Kilbrittain 0-20 Ballygarvan 0-20

Saturday May 2nd 2026 Red FM Div 5 Hurling League Match photos can be found in the gallery here >> While Ballygarvan won the ball at the clash, Ronan Crowley was quick to win it back and going to ground from a tackle, he hand-passed off to Mark Hickey who signalled Kilbrittain's intentions by firing a ball quickly down the Ballygarvan end. Caught in the hand by the goalkeeper as it dropped, it made its way back out to midfield, to be battled over. Thus the game began and would continue. Wars for possession and fast eager efforts for points and goals would sum up this game, those and both Ballygarvan and Kilbrittain's toughness and excellent side line cuts which they must be practicing, but more on that later. Kilbrittain were off the back of four wins against the Eastern side in the their most recent meetings over the last two years and so strong Ballygarvan were coming to Kilbrittain with something to prove while the homeside were determined to hold the line and brace for the Ballygarvan surge in the May sunshine.

After the initial two minutes of settling in, Ballygarvan won a free up in their left corner and number 10, Dylan O'Connor, rifled it through the uprights with a steely belt of the ball. They managed another point a moment later from the same spot when Mark Kennefick slapped a point over the bar from over his shoulder. The puck out was batted over by Ballygarvan down along their wing finding O'Connor again, but good pressure from Adam Griffin and Mark Hickey of Kilbrittain saw the wing forward pressed to release the ball, he struck at an awkward angle for a point and it went wide.

Ballygarvan's Paddy Ryan and Kilbrittain's Adam Griffin tussle for possession. With four odd minutes gone, Kilbrittain made the most of the next puck out, warred over Ballygarvan, it was Kilbrittain's Sam Dewey and Aaron Fehilly, who did well. Dewey was tripped up chasing after the ball and won a free which Hickey duly converted. The ball went back out and pinballed between the halves. Kilbrittain's Josh O'Donovan and Hickey connecting well to move the ball through Ballygarvan's half but Hickey's next effort dropped again into the hand of their goalkeeper Daniel Mackey. In Kilbrittain's half O'Donovan, Charlie Kenny and Ivan Burke, among others, were getting stuck in on one side of the field, bravely attacking Ballygarvan's forward line for the ball. While on the other side Éoin O'Neill and Colm 'Cully' Sheehan were keeping watch. Pressured, the red shirts struck their next two opportunities, one from each wing, wide again. But, when they won a free 50 meters out, O'Connor made sure and put Ballygarvan up again, 0-03 to 0-01.

Kilbrittain's Charlie Kenny and Ballygarvan's Niall O'Dowd go up for the ball. Ronan Crowley did well in the air to win the puck out, offloading to O'Neill ahead of him. Blocked of advancing, by Ballygarvan's steadfast defence, he brought the ball back to Sam Dewey sitting in space in midfield. With his almost trademark, lunge-position of a strike, he put Kilbrittain back on the scoreboard with a high dropping ball over the bar. When the ball made its way back into Kilbrittain's half, the backs worked it through to midfield, where O'Donovan, Dewey and Crowley did well to get the ball back into the hands of reliable Hickey, who, quickly let fly to level the scoring for the first time in the match with just under ten minutes gone 0-03 a piece. Crowley was unlucky moments later with a well hit ball falling just short of the bar and into Mackey's hand again.

Ballygarvan's Ciarán McIntyre blocks Kilbrittain's Ronan Crowley from an inbound ball. This Kilbrittain team, have played good hurling in recent memory, but a certain confidence has crept in aswell which has given a bit of a grown-up senior feeling to this team too. A bite in their defence saw them stand up to Ballygarvan with more determination. Holland, O'Donovan and O'Neill, making sure the men in red knew who's house they were in, with well timed shoulders and some hard hits. Crowley and Hickey doing well too. They'll need this hardness at intermediate level later in the championship, a key however is not to get caught on the wrong side of it. And a shoulder sandwich from Holl and O'Neill, early doors, saw the green helmet of O'Connor take the stand again for Ballygarvan, striking over to put them back ahead, 0-04 to 0-03.

Kilbrittain's Josh O'Donovan and Éoin O'Neill challenge Ballygarvans Ray O'Halloran for possession. Kilbrittain put the head down and restarted with steely determination. O'Donovan rallied and racing down the right wing. Veering inside, he left his mark behind him, before opening up the shoulders for a forceful point from 30 meters out. Ballygarvan retaliated. Two points from Michael Cussen and Niall Dowd followed. The first, under pressure from Kilbrittain's Hickey, Crolwey and Cully at left wing back, was well taken. Corner back Kenny did especially well to put O'Dowd under pressure next and he veered his shot wide, but the Ballygarvan man made the most of another opportunity from the puck out and pointed over. Then O'Connor for the solids and Holland for the stripes traded wides. As Holland's was waved out, and the teams were heading back into position, Kilbrittain's Conor Hogan was brought down just outside the square by his mark Paddy Ryan. The tussle that ensued was brought to a quick resolution by the referee who raised two yellow cards for them both.

Kilbrittain's Conor Hogan keeps the ball within reach as Paddy Ryan of Ballygarvan chases him down. Moments later Dewey won a free which The Hick converted, making it 0-06 0-05, Ballygarvan still one up. The puck out was won by Holland who was coming into his own at centerback as the match progressed. His ball found Cully at left wing back. He drove the ball straight up the wing, where it bounced under Hogan's yellow carded friend Ryan and into Hogie's outstretched hand. He took off.

His excellent break found him race past tall Tadhg Sullivan, Ballygarvan's fullback and centerback Kennefick, he shot at goal as they collapsed around him in a brave attempt to block it. It was goalkeeper Mackey who got a touch to it but it tapped into the oncoming Hickey, racing in along the line from the corner. Quick reflexes saw him strike the ball on the ground, but another neat block from the goalkeeper saw the threat subside as his fullback-line cleared the ball to midfield.

Kilbrittain's Mark Hickey is challenged by Ballygarvan's Seán O'Donovan Holland was to the fore moments later, being all over Pierce O'Halloran who had made a run in through the center. Dispossessing him with the help of O'Neill and Cully, he picked out Crowley running deep on the left wing. Athletically jumping to tap the ball forward for himself with the hurley, he then lifted it over the head of Ballygarvan's wing-back Ciarán McIntyre and jetted off up through centerfield, Bal men trailing. As O'Connor of The Garven closed in from behind, Crowley let fly, but his strong effort edged the uprights and out wide. Ballygarvan regrouped and ran at goal themselves, pulling a good save off David Desmond. Missing out on a goal they capitalised on the puck outs that followed. Cillian Murphy and Ray O'Halloran making sure for the red shirts. Next, half-forward Cussen, with some space around him at, 70 meteres out, backed himself but missed the uprights. The wide, allowed Kilbrittain to refocus, so they put down the clutch and shifted back up a gear. The full back line of Darragh Considine, Burke and Kenny played well together from the puck out. They brought the ball to Cully, who was chopped on twice. Then, managing to avoid a hook, he tapped it to O'Donovan. The midfielder leaped high in the air to catch it before immediately letting fly over the bar to a clap from the crowd on the bank. When the puck out was broken by Burke for Kilbrittain and followed through the hands of Cully and Hol back to O'Donovan, the midfield man belted the ball direct and straight down the field again for another point, not twenty seconds after the first, drawing a louder cheer. Ballygarvan urged themselves on from the puck but first sent a ball flying wide in reply before O'Dowd made sure 30 meters from goal and pointed over. The scoreline read, Ballygarvan 0-09 to 0-07 with about seven minutes left to play in the first half.

Ballygarvan's Cillian O'Regan tries to hold back Colm Sheehan. Big Conor Ustianowski of Kilbrittain made the most of his stride and next tracked down similarily built Pierce O'Halloran and then O'Connor who had the ball for Ballygarvan. Usti forced them to offload to Ray O'Halloran at wing forward, who himself was hounded by Cully. Letting fly awkwardly he pointed wide. When the short puck out found its way to Holland his broad shoulders opened up and blasted the ball up toward the corner flag where Hogan recieved it and raced toward goal. Chancing a point he released but it flew shy of the posts. Ballygarvan replied through a lovely point from McIntyre at midfield extending the lead to 0-10 to 0-07.

Conor Ustianowsko moves to block his mark from the dropping ball.

While the quick, short puck-out, made it's way smartly through Kilbrittain's Considine to Hickey and on to O'Donovan, the strong strike from the midfielder edged wide again. O'Donovan however is not one to put the head down. His passion for hurling is perhaps only matched by his passion for cars and if anything, a wide can rev his engine up more. The puck out was caught by Bal's Pierce O'Halloran but his short pass into midfield was sent awry and instead he sent it straight to O'Donovan again, who took off like a '05 Ford Focus can when the traffic-lights go green. All cylinders firing, the Gurranesaig native barrelled down center-field soloing the ball, before picking his point behind the uprights 40 meters out and striking high over the bar, 0-10 to 0-08. Ballygarvan were keen to reply. Mackey's incredibly long puck out reached the full forward line. There, tall Cussen struck an imposing figure for Ballygarvan when he caught the ball high in the air and raced toward goal. Drawing the entire Kilbrittain full back in around him he smacked the ball toward the inside corner of the net but Desmond managed to knock it away. Minutes to go to halftime Crowley almost secured another point for Kilbrittain which flew just shy of the left post. Ballygarvan replied in kind down the other end.

Josh O'Donovan evades his marks grasp Griffin pulled on the next loose ball, buying possession back for Hickey, the half-forward's aim was true and he rifled straight through the posts from play. His counterpart, Ballygarvan's freetaker, O'Connor, did similarily and rose the white flag for Bal in reply, so that they still led by two points 0-11 to 0-09. Next Kilbrittain's O'Neill used his dexterity to keep possession for Kilbrittain before offloading to Cully. His big effort from the half back line veered just wide while his mark Pierce O'Halloran struck his own wide down the other end. Then Griffin fed Hickey again, and accelerating, he put a distance between himself and his mark and struck over at his ease - Hickey's Sunday morning runs on the Dairy road paying off. 0-11 to 0-10.

Mark Hickey races up the wing. As halftime beckoned, O'Dowd pointed over for Ballygarvan before Ronan Crowley had a strong effort saved by Ballygarvan's Mackey in goal. Then Hogan was fouled outside the square. While Hickey struck the short free unusually wide, Kilbrittain knew it could count on it's villageman again later in the match. At halftime Ballygarvan had held it's lead, but only just, 0-12 points to 0-10. HALFTIME: Ballygarvan 0-12 Kilbrittain 0-10 Seán Sexton, fresh on the field, sent a long range effort from the half back line just wide of the posts a minute in. The ball then made its way down the field where Charlie Kenny got caught on the wrong side of the referee after bringing down Ballygarvan's corner forward Evan O'Connor. Freetaker, O'Connor, pointed over the free. Then Hickey was fouled up the right wing, and made sure with a free of his own from half way. 0-13 to 0-11. Kilbrittain's Sexton, O'Neill, Holl and Cully were getting stuck in along the half back line, making for a bit of an impenetrable defence, so that the stage was set to take over the attacking reins again, but not just yet. Three frees won in that halfback line didn't manage to find their man in the Kilbrittain forward line and when the ball came back down the field the third time, from an excellent sideline cut, it found Evan O'Connor who closed in on goal. Considine hooked all the way from the 50 meter mark while Sexton closed in hooking on the other side. Feet from goal they forced O'Connor into scampering the ball past the posts and out wide.

Pierce O'Halloran is marked tightly by Colm 'Cully' Sheehan.

Griffin, Burke and O'Donovan also hounded the Ballygarvan half forward line, before Holland got the ball upfield to Hogan who passed back to O'Donovan in a better position, and he pointed over, to close the margin between the teams to a point, 0-13 to 0-12. Ballygarvan's own halfback line also did well to win back possession and bring the ball to O'Dowd in front of goal to point over, stretching the lead again by two. Unmarked and free down the wing Ballygarvan's O'Dowd saw a mistimed effort fly wide of the posts. Then Holland drove the ball upfield. Dewey fought for possession like a terrier, three times dispossessed, in a small triangle surround by red shirts, he won it back three times. The ball eventually broke to Ballygarvan half-back Cillian Murphy who moved to strike the ball upfield. Hickey put in a big block, the crack of which went around the field and the ball bounced to Crowley for Kilbrittain's 13th point of the day. Ballygarvan 0-14 to Kilbrittain 0-13.

Pressure filled. The puck was fought over in the backline and O'Neill brought the ball to Crowley again. Offloading to O'Donovan, he sent a diagonal ball to Hogan on the right corner where he won a free. Hickey converted, naturally. Both sides were now level. Kilbrittain's backs were playing solidly and the forwards were eager, while Ballygarvan were always on the look out for industrious scores. Then, perhaps one of the top two scores of the evening, saw O'Neill win the ball in the backline, and work it through to Crowley at midfield. He drew his man and passed back to O'Donovan in space, 70 meters out. He took two steps and swung wide, catapulting the ball straight through the uprights and pushing Kilbrittain ahead, breaching Ballygarvan's well held stranglehold over the scoreboard and galavanising the crowd on the bank behind the team with a cheer. Kilbrittain now 0-15 to 0-14.

Josh O'Donovan solos up the wing. We say O'Donovan's belter of a point was perhaps one of the top two scores of the evening because Ronan Crowley was about to offer a second option which came immediately after. Ballygarvan's puck out went out over the line and stylish Crowley took the sideline for Kilbrittain. Unsuspectingly, the crowd were gifted the lovely sight of the coveted 'point from a sideline', when the young villageman sent it sublimly over the bar. Kilbrittain now led by two.

O'Neill dispossed Ray O'Halloran of his hurley upon the resumption, he managed to the same to O'Neill a minute later, as they both followed a loose ball down the line. Tusseling for the ball on the ground, the referee granted Kilbrittain a free and gave more yards for dissent. Hickey trotted forward to take the free by the referee while O'Donovan made his way up behind him, after picking up a stray hurley on the ground. Ballygarvan's cornerback went to retreive their hurley and in swiping it, gave a puck to O'Donovan, but in front of the referee it was always going to be penalised. As Hickey teed up his shot, a touch of tension from other players, as they dispersed, saw a couple red jerseyed shoulders take on Sexton as he made his way to midfield. These however weren't well placed by the Ballygarvan men who perhaps didn't know how strong an Ardacrow shoulder might be in return. Duly noted, they retreated while Hickey lifted the ball and and let it fly over the bar. Kilbrittain now led 0-17 points to 0-14. A goal and fifteen minutes in it.

Mark Hickey takes a free in the second half. A wide effort from the Carrigdhoun club signalled they weren't going to go down without a fight either. The word agricultural was used to describe teams in the past that put their heads down and plough on with a driect style of hurling, this style served Ballygarvan well in the next few minutes. When O'Dowd won the next free off James Hurley, O'Connor pointed over. Hickey had a chance of a point down the other end but it edged to the right and out. Holland got done for overcarrying off the back of the puck out, which was perhaps a little harsh and O'Connor got the chance to narrow the margin more so. Kilbrittain now led by a point 0-17 to 0-16. A short puck out saw Kilbrittain under pressure, managing to get the ball up the field it fell into Ballygarvan's hands, O'Connor on the receiving end struck a long ball from 70 meters out and levelled the game with nine minutes to go, 17 points a piece.

Ivan Burke, secures the ball. Holland drove the next ball up the wing to Hogan who got called out by the umpire, as he raced back in toward goal, for the ball going out over the line as he ran. The wide led to a puck out which Ballygarvan's Cussen won, but under pressure from Hickey and O'Neill he pointed wide. The referee called back the ball for a free and Dylan O'Connor pointed over to a cheer from Ballygarvan as they edged ahead by one. Their Evan O'Connor made the most of his next opportunity from the half-forward line and pointed over again, stretching the lead by two points. Then Cussen and Pierce O'Halloran combined to secure a point for the latter. A goal now in the game. 0-20 to 0-17.

Mark Hickey reaches for a dropping ball. Séamus O'Sullivan fought over the next loose ball for Kilbrittain and won a free which Hickey converted, before Ballygarvan put in a trojan effort to keep the next Kilbrittain wave pushed back. With minutes left in the game, Kilbrittain needed to push, Holland sent a high sideline cut into midfield. Tapped down by O'Connor he charged into O'Sullivan who had stood his ground, winning a free for Kilbrittain again. Hickey launched his own 70 meter free masterfully over the bar. 0-20 to 0-19. Ballygarvan tried to reply through O'Dowd but under pressure from Colm Sheehan, they struck wide, before the ball made it's way back up field to Hogan. Caught for space he passed back to Hickey, who excellent struck to avoid a block and put the ball high over the bar to a rousing cheer from the black and amber contingent. All was level again but Ballygarvan won a sideline cut. O'Connor, on form all day, struck high, the ball looking wide, curled at the end, but with the will of God didn't make the posts and was waved wide. Then Kilbrittain's Ustianowski was slapped in the face by a stray hurley and a free was awarded. Hickey stood over the ball again for the free but this time it curved wide.

Ustianowski's helmet prepares for a rattle. With seconds left, Holland drove another big sideline-ball high up the field to Hogan in the right corner, he passed off to Crowley and the ball found it's way into the hands of O'Donovan. Time not on his side, he struck quickly. He'll rue the wide, but he shouldn't, after an otherwise stellar display, and so both sides managed to hold the draw and share the spoils until the next time they meet, to win back the bragging rights. The nicest moment of the match happened minutes after the whistle when the Ballygarvan manager crossed the field with his selectors to congratulate Kilbrittain on their recent All Ireland victory, on behalf of their club. While wins are important, this kind of sportsmanship is really what it's all about. Kilbrittain play Cloyne next in this league, that game set to be played on Sunday May 17th in Cloyne at 11.30am, while Ballygarvan will play Youghal, in Ballygarvan, same day, same time. Scorers: M.Hickey (0-04)(0-07F), S.Dewey (0-01), J.O'Donovan(0-06), R.Crowley (0-02)

Kilbrittain Team:David Desmon, Charlie Kenny (Sub: James Hurley), Ivan Burke, Darragh Considine, Adam Griffin (Sub: Séamus O'Sullivan), Aaron Holland, Colm Sheehan, Josh O'Donovan, Éoin O'Neill, Mark Hickey, Sam Dewey (Sub: Keith Hunt, Ronan Crowley, Conor Hogan, Conor Ustianowski, Aaron Fehilly (Sub: Seán Sexton) Scorers: D. O'Connor (0-07F) (0-02), O'Dowd (0-04), M.Kennefick (0-01), M.Cussen (0-01), C.Murpy(0-01), R.O'Halloran(0-01), C. McIntyre (0-01), E.O'Connor (0-01), P.O'Halloran(0-01) Ballygarvan Team: Daniel Mackey, Paddy Ryan, Tadhg Sullivan, Seán O'Donovan, Cillian Murphy, Mark Kennefick, Ciarán McIntyre, Cillian O'Regan, Adam Dunne, Dylan O'Connor, Michael Cussen, Ray O'Halloran, Niall Dowd, Pierce O'Halloran, Evan O'Connor.