Kilshannig in pole position in Senior A after blitzing Bishopstown
Kilshannig defender Colm O’Shea went full stretch to block a kick by Gary Holland, Bishopstown, at Mallow GAA. Picture: Larry Cummins
A superb display from Kilshannig proved too much for Bishopstown as they secured a crucial second win in the McCarthy Insurance Senior A Football Championship at Mallow on Saturday.
This was a statement of intent from Kilashannig as their physical power in all departments proved too much for their out-of-sorts opponents.
Outside of the opening quarter, Bishopstown never got to grips with a side who mowed them down once gaining control. They now must beat Clyda Rovers in their last game or potentially face a relegation playoff. Éire Óg, who beat Bishopstown in the opener, have one win but their game against Clyda this weekend was postponed due to a bereavement.
Credit to both sides, they came out of the blocks with all guns blazing. Kilshannig’s Daire Sullivan split the posts with a classy point but the Town responded in style when a flowing move saw full-forward Gary Holland level with an exquisite point.
Consecutive points from Kieran Twomey and Michael Murphy edged Kilshannig into a two-point lead. The teams continued to trade points but Holland missed a goal opportunity.
Defensively, both sides looked vulnerable and a wonderful Kieran Twomey two-pointer midway through the half increased Kilashannig’s lead to four.
Bishopstown had their share of possession but lacked the killer instinct in front of goal. They were punished accordingly, with some clinical Kilashannig shooting, who were also able to run at them to create chances.
When Tom Cunningham nailed consecutive points it gave the North Cork side a healthy seven-point interval lead 0-14 to 0-7.
On the restart, the Town took only 40 seconds to score through Holland, followed by another white flag from Kieran McFadden.
McFadden added a second in the 34th minute but once Killian O’Hanlon kicked a monstrous two-pointer five minutes later, it wasn’t looking good for the city side.
As the game matured, the Town defence collapsed. Cunningham showed his physical power to drill an unstoppable shot to the back of the net midway through the half.
Kilshannig showed little mercy and when Alan O’Connell made a telling run and finished in style with a classy shot it was game over.
Kilshannig now look to be in the box seat to qualify with a tasty clash against Éire Óg looming next month. A win there could secure an automatic semi-final berth.
A O’Connell 1-4, T Cunningham 1-2, K Twomey 0-3 (1 2pt), J O’Hanlon, J Twomey, Daire O’Sullivan (0-2 f) 0-3 each, K O’Hanlon 0-2 (2pt f), M Murphy, E Healy, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, C O’Shea, D O’Doherty 0-1 each.
G Holland 0-5 (0-2 f), K McFadden 0-3, C Dunne 0-2 (1 2pt), H Wixted, B McCarthy, K Murphy 0-1 each.
G Creedon; C Murphy, E Burke, M Murphy; C O’Shea, B Curtin, E Healy; T Cunningham, K O’Hanlon; D O’Sullivan, A O’Connell, J O’Hanlon; J Twomey, D O’Sullivan, K Twomey.
D O’Doherty for D O’Sullivan (48), D Guiney for C Murphy (55), C O’Connell for K O’Hanlon (56).
C Hayes; M Murphy, L Hogan, M Scally; K McFadden, H Wixted, K Murphy; J Murphy, B McCarthy; P Casey, O Foley, J Tompkins; S Collins, C Dunne, G Holland.
N Crowley for B McCarthy (h-t), B Cahill for S Collins (50), S Sheridan for J Tompkins (52).
Robert Whelan (Kilworth).
App?
