Kilbrittain dreaming of All-Ireland glory after making hurling history for West Cork
Ronan Crowley, Kilbrittain, going for this high ball with Josh Kay, Kilrossanty. Picture: Dan Linehan
Cork’s reign of Munster JHC titles continued with Kilbrittain’s display of clever, clinical hurling to cruise past Kilrossanty.
For all the Rebel dominance at this grade, the 14-point margin of victory was the most comprehensive since Meelin in 2010. It came, too, against a Waterford club steeled by the experience of last year’s final defeat to Russell Rovers.
Unlike that campaign, the Rossies entered as county champions. It pointed to a closer contest, but Kilbrittain simply overwhelmed their opponents.
Kilrossanty set up with Séamus Fitzgerald as a sweeper against the wind at Mallow. That left Aaron Holland free at the other end, and he mopped up plenty of ball aimed for Waterford panellist Pádraig Fitzgerald.
Meanwhile, Kilbrittain showed off their long-range shooting through Holland, Tomás Sheehan, Seán Sexton, and Josh O’Donovan as they were careful to avoid the sweeper’s domain.
While they had one forward register from play in the first half, crucially, both midfielders and two defenders did so, while Mark Hickey slotted six frees into the low sun.
O’Donovan’s energy around the middle helped to negate any prospect of overlapping Kilrossanty runners. He added to his point by winning three of those Hickey frees.
On the inside, Luke Griffin and Philip Wall were equally hard-working to win five more converted frees between them across the hour. Facing more black and amber opposition, Kilrossanty’s challenge suffered the same shortfalls as last year.
They were left to regret a 25% conversion rate in the first half against Russell Rovers. It was a similar story against Kilbrittain as they landed three of 11 attempts into the crossfield wind, and none from play, for a 27% success rate.
Ultimately, Kilbrittain restricted them to just two points from play in total; one from each of the Fitzgerald twins.
The other five defenders all kept their markers scoreless, even after the Rossies pressed up in the second half.
During that brief comeback after half-time, the gap was reduced to four, 0-11 to 0-7. It seemed as if the wind’s effect could become a defining feature in the match.
Kilbrittain ensured such thoughts were short-lived. The next puck-out was held up in the wind, but Wall sniffed out the break for Griffin’s settling point.
Sheehan battled to win the subsequent restart. Sexton’s ball in found Griffin showing out in front again. Conor Hogan’s pace drew the final defender for Hickey to bounce home.
In the space of 55 seconds, they had undone all of Kilrossanty’s hard-earned progress.
From the puck-out, Sexton won a free for Hickey to arrow over. Kilbrittain were back in credit and extended their scoring streak to 1-3 without reply.
Their second goal showed everything good about this performance. Hurley brought a dangerously lofted free to ground for Holland to hoover up. He quickly and coolly scanned for an out-ball, with the option provided by Colm Sheehan.
The wing-back sent it long into space in front of Hogan. Even though the corner-forward momentarily lost the sliotar in the sun, once he found it, he showed a turn of pace to round his marker and draw the covering defender.
That left Wall free to make a beeline for goal before offloading to Butler, the man in the best position, to finish from close range.
They become the first Carbery club to win a Munster hurling title.
The All-Ireland series awaits. Kilkenny clubs have won four of the last five national titles, but their representatives, Barrow Rangers, have been knocked out. That leaves the path to Croke Park wide open for Kilbrittain, among other teams.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, the Kilkenny champions’ conquerors, will fancy their chances of becoming just the second Wexford club to make the All-Ireland final. They are already flying high after completing the county double of Intermediate A Hurling and Junior A Football championships.
Kildare Senior B winners Clane will provide their opposition in the Leinster final.
It should be closer than last year’s meeting of Wexford and Kildare champions, which saw the former emerge 32-point winners.
The victors will meet Kilbrittain in the semi-final.
On the other side of the draw, Sligo senior and Connacht junior champions, Easkey, have experience of making the 2023 final, which they lost to Ballygiblin.
Meanwhile, Donegal senior semi-finalists Burt only discovered their entry into the Ulster junior championship several weeks after their county elimination.
Having resumed training, they have made the most of the extended season to grind out one-point victories in the Ulster final and the subsequent Ulster ‘twinning final’ against All-British champions Thomas McCurtains from London.
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