Munster Club IFC final: Brave Aghabullogue fall short to slicker An Ghaeltacht side

An Ghaeltacht: 2-12 (2-2-8) 

Aghabullogue: 1-8 (1-3-2) 

A brave fight but it ended in disappointment for Aghabullogue in the AIB Munster Club IFC final against An Ghaeltacht at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale on Saturday afternoon.

The Muskerry side performed admirably over the course of the hour in what was a fine performance from Ray Keane’s outfit. They just came up against a better and slicker team on the day, losing by seven points.

It was level at the short whistle, but Aghabullogue would have been frustrated having been backed by a strong wind. They didn’t score a normal point in the opening half, but they did land three two-pointers in that half.

An Ghaeltacht, who had former Cork and Kanturk star Aidan Walsh in midfield, was hugely influential for his team, as they limited Aghabullogue to just two points in the second half.

Aghabullogue have become the latest Rebel side to fall to a team from the Kingdom in this competition. They have now won this title on 17 occasions compared to Cork’s five.

In front of a crowd of 1,216, the Muskerry outfit did have wind advantage for the opening 30 minutes, but in challenging weather conditions, it understandably took both teams time to adjust.

An Ghaeltacht should have goaled though after six minutes, a quick move split open the Aghabullogue defence, but goalkeeper John Buckley made a fabulous save to deny Tomás Ó Sé.

The warning signs were there and two minutes later, the Kerry outfit did get their green flag when Éanna Ó Conchúir finished expertly into the corner of the net following a driving run.

Aghabullogue responded with a John Corkery orange flag and Keane’s team got a goal after ten minutes when Matthew Bradley billowed the back of the net after a neat team move, 1-2 to 1-0.

In what was a breathless opening quarter, An Ghaeltacht, who were dangerous every time they went forward, got their second goal 12 minutes in when Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich finished brilliantly into the roof of the net.

Patient play was being rewarded for An Ghaeltacht. They tacked on three unanswered points to lead 2-3 to 1-2 with seven minutes to the break.

Another Corkery two-pointer, his side’s first score in 15 minutes was timely, followed by a sweet Adam Murphy orange flag as Aghabullogue drew parity right on the stroke of the interval, 1-6 to 2-3 at half-time.

An Ghaeltacht started on the front foot in the new half with Gavin Ó Cinnéide slotting over a two-pointer followed by an Éanna Ó Conchúir effort, 2-6 to 1-6 after 38 minutes.

A Cathal Ó Beaglaoich 45 extended his team’s advantage as Aghabullogue were struggling to get their first score of the second half against the wind.

Bradley was denied a goal after 47 minutes when An Ghaeltacht goalkeeper Seán Ó Lúing denied him.

Aghabullogue did get their first score of the half after 49 minutes when Aaron O’Sullivan pointed, 2-7 to 1-7.

An Ghaeltacht were the better team though in every area, much slicker and composed as they managed the last quarter very well.

They kicked two quick points before Cathal Ó Beaglaoich raised an orange flag, 2-11 to 1-7 after 52 minutes.

Bradley did cut the deficit to six points, but time was against Aghabullogue as the game went into added time.

An Ghaeltacht’s Pádraig Ó Sé got the last score before Cian Ó Murchú picked up a black card and Paul Ring was given a second yellow card in the third minute of injury time.

Disappointment for Aghabullogue.

Scorers for An Ghaeltacht: Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich, É Ó Conchúir 1-1 each, C Ó Beaglaoich 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-1 45), G Ó Cinnéide 0-3 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), C Ó Corrduibh, P Ó Sé, T Ó Sé 0-1 each.

Aghabullogue: J Corkery 0-4 (2 2pt), M Bradley 1-1, A Murphy 0-2 (1 2pt), A O’Sullivan 0-1.

AN GHAELTACHT: S Ó Lúing; C Ó Murchú, Rónán Ó Beaglaoich, A Mac Amhlaoibh; A Ó Beaglaoich, B Ó Beaglaoich, P Ó Sé; A Walsh, C Ó Beaglaoich; PJ Mac Láimh (c), Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich, G Ó Cinnéide; C Ó Riagáin, É Ó Conchúir, T Ó Sé (DC).

Subs: PP Sauerland for Rónán Ó Beaglaoich (30, inj), C Ó Corrduibh for C Ó Riagain (42), S Ó Cairbhí for G Ó Cinnéide (48), S Ó Cuinn for Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich (58), C Mac Gearailt for T Ó Sé (61).

AGHABULLOGUE: J Buckley; C Smith, D Merrick, P Dilworth; P Ring, S Tarrant, B O’Sullivan; C Gillespie, A Murphy; P O’Sullivan, J Corkery (c), A O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.

Subs: Oisín O’Connell for S Tarrant (19), D Thompson for L Casey (35), C O’Sullivan for P O’Sullivan (38, inj), Odhrán O’Connell for E O’Sullivan (56). 

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).