Long wait ends for Kinsale

(JJ Hurley)

Kinsale: 2-18 (2-2-14)  Carrigaline: 1-12 (1-2-8) 

The Victorious Kinsale U21 side who defeated Carrigaline in the Huntsman Bar Sponsored Championship final tonight in Belgooly (Bernard Laverty)

An emphatic display by Kinsale saw the seasiders lift the Huntsman U21 Football Championship as they out classed Carrigaline in Belgooly on Friday.

Any chance of a Carrigaline revival following a goal from Brian Murphy was well and truly snuffed out on 51 minutes as the man-of- the-match Noah Ryan rattled the Carrigaline net for his second goal of the evening.

Indeed, it was Kinsale who had created the early goal chances in the opening minutes of the game as Charlie O’Sullivan and David Looney both had  opportunities, but they were unable to find the target.

Carrigaline were far more economical in front of goal as Ben Delaney had Carrig in front by 3 points, which included his first of two two-pointed frees, after five minutes.

Carrig Jack Connolly goes highest against Kinsale keeper Sean Byrne (Bernard Laverty)

Kinsale had Gearoid Kearney to thank for their opening score as he registered a point after seven minutes.

Despite losing the services of their talisman, Ryan Delaney, Carrigaline were stealing something of a march as they led 0-6 to 0-1 on 14 minutes thanks to Delaney (2) and Jack Connelly scores, but Looney had been denied a certain goal following a superb block from Brian Murphy, during the same period.

Kinsale finally registered their second point on 15 minutes as James Murphy opened his account, as Jack Connolly and Ciaran Kearney combined well to increase their tally to 7.

However, Kinsale began to take control of the contest, as Ryan’s first shot on target of the evening seemed to galvanise his colleagues and Kinsale went on something of a scoring spree, which included two two-pointers a piece from Murphy and Cathal O’Leary.

As the short whistle approached, Kinsale were leading by 0-10 to 0-7, as the luckless Looney hit the crossbar and forced a save from Danny McSorely in the Carrigaline goal, leaving Kinsale with a three-point advantage at half-time.

Carrigaline outscored Kinsale in the opening minutes of the second period, as Delaney and Kearney fired over to a single reply from Long, but Kinsale were to take full advantage of a mistake in the Carrig goal as Ryan fired passed McSorley.

  Killian Murphy get his shot off from Carrig Tomas Vaughan (Bernard Laverty)

It was all Kinsale now as they fired three on the bounce and by the 45th minute the seasiders had a healthy lead of 1-14 to 0-10.

Carrigaline needed inspiration, and it arrived on 48 minutes as Brian Murphy found the net but Kinsale were refusing to let their grip slip from the title as Ryan goaled on 51 minutes and followed up immediately with a point moments later.

Leading by 2-16 to 1-10 as they came down the home stretch, Kearney, who had impressed over the hour added Kinsale’s final score, as Carrigaline’s Ciaran Kearney and Tómas Vaughan added two more to their tally but it wasn’t enough to prevent Kinsale  featuring in Tuesday’s county draw.

 Declan O'Neill, Carpentry and Fitted Furniture, presenting Noah Ryan with the Man- of-the Match- Award (Bernard Laverty)

Scorers for Kinsale: N Ryan 2-3, J Murphy 0-7 (2 2pt, 0-1 f), G Kearney 0-3, C O’Leary, C Fitzpatrick, J Byrne, B Long, K Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

Carrigaline: B Corkery-Delaney 0-7 (2 2pt f, 0-1 f), C Kearney 0-3, B Murphy 1-0, T Vaughan, J Connolly 0-1 each.

KINSALE: S Byrne; D O’Leary, Kris O’Callaghan, A Keane; C O’Leary, C Fitzpatrick, J Byrne; G Kearney, Kian O’Callaghan; S O’Callaghan (c), D Looney, N Ryan; R O’Brien, J Murphy, L Kirwan.

Subs: B Long for Kian O’Callaghan, K Fitzpatrick for R O’Brien (both h-t), P Graham for S O’Callaghan (43), C Kingston for J Byrne (49).

CARRIGALINE: D McSorely; B Murphy, P Laverty, E Murphy; K McNulty, K McCarthy, R Kenneally; D Sutton, T Foley; C Ryan (c), B Corkery-Delaney, C Kearney; S Horan, R Delaney, T Vaughan.

Subs: J Connolly for R Delaney (8, inj), D Fitzgerald for C Ryan (h-t), M Kiernan for P Laverty (40), D Kelly for S Horan (43), S Connolly for R Kenneally (54).

Referee: Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).

 Chairman of the South East Board, Myles Barry the U21SE A Football Cup to Shane O'Callaghan following their win over Carrigaline (Bernard Laverty)