Brilliant Buttevant return to county final as Ardigole suffer once more at semi-final stage
Buttevant’s Billy O’Riordan takes on Adrigole’s Tom O’Connor. Picture: Chani Anderson
After winning the Premier Junior Football Championship in 2025, Buttevant are only 60 minutes away from repeating the feat at Intermediate A level.
Joey Hanlon’s side booked their place in the Cork IAFC decider following what a compelling battle with Adrigole. This was a composed and slick Buttevant performance, one which showcased why they have been a side tipped to go the distance since the very start of the campaign.
Awaiting in the final for Buttevant in a few weeks are Kilmurry. That should be an absolutely mouthwatering encounter.
Adrigole, appearing at the semi-final stages in the Cork IAFC for the fourth year in a row, showcased their enormous hunger to get over the line. Buttevant though are riding the crest of a wave and it showed.
Adrigole opened the scoring with early points from Cian O’Shea and a monster Ben O’Sullivan score. Buttevant gradually got into the groove and led 0-7 to 0-4 after 25 minutes.
David Hanlon got a lovely two-pointer with Mark Lenahan also proving why he is a potent Buttevant scoring weapon. Adrigole responded with David Harrington putting the finishing touches to a lovely passing move outside the arc, with this evenly contested opening half making for captivating viewing.
In first-half stoppage time, Adrigole edged ahead when Tom O’Connor impressively finished with a rocket to the back of the net. The sides went in level, 1-6 to 0-9, with Aaron Horgan splitting the posts just before the break.
Scores by the ever-reliable duo of Lenahan and Hanlon edged Buttevant back into the lead early in the second half.
But Adrigole came back yet again after 40 minutes. After an attempt at a point by Cian O’Shea landed around the goalmouth, on hand to fist the ball home from close range was Neil O’Sullivan.
Buttevant responded through scores from Tadhg O’Connell and Lenahan. This game was still very much in the melting pot going into the last quarter, as an Adrigole two-pointer from Charlie O’Sullivan saw the sides level again at 2-8 to 0-14.
As good champions do, Buttevant charged away and found a way to win when it mattered most. They got the next five scores in a row as Mark Lenahan, David Hanlon and Conor Hanlon all impressively split the posts.
Buttevant then got another point through Ryan Fowley as they now held a five-point advantage at 0-19 to 2-8 on 53 minutes.
An Adrigole two-pointer from Tom O’Connor meant that there were just three points between the sides heading into second-half stoppage time.
Buttevant kept their composure and saw the game out.
All eyes now for Buttevant will be on their familiar foes in Kilmurry, in what should be a cracking conclusion to the 2026 Cork IAFC.
Super Valu Páirc Uí Chaoimh has become familiar territory. Buttevant have been here before and they will be fully determined to become county champions once again.
M Lenahan 0-8, D Hanlon 0-5 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), A Trimm, K Sheehan, C Hanlon, A Horgan, T O’Connell, R Fowley 0-1 each.
T O’Connor 1-2 (1 2pt), N O’Sullivan 1-0, C O’Shea 0-3 (0-2 f), C O’Sullivan (1 2pt), D Harrington (1 2pt) 0-2 each, B O’Sullivan 0-1.
R Donovan; K Crowley, M Walsh, B O’Riordan; A Trimm, K Bowles, A Horgan; A O’Neill, K Lenahan; M Lenahan, D Hanlon, D Ryan; K Sheehan, C Hanlon, T O’Connell.
D Walsh for Trimm (42), R Fowley for K Lenahan (43), S Madigan for Ryan (51), E O’Donoghue for Horgan (60).
W O’Sullivan; Daniel Harrington, F Carey, Darragh O’Sullivan; M Downing, S O’Shea, Cathal O’Sullivan; N O’Sullivan, T Sullivan; D Collins, T O’Connor, David Harrington; C O’Shea, G O’Shea, B O’Sullivan.
Diarmuid O’Sullivan for B O’Sullivan (15, inj), S O’Sullivan for T Sullivan (HT), L Harrington for Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Charlie O’Sullivan for Darragh O’Sullivan (both 42), J Crowley for W O’Sullivan (49).
Brian Coniry(Crosshaven).
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