Kinsale Impress, as they open their account under new management

Kinsale 3-17 (3-0-17) Millstreet 1-6  (0-1-4)

Kevin Cahil reviewing Kinsale's performance with his charges following their victory over Millstreet on Saturday.

(JJ Hurley)

Kinsale opened their McCarthy Insurance Group Division Five Football League account with a comprehensive victory over Millstreet at Dunderrow on Saturday.

The Seasiders had amassed a grand total of 2-13 before the visitors replied with a point in the 29th minute.

Missing at least half of their starting championship team, Millstreet will be a far tougher opponent when the sides meet in the championship later this summer.

However, Kevin Cahill, who has taken the hot seat as the side’s Bainisteoir, can be satisfied with his team’s performance.

In reality, this game was well and truly decided by the 25th minute when John O’Brien, returning from a serious leg injury, found the net.

O’Brien’s effort had been preceded in the 18th minute when Gearoid Finn billowed the Millstreet net following a James Murphy pass.

Indeed, it was Murphy’s sibling, Michael, who opened the Cionn tSáile account in the opening minutes; he contributed a handsome tally of six points over the hour.

Millstreet should have had a goal moments later, but Stephen Lyons’ effort went wide of the target.

With Kinsale making a better fist of the conditions, they had their noses in front, 0-4 to 0-0, after 15 minutes.

This included a fine effort from Charlie Sheehan, who proved lively in the opening minutes.

Kinsale’s scores kept coming over the next period, including two green flags — one apiece for Finn and O’Brien. Murphy provided the ammunition for O’Brien to score the best point of the period as Kinsale led 2-12 to 0-0 after 25 minutes.

To be fair to Millstreet, their performance didn’t lack endeavour, and they were rewarded on the stroke of half-time with an Adam Kelleher goal, leaving Kinsale leading 2-13 to 1-1.

Two early second-half scores from Hugh Lenihan offered the visitors a little chink of light, as Alan O’Leary worked hard to keep the visitors in the contest.

But Kinsale were in no mood to give away their hard-earned advantage.

Murphy proved deadly from placed balls despite the swirling breeze, and the home side led 2-14 to 1-3 at the 42-minute mark.

In fairness to both sides, and with some excellent use of the advantage rule by the réiteoir, Oisín Doyle, the game was certainly entertaining.

Aonther Kinsale goal on 46th minutes, as James Murphy found the net folloing a Liam Kirwin pass, was the icing on the cake.

From there to the finish, the sides were tied at three points each, which included a fine two-point effort from Tomás Sheehan.

While Kinsale took the plaudits today, you can expect a far closer encounter when these sides lock horns in the championship later in the year.

Scores for Kinsale: G Finn 1-4, M Murphy 0-6 (3F), J Murphy, J O’Brien 1-1, C Kingston 0-2 each, C Sheehan, C Fitzpatrick, B Long 0-1 each. Millstreet: T Sheehan 1-0, H Lenihan 0-3,  A O’Leary 0-2 (1 2pt) E Crowley 0-1

Teams:

Kinsale: S Byrne; D O'Leary, K O'Callaghan, C O' Leary; J Byrne, L Kirwan, C Kingston; B Coughlan, J Murphy; C Sheehan, J O'Brien, H Sheehan; G Finn, M Murphy, N McCarthy. Subs: B Long, B Cahill, B O'Neill, C Fitzpatrick, D Coughlan, S O'Callaghan, R O'Callaghan, K O'Callaghan.

Millstreet: C Twomey; B O'Connor, K Crowley, S Murphy; A Twomey, K O'Donoghue, M Thorton; B O'Flynn, E O'Sullivan; A O'Leary, T Sheehan, A Kelleher ;E Crowley, H Lenihan, S Lyons. Subs E Ring, J Tarrant, C O’Riordan, M McCarthy, C Casey.

Referee Oisin Doyle, Bandon