All-Ireland hurling glory for Kilbrittain after tough battle against Easkey and two red cards
Kilbrittain captain Philip Wall lifts the cup after his side's victory over Easkey in the AIB All-Ireland Club JHC final at Croke Park. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
They had to work for it but ultimately managed to get over the line to claim victory in Saturday’s AIB All-Ireland Club JHC final at Croke Park.
The Cork and Munster champions trailed by five points at one stage in the first half – and were fortunate that it did not extend to six – but managed to claw their way back to within one by half-time, trailing by 0-11 to 0-10.
Early in the second half, Kilbrittain had drawn level at 0-12 each when their opponents suffered a huge blow as their key man Andrew Kilcullen was shown a red card for a high challenge on Mark Hickey.
While points from Luke Griffin and Hickey – his seventh – gave Kilbrittain a two-point lead, the biggest of their game up to then, an outnumbered Easkey side refused to wilt.
An excellent Finnian Cawley point was followed by an incredible effort from centre-back Rory McHugh to level before a Thomas Cawley free put them back in front.
It asked big questions of Kilbrittain but, as they had done all campaign, they answered them. Sub Thomas Harrington came on to act as a spare man in defence and it was his pass that allowed captain Philip Wall to level before the excellent Ronan Crowley got his third of the game.
As Easkey’s wides tally mounted, Hickey’s eighth gave Kilbrittain breathing space again but a wonder-point from corner-back Oisín Moylan re-energised Easkey. While Crowley made it 0-18 to 0-16 for Kilbrittain, Cawley was on hand with a brace to leave the game tied going into injury time.
They might have gone ahead again but couldn’t take the chances and, when Kilbrittain sub Conor Ustianowski was fouled as he bore down on goal – resulting in a second yellow card for Fionn Connolly – Hickey did the needful and Kilbrittain held out for victory.
Having conceded the first two points, Kilbrittain looked to have hit their stride with points from Bertie Butler, Ronan Crowley and a Seán Sexton boomer – and they almost followed that with a goal.
From a great Colm Sheehan pass, Conor Hogan turned his man to create an avenue for goal but, under pressure, his shot was saved by goalkeeper Adam Rolston.
From the let-off, Easkey were inspired to get five points in a row, with Andrew Kilcullen influential – it would take until the 27th minute for them to register a wide, with Kilbrittain having had five by then.
It was 0-10 to 0-5 for the Sligo side after Thomas Cawley’s point on 22 but Kilbrittain conjured another goal chance in response: Bertie Butler’s run from deep creating a half-opening for Hogan, whose shot flashed over.
Mark Hickey added another following a foul on Luke Griffin to leave three in it but on 25 there was a major let-off as Kilcullen won a delivery and managed to kick the ball to the net despite being fouled – but referee Eamonn Furlong had blown his whistle a millisecond before that, and for a free rather than a penalty.
Kilcullen pointed from the 20m line but it was their last score of the half as Kilbrittain made the most of their lucky escape. Josh O’Donovan’s driving run was the catalyst for Hickey’s fourth, then the same player pointed a free from distance after full-back James Hurley won a good ball and was fouled.
The lead was down to one when Hickey added another free following a foul for over-carrying and though Kilcullen had a chance to send Easkey in 0-12 to 0-10 ahead, he under-hit it.
Philip Wall had Kilbrittain level on the restart before Kilcullen restored the Easkey advantage. However, after Ronan Crowley levelled, the Connacht champions lost their main man to a red card - an extremely harsh one, they felt.
The likelihood at that stage was a Kilbrittain win and so it proved – but not without having to show their mettle.
M Hickey 0-9 (0-4 f), R Crowley 0-4, P Wall 0-2, S Sexton, C Hogan, L Griffin, B Butler 0-1 each.
A Kilcullen 0-6 (0-3 f, 0-1 sl), T Cawley 0-5 (0-2 f), F Cawley 0-2, R Molloy, R McHugh, É Moylan, D Rolston, O Moylan 0-1 each.
D Desmond; E O’Neill, J Hurley, D Considine; T Sheehan, A Holland, C Sheehan; S Sexton, J O’Donovan; M Hickey, B Butler, R Crowley; L Griffin, P Wall, C Hogan.
T Harrington for O’Neill (49), D Harrington for Butler (55), C Ustianowski for Hogan (56), E Byrne for Considine (60+2).
A Rolston; O Moylan, J Weir, S Molloy; D Hanley, R McHugh, ER McGowan; R Molloy, N Kilcullen; D Rolston, F Cawley, É Moylan; F Connolly, A Kilcullen, T Cawley.
F Moylan for É Moylan (half-time), C Vereker for D Rolston (49), P Walsh for R Molloy (59).
E Furlong (Wexford).
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