Kilmurry power past Buttevant to capture IAFC title in style

Kilmurry: 2-18 (2-2-14) 

Buttevant: 0-10 (0-2-6) 

More county glory for Kilmurry after they saw off Buttevant in easy fashion in the McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Friday night.

The Muskerry side captured the JAFC and Premier JFC titles in 2022 and ’24 respectively as their upward momentum continues and they climb to the third grade of Cork football.

The 1995 intermediate final loss to Dohenys can finally be consigned to history.

Buttevant’s aim of a second county title on the trot fell short after winning the Premier JFC in 2025.

Kilmurry started brightly with a goal from Liam Wall and they were able to keep their opposition at bay in what was a surprisingly one-sided contest.

Wall and Ruadhrán Ó Curraoín were on song up front, with Seán O’Leary like a Duracell Bunny, but it was a majestic collective performance from the men from Muskerry as they ran out 14-point winners.

They burst out of the traps with an Ó Curraoín point after just 34 seconds, followed by a lovely finish from Wall to the back of the net after two minutes, not long after Mark Lenahan had a decent goal chance for Buttevant.

After a frustrating opening, the black and amber did get up and running 11 minutes in when Aaron Horgan pointed, followed a few minutes later by a Mark Lenahan effort, leaving it 1-1 to 0-2.

It was very much a disciplined and tactical contest early doors, which was reflected in a low-scoring affair.

Kilmurry were getting their scores that bit easier. White flags from Denis O’Mullane (free), Seán O’Leary and two Liam Wall efforts opened up a 1-5 to 0-2 advantage after 22 minutes.

Buttevant were struggling to break down the Kilmurry defence, but a rare mistake from the Muskerry men allowed Conor Hanlon to bisect the posts. It could have been a goal, but it was their first score in ten minutes.

It didn’t spur them into life. In fact, Kilmurry pushed on again. Kyle Kelleher, with the outside of his boot, beautifully clipped over a point, followed by an Ó Curraoín goal as he calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the net a minute before the break, 2-6 to 0-3.

Buttevant did potentially get a crucial score just before heading into the dressing rooms when David Hanlon converted an awkward two-point free, leaving it 2-6 to 0-5 at half-time.

It was a slow burner to the new half, largely down to more fantastic and structured defending from Kilmurry.

After sustained Buttevant pressure, it was the men from Muskerry who could have further strengthened their lead, but Buttevant goalkeeper Ronan Donovan denied Ó Curraoín another goal after Wall’s two-point effort came off the post and fell kindly for the Galway native.

Buttevant sub Michael O’Neill did get the first score of the new half, eight minutes in, when he pointed to leave six points in it.

But two quick Kilmurry points gave them a 2-8 to 0-6 buffer with 18 minutes to play.

It was further buttressed when Denis O’Mullane sent over a two-point free to give his side a 10-point cushion.

Buttevant needed to click into gear going into the last quarter. It wasn’t forthcoming, even if Conor Hanlon tapped over an easy free.

Wall raised an orange flag, followed by a second point from sub Tomás Collins, to make it 2-13 to 0-7 after 51 minutes.

The sides traded white flags until Denis O’Mullane pointed, but a Conor Hanlon two-pointer did show Buttevant’s never-say-die attitude.

Kilmurry sub Joe McGinn impressed with two late points, one from a free, followed by the last score from another sub, Joe Ryan, with an easy free as the Muskerry men claimed another county title.

Scorers for Kilmurry: L Wall 1-4 (1 2pt), R Ó Curraoín 1-2, D O’Mullane 0-4 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), J McGinn (0-1 f), T Collins 0-2 each, K Kelleher, L Asling, J Ryan (0-1 f), S O’Leary 0-1 each.

Buttevant: C Hanlon 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), M Lenahan, D Hanlon (1 2pt f) 0-2 each, M O’Neill, A Horgan 0-1 each.

KILMURRY: J McDonnell; W Ronan (c), B Hinchion, O Keane; M O’Leary, A Asling, S O’Leary; K Kelleher, D Cahalane; R Duggan, James O’Mullane, L Asling; D O’Mullane, L Wall, R Ó Curraoín.

Subs: T Collins for L Asling (20-21, temp), T Collins for R Duggan (h-t), John O’Mullane for D Cahalane (51), J McGinn for R Ó Curraoín, J Ryan for D O’Mullane, P Hinchion for B Hinchion (all 59).

BUTTEVANT: R Donovan; K Crowley, M Walsh, B O’Riordan; T O’Connell, K Bowles, A Trimm; A O’Neill, K Lenahan; M Lenahan (c), D Hanlon, D Ryan; K Sheehan, C Hanlon, A Horgan.

Subs: M O’Neill for T O’Connell, S Madigan for A Trimm (both h-t), R Fowley for K Sheehan (38), C O’Toole for D Ryan (54), E O’Donoghue for K Lenahan (57).

Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).