Barry Walsh hits the net as Killeagh beat Fermoy in SAHC opener
Barry Walsh celebrates his goal for Killeagh against Fermoy at Lisgoold. Picture: Larry Cummins
Cork hurler Barry Walsh's haul of 1-4 was crucial in a very keenly contested Co-Op Superstores Cork County SAHC opening round game at Lisgoold on Saturday evening.
Over the hour, favourites Killeagh were the better side and made a stronger start to lead by six points in the first half. However, Fermoy will look back with regret at a number of wides, mainly in the first half.
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Evan Lane opened the scoring in the second minute for Killeagh. Fermoy's Shane Aherne replied with a point.
A period of sustained pressure saw the Imokilly side hit a purple patch, and by the 11th minute, they were 0-5 to 0-1 clear. Ben Twomey pointed for Fermoy but Killeagh had two points from Dylan McCarthy, with one of those coming from a free.
Fermoy hit three rapid wides before Evan Lane made it 0-8 to 0-2 in favour of Killeagh. Fermoy found it hard to make any real progress up front though Fionn Lardner pointed a free.
Good play for Killeagh by impressive Andy Walsh led to an Eoghan Keniry point to leave it 0-9 to 0-3.
Fermoy finished the half well with three points in quick succession by Fionn Lardner, David O'Callaghan, and Shane Aherne, as they were back in the hunt at the break, only trailing 0-9 to 0-6.
Killeagh introduced Shane Smiddy for the second half, who did very well for them.
Fermoy, however, lifted the siege. Aherne soloed out of defence finding Kieran Morrisson, who placed Twomey for a great point.
Lardner then added two frees to level the contest at 0-9 each. Yet Fermoy were unable to take the lead, despite several chances to do so.
Instead, it was Killeagh with four points in succession by Ryan McCarthy, Dylan McCarthy, Eoghan Keniry, and Rob Sinclair that moved them into a 0-13 to 0-9 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Good play for Fermoy by Martin Brennan led to a Twomey point.
In the 47th minute, Barry Walsh raced through for a cracking goal that opened up a six-point lead. It was now 1-13 to 0-10. Cork U20 Ben Walsh soloed through for a great point.
Fermoy replied with two points as the winners were still six clear, 1-15 to 0-12 with time running out. Fermoy never gave up and forced a 20-metre free that Lardner netted to leave it 1-15 to 1-12.
Lardner followed with another point but in the 53rd minute, Dylan McCarthy pointed a 65 with the impressive Barry Walsh placing Evan Lane for a long-range score.
Lardner and Arlene Aherne had further Fermoy points to stay in contention. Killeagh had their last score by McCarthy soon after.
In injury time, John O'Keeffe completed the scoring from a free.
Best for Killeagh were Fionn Murphy, Ben Walsh, Andy Walsh, Evan Lane, Barry Walsh, Eoghan Keniry and Dylan Walsh. For Fermoy Harry Bates, Kieran Morrisson, James O'Brien, Peter Murphy, Shane Aherne and Fionn Lardner all did well.
Killeagh will now meet Erin's Own while Fermoy will play Na Piarsaigh in round two with both sides needing a win to stay in contention.
Scorers for Killeagh: Barry Walsh 1-4, D McCarthy 0-5 (0-4 f), E Lane, E Keniry 0-3 each, R McCarthy 0-2, R Sinclair, Ben Walsh 0-1 each.
Fermoy: F Lardner 1-7 (1-6 f), B Twomey 0-3, S Aherne 0-2, D O'Callaghan, A Aherne, B Daly, J O'Keeffe (f) 0-1 each.
KILLEAGH: F Murphy; C Fitzgibbon, J Fogarty, S Long; Ben Walsh, B Delaney, A Walsh; R Sinclair, E Lane; Barry Walsh, P O'Brien, D Walsh; E Keniry, R McCarthy, D McCarthy.
Subs: F Brennan for E Keniry (blood), S Smiddy for P O'Brien, F Brennan for D Walsh, D O'Brien for B Delaney.
FERMOY: H Bates; T Clancy, L Aherne, K Morrisson; M Brennan, J O'Brien, J Molloy; B Daly, P Murphy; D Daly, S Aherne, D Lardner; F Lardner, D O'Callaghan, B Twomey.
Subs: J O'Keeffe for D O'Callaghan, K Fitzpatrick for K Morrisson, A Aherne for D Lardner, B O'Sullivan for B Daly.
Referee: Mark Maher (St Finbarr's).
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