurice Casey (39), S O’Riordan for D Scannell (51), D Murphy for M Herlihy (55), A Dennehy for G Casey (59).

CASTLETOWNBERE: L Harrington; B Murphy, S McCarthy, J Rosales; J O’Neill, T Collins, D Hanley; A O’Sullivan, T Murphy; J Hanley, F Fenner, M Orpen; G Murphy, D Dunne, J Spencer.

Subs: J Harrington for D Dunne, O Murphy for J Hanley (both h-t), O Byrne for M Orpen (42), L Kelly for J Spencer (46), D Dunne for S McCarthy (55).

Referee: Andrew Whelton (Clonakilty).