Kilshanning land Avondhu Junior A Hurling title after reeling in Dromina in dramatic finish

Kilshannig 1-18 Dromina 2-13 

Kilshannig dug deep in miserable conditions to see off Dromina in the Avondhu JAHC final in the superb surroundings of Churchtown GAA Grounds to claim only their second ever Avondhu Junior A Hurling title.

After trailing for 55 of the 60+ minutes, the victors powered through late on – a win few would have predicted as Kilshannig struggled to get to grips with the game and their opponents in the opening half.

Led on the field by Kieran Twomey at seven, joint-captain Bill Curtin at six, wing-forwards Paddy Walsh and Diarmuid O’Sullivan as well as by the other joint captain Jack Twomey at 11, Kilshannig stuck with Dromina against the wind before reeling them in with the elements to the delight of their supporters.

For the vanquished side, Davey Jones, Daniel O’Connell and Jack Morrissey were impressive as was Diarmuid Buckley, who bagged two early goals to set his side on the way to what looked like a comfortable victory. Kieran Cagney was another to show well for Dromina as did Brian Buckley on the middle.

Dromina were on the front foot from the first attack after a long ball fell to Diarmuid Buckley, who made no mistake – Dromina up by a goal to zip with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

A pair of long-range frees from Kieran Twomey had Kilshannig off the mark. However, a point from Jones and Buckley’s second major set Kilshannig back and Dromina on the front foot once more.

A goal from Eanna O’Hanlon on 15 minutes brought just four between the sides again but Dromina would have the better of the next 15 and went in up by five – a brace of late scores from Jack Twomey and Walsh kept Kilshannig in the fight. 2-8 to 1-6 at the turn.

With the wind to their backs, Kilshannig set about reeling in their neighbours. While the second half was littered with frees, no fault of the ref Ciaran O’Regan, who left the game flow when he could, it was still a pulsating tie as neither side gave nor asked for quarter.

Kilshannig got to parity on 55 minutes with a huge score from Jack Twomey and with eight of the last 10 points going the way of Kilshannig few could argue that the right team won on the day.

Hard on Dromina, who gave this one everything – some very classy hurlers may well have won the day had the elements been a little more favourable.

Scorers for Kilshannig: P Walsh 0-9 f, E O’Hanlon 1-0, J Twomey 0-3, K Twomey (f), Diarmuid O’Sullivan 0-2 each; J Kearney, Darragh O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Dromina: D Buckley 2-1, J Morrissey 0-6 (0-4 f, 0-2 65), D Jones 0-3, K Cagney 0-2, B Buckley 0-1.

KILSHANNIG: D Kearney; D Guiney, C O’Shea, C Murphy; E Burke, B Curtin, K Twomey; Darragh O’Sullivan, D Murphy; P Walsh, J Twomey, Diarmuid O’Sullivan; R Crowley, E O’Hanlon, J Kearney. 

Sub: K O’Hanlon for J Kearney (47).

DROMINA: D O’Connell; B Naughton, P Hassett, J Jordan; L Morrissey, C Shanahan, M Buckley; B Buckley, C Finn; D Jones, J Murphy, J Morrissey; K Cagney, J Morrissey, D Buckley. 

Subs: D Cagney for C Finn and P Burke for P Hassett (both 47), C Dunne for J Morrissey (55).

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Ballyhea)