Clonakilty 1-15 Kilbrittain 0-11

Saturday April 18th Div 1 Hurling League A slight, westerly breeze greeted players and supporters alike as Clonakilty hosted Kilbrittain on a bright evening, where temperatures hovered around a handy 12 degrees in Aughamilla yesterday. There wasn't much between the teams in the opening ten minutes with both sides playing tit for tat but Kilbrittain's forward, Eamonn Lyons was doing well inside, thanks to a handy supply of good ball driven up from Kilbrittain's half back line where Séamus O'Sullivan and Gavin Kenny guarded the wings and Ivan 'Ivy' Burke was holding the fort at center back. Opening scoring for Kilbrittain with a free Lyons followed soon after with another point this time from play.

Kilbrittain's Séamus O'Sullivan (Photo from Kilbrittain vs. Kilbree)

While Clonakilty did manage to make some tracks into Kilbrittain territory, the full back line was holding fast, so that with ten minutes gone Clonakilty led by just a point 0-03 to 0-02.  Corner back Kevin O'Neill and stallworth John Murphy, at full back, played mentors to the young minor, Diarmaid O'Donoghue in the other corner, who started for his first adult match in the black and amber. Up in the half forward line Mark O'Shea and Keith 'Cheese' Hunt were making the most of their height in around the half forward line for the dropping ball, two good tall men for the task. Another two frees from Lyons followed punctuated with a nice point from play from midfielder Shaye Ustianowski.

Wing-forward Mark 'Stunt' O'Shea in action for Kilbrittain (Photo from Kilbrittain vs. Kilbree) Clonakilty then took hold of possession for a spell but didn't do too much with it hindered by Kilbrittain's Paudie Brennan and the aforementioned Shusti who were battling hard at midfield. To Clon's credit though they did manage to lengthen the margin on the scoreboard by another five points and rattling the net for the only goal of the half, as they drove forward toward the break. At halftime Clonakilty led 1-08 to 0-05. HALFTIME Clonakilty 1-08 to Kilbrittain 0-05 As the second half pushed on, Kilbrittain were battling hard for possession but it was Clonakilty who were the ones making the most of theirs. Fouls throughout the half however would help to keep Kilbrittain in play. Lyons was on form for frees, pointing two of the bar before following with a point from play. Clonakilty added another two in the same time to make it six points between the teams at 1-11 to 0-08 nearing the end of the third quarter.

Pat O'Mahony racing up the wing for Kilbrittain (Photo from Kilbrittain vs. Randal Óg) Pat O'Mahony the elder was fresh on the field and making moves around the forward line while half-forward O' Shea was getting fired-up along the wing. Lyons wasn't the only freetaker on the pitch, Cathal O'Callaghan also stood over the ball and sent a great point over the bar before Pat O'Mahony followed with two. Alas 11 points on the scoreboard wasn't enough to take home the win on the evening. Clonakilty added another four points so that when referee Tadhg Sheehan blew his whistle Clonakilty were ahead 1-15 to Kilbrittain 0-11. Kilbrittain have three games still left to play and it's Newcestown who are up next. That game set to be played on Sunday May 3rd, at 3pm In Kilbrittain, while Clonakilty play Randal Óg, same day, same time in Ballinacarriga. Scorers: E.Lyons (0-05F)(0-02), S.Ustianowski, P. O'Mahony (0-02F) C.O'Callaghan (0-01F) Team: Owen McCarthy, Kevin O'Neill (Sub: CJ Bryan), John Murphy, Diarmaid O'Donoghue, Gavin Kenny, Ivan Burke, Séamus O'Sullivan, Shaye Ustianowski (Sub: Mikolaj Kalitka), Paudie Brennan, Mark O'Shea, Keith Hunt, Sam Dewey (Sub: Pat O'Mahony), Cathal O'Callaghan (Sub: Cillian Harrington), Eamon Lyons (Sub: John Ryan), Patrick O'Mahony.