Buttevant end 99-year drought for county glory following comfortable win over St Nick's
Buttevant's captain Mark Lenahan raises the Donal Hurley Cup after defeating St Nick's in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Glory for the black and amber on a famous day for Buttevant as they landed the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC title after a comfortable win over St Nick’s.
99 years on from the club’s last county football success at adult level, the North Cork club have made new history after a deserved win in this final on Saturday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
On such a huge occasion, it did help that Buttevant were wind-assisted in the first half. They built up a commanding lead with four two-pointers giving them a seven-point buffer at the interval.
Conor Hanlon, influential throughout from centre-forward, kicked three orange flags, all in the first half.
Joey Hanlon’s charges kept their opposition at arms-length in what was a very professional and mature performance to win by eight points.
St Nick’s ended with 14 men following a late Robert Downey red card.
Buttevant made the most of the wind advantage early on. David Hanlon and Mark Lenahan added points inside five minutes before two-point king Conor Hanlon kicked two successive orange flags.
The winners took a firm grip on proceedings with a goal after 12 minutes. Mark Lenahan sent a delicious ball into the square where Michael O’Neill fetched the ball brilliantly and slotted it to the back of the net, 1-6 to 0-0.
The concession of the green flag did wake St Nick’s from their slumber. A pair of Jack O’Sullivan efforts, one from a free, and efforts from Danny Morris and Dave Dunlea did leave them five points adrift after 18 minutes.
But Buttevant’s ability to kick two-pointers has been a key part of their game all year. They put together two on the trot from Mark Lenahan (free) and Conor Hanlon, 1-10 to 0-4.
An O’Sullivan free and a nice point from sub Dean Brosnan did keep St Nick’s just about in touch, with Cork hurler Robert Downey very effective around the middle, 1-10 to 0-6 at the break.
The city outfit required a strong opening to the new half given they had now the wind at their backs.
Morris did point for his team to leave six points between the sides only to be cancelled out by a Conor Hanlon free.
The same player tacked on two quick-fire white flags, one from a free, to push Buttevant 1-13 to 0-7 clear after 39 minutes.
St Nick’s never wilted, Dean Brosnan and O’Sullivan (free) left their team still with a slim chance with a quarter of the game remaining.
They couldn’t reel in their opposition though as the game petered out. The sides traded white flags as Buttevant led 1-14 to 0-10 with five minutes to go.
Another Conor Hanlon free copper-fastened his side’s advantage approaching added time.
St Nick’s evening ended on a sour note when Robert Downey received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident as tempers flared.
Buttevant finally claim county glory.
C Hanlon 0-11 (3 2 pt, 0-3 f), M Lenahan 0-3 (1 2pt f), M O’Neill 1-0, D Hanlon 0-1.
J O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-3 f), D Brosnan, D Morris 0-2 each, E Downey, D Dunlea 0-1 each.
R Donovan; M Walsh, J Whelan, K Crowley; S Madigan, K Bowles, J O’Neill; A O’Neill, K Lenahan; M Lenahan (c), C Hanlon, A Trimm; D Hanlon, M O’Neill, A Horgan.
K Sheehan for J O’Neill (h-t), D Ryan for M O’Neill (43), B O’Riordan for S Madigan (47), B O’Connor for A O’Neill (55), P Behan for A Horgan (57).
R Cronin; D Dunlea, S Horgan, C Horgan; F O’Driscoll, E Varian, D Wall; R Downey, D Coughlan; G Marshall, J Brosnan, E Downey; J O’Sullivan, E O’Leary, D Morris (c).
D Brosnan for D Coughlan (23), J Corkery for G Marshall (h-t), L Quilligan for E O’Leary (37), Z Lynch for D Morris (46), C McCarthy for J Brosnan (53).
Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).
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