Kilbrittain hurlers shut down potent attack once again to set up huge day out at Croke Park

For the past decade, Cork has enjoyed representation at Croke Park on All-Ireland Intermediate/Junior hurling final day.

For Kilbrittain to continue that record, they had to untangle a Davidstown-Courtnacuddy side with a commanding goal record.

In knockout hurling, the Wexford Intermediate A and Leinster Junior champions had scorched 25 goals in their last seven games. Meanwhile, they had conceded just five.

That underlines the scale of Kilbrittain’s performance at a wet and wild Clonmel Sportsfield, where heavy underfoot conditions and a packed-in crowd made for a lively atmosphere.

The West Corkman did what they’ve been doing all winter by dismantling an attack which can sink your hopes with any lapse.

James Hurley had handled the inter-county threat of Pádraig Fitzgerald in the Munster final. Here, he had to deal with the considerable height and power of James Doyle, who is equally known for his rugby exploits.

Doyle gave an early taster of his ability when snapping a precise pass, turning inside, and drawing a save from David Desmond. Colm Sheehan got back to field the rebound ahead of two Davidstown attackers. From that moment, Hurley prevented the full-forward from gaining any traction.

Eoin O’Neill was twice perfectly positioned to thwart attackers looking to get off a strike on goal. The corner-back also did well to contain former Wexford senior David Dunne anytime he drifted into the inside line. Primary credit for that man-marking job goes to left half-back Sheehan, who was stuck tight to Dunne from the outset.

Davidstown didn’t create a goal chance of consequence until their closing flurry. Joe Doyle pinged the post before Lucas Fitzpatrick billowed the roof of the net in the 59th minute.

There was just one point between the sides entering the four added minutes, but Davidstown never got off another shot from their final three attacks.

Seán Sexton broke their first long delivery. Ronan Crowley came up with two big moments, catching the subsequent puck-out and tracking back to produce the final rob. Hurley also got on the sliotar twice, intercepting a pass forward and turning over in the danger area. Behind him, Desmond controlled a dangerous ball into the mixer. Declan Harrington made victory certain by drawing the last free.

But it wasn’t just that Kilbrittain had contained Davidstown. They outgoaled them. Conor Hogan and Luke Griffin raised the green flags, but they could’ve had a handful more.

Crowley skittled wide within a minute. It was a statement of intent. They similarly ended the half with a Griffin miss.

Whether Mark Hickey intended to go for goal from a close-range free before half-time, which was comfortably saved, it did ultimately lead to Hogan’s major. Josh O’Donovan and Darragh Considine did the grunt work to regain the goalkeeper’s clearance, Tomás Sheehan sent it forward, Bertie Butler won another ruck and released Philip Wall to give the final pass.

They turned one point ahead, 1-8 to 0-10, having played with the benefit of a tricky, diagonal wind. Davidstown looked strongly placed and soon edged ahead. But Kilbrittain would dig in to win the second half by the same margin; 1-7 to 1-6.

Griffin’s goal was particularly vital in weathering the storm. It began, like the first, with a ruck won by O’Donovan. Hogan showed great effort with his flick from behind to win Colm Sheehan’s ball in. With his hurley tied up, his assist was equally improvised. He managed to kick the sliotar with innate West Cork flair for the unmarked Griffin to drive home.

BUFFER

That gave Kilbrittian a three-point buffer. They needed every bit of that when going 14 minutes without raising another flag.

Yet when Davidstown finally got level, in Kilbrittain’s moment of need, Hickey stepped forward with four consecutive points. He nailed three frees into the wind, including one from distance and one he won himself, and added a wonderful backfoot effort from play.

Griffin was another major contributor beyond his goal. In the Munster final, he drew three frees for Hickey to convert. In the muck and rain of Clonmel, he won four of Hickey’s 10 frees.

Now, the pristine surface and polished surrounds of Croke Park await.

For the second time in four years, Sligo senior champions Easkey will contest a final against a Leeside outfit. Once again, Kilbrittain will have a clear dangerman to handle.

Easkey full-forward Andrew Kilcullen accumulated an incredible 4-10 haul (4-4 from play) to secure a 4-23 to 1-22 extra-time victory over Donegal representatives Burt. Against a strong wind in the first half, Kilcullen’s brace limited the damage to three points; 0-14 to 2-5.

Easkey reeled off six in a row upon the resumption and led by five down the stretch, but Burt notched the final 1-2 to force extra time.

However, Kilcullen completed his hat-trick at the start of the extra period and added a fourth thereafter.