Kilbrittain 2-17 Tadhg Mac Carthaigh 2-10

Saturday July 11th Clona Milk U21 Football Championship, Ballinacarriga. Click here for more match photos >> Kilbrittain's U21 footballers got off to a strong start in the Clona Milk Carbery U21C Football Championship on Saturday night, beating football stronghold Tadhg MacCarthaigh, 2-17 to 2-10. The victory was impressive not least because Caheragh put Kilbrittain to the test on more than one occasion but also because Kilbrittain played a confident, attacking style of football, which took tenacity and strength to come from behind when it mattered most.

Kilbrittain U21 Football Championship Team 2026. Back Row L-R: Adam Griffin, Luke Griffin, Niall Egan, Fionn Ustianowski, John Ryan, Gavin O'Shea, Keith Hunt, CJ Bryan and Darragh Crowley. Front Row (L-R): Shaye Ustianowski, Cathal O'Callaghan, Brian Kelleher, Ronan Crowley, James O'Mahony, Owen McCarthy, Adam Desmond and Loughlin O'Donnell.

Kilbrittain came out of the blocks quickly, catching the westerners slightly on the hop. Within four minutes, in the hot, evening sun at Ballinacarriga, they were up 1-02 to 0. Luke Griffin opened the scoring with a run from the corner, making use of some dummy tactics before fisting the ball over the bar. When a Caheragh centerback Neil O'Sullivan jumped high to collect the kick out, vigilant Fionn Ustianowski forced it out of his hands as he threw himself into the fray. As he fell, he quickly flicked it onward to wing-forward Ronan Crowley, who raced through centre-field offloading to his younger brother Darragh just outside the square for a strong strike of the ball into the back of the net. The barrage didn't end there, when, off the back of support from Cathal O'Callaghan and Darragh Crowley, Griffin fisted another point over the bar at his ease.

Cathal O'Callagahn orchestrating play through midfield. Caheragh needed to pop something on the scoreboard to settle themselves and brave Adam O'Donovan and corner forward Luke Shorten stepped up, adding a point each in quick succession. Kilbrittain however showed cool determination. The Ustianowski brothers Fionn and Shaye linked up next around midfield to get the ball to Ronan Crowley. Another impactful run from the villageman saw him boot a lovely point over the bar from 20 meters out. He was on hand moments later, jumping high to win an inbound ball, before offloading to Griffin for Kilbrittain's fourth point of the evening, to make it, 1-04 to 0-02.

Luke Griffin races down the wing ball in hand. Despite the stretching lead, Caheragh were not about to bow out with only a few minutes gone in the match. They made the most of their possession after winning the next kick out. Weaving through Kilbrittain's backline O'Donovan made straight for goal and secured a goal for his pluck. While he managed to evade the black and amber jerseys, Kilbrittain weren't making it easy for the westerners, with Adam Desmond, Niall Egan, Brian Kelleher and Cathal O'Callaghan working hard during this time period while Griffin and Darragh Crowley were making inroads up front, pressing ever-forward.

Corner forward Darragh Crowley reaches to dispossess his Caheragh mark, fullback Jonathan O'Neill. Indeed the team's work rate as a whole was commendable. The young Crowley, an example; when edged off of possession, he tracked four Caheragh men, touch tight, from the left corner to right wing in chase for the ball, pressuring the westerners into mistakes. Edging toward the end of the first quarter, his older brother Ronan found himself with the ball and taking on two burly Caheragh defence-men, he kicked his second point from 30 meters out. Caheragh did manage another point in reply through O'Donovan before the referee then called for the first water break. Kilbrittain 1-05 to 1-03.

Kilbrittain goalkeeper and Captain, Owen McCarthy strikes the ball for a kick out. Caheragh regrouped for the second quarter. Three early points, one from a two pointer, were followed by a wide from a '65 after a superb save from Kilbrittain goalkeeper, and this years captain, Owen McCarthy. All level, the westerners drove on and followed up with another tasty point to push ahead for the first time in the match. Kilbrittain stayed level headed and pushed on with vigour. Griffin showed leadership and good teamwork around the forward line. The next attacking sequence he initiated from midfield, offloading to the persistent wing-back, Gavin O'Shea, in the half-forward line, who soloed the ball up through the wing. Meanwhile, Griffin took off on a loop off O'Shea's shoulder where he collected the ball, sprinting toward goal. Letting fly, the ball bounced hard against the crossbar and up over it, for another point for the Kilbrittain man. As the hot, heatwave-sun took it's time going down, the exciting first half saw both teams level at the break, 1-06 apiece.

Kilbrittain's Niall Egan robs possession from Caheragh. HALFTIME Kilbrittain 1-06 Caheragh 1-06

Freshly watered, Caheragh made the most of some early possession. Loudly spurred on by their goalkeeper and sideline the lads popped three points on the board in the first few minutes of the second half. A two pointer from O'Donovan and another point from play put Kilbrittain on an early backfoot, 1-09 to 1-06. The cool headed, elder and experienced Crowley, showed steel however to drive back at the opposition. Leading by example he broke through Caheragh's half back line again and belted a nice point over the bar. Battling O'Callaghan, Egan and John Ryan won the next ball in the back line and eyed up Fionn Ustianowski with their pass. He brought the ball to Darragh Crowley who found Griffin menacing the Caheragh backline. Maneuvering through them, he also pointed over. Kilbrittain were nicely closing up the gap on the scoreboard, now just a point behind Caheragh 1-09 to 1-08.

Ronan Crowley keeps his eye on the ball as he races through the half back line in the second half. But the Tadhg MacCarthaigh men were pushing, eager for any opportunity. Their next one, a well earned goal, came minutes later, pushing the side further ahead, 2-09 to 1-08. Kilbrittain sat now four points behind them with under ten minutes gone in the second half. It would require a fighting spirit to push on and so they went into top gear and warred back for the remainder of the half, showing great team spirit, determination and confidence in themselves.

Kilbrittain midfielder Shaye Ustianowski in command down the wing. Assertive Darragh Crowley converted the next free from the corner before both Griffin and Ronan Crowley came close with near misses in quick succession. Each kick out was won by a black and amber around the midfield line. Both Ustianowski's, James O'Mahony, Loughlin O'Donnell and Cathal O'Callaghan were working well together, bringing the ball forward into Caheragh territory. Egan was vociferous in this half, in constant communication with the forward-line from his vantage point at midfield. Ronan Crowley and captain Owen McCarthy were also doing well to rally the troops ever onward and forward.

Ronan Crowley makes for a fierce opponent as he moves in to intercept.

Then Fionn Ustianowski made a courageous break through the Caheragh defence. He found Griffin, ever prepared for the ball on the inside and he blasted it past the keeper to a cheer, as Kilbrittain drew level on the scoreboard 2-09 apiece. Not a minute later and O'Callaghan brought the ball back to the feet of the Knockanroe native Griffin, for a wonderful two pointer to spring Kilbrittain ahead on the scoreboard, 2-11 to 2-09.

Despite the heat, Fionn Ustianowski showed himself a battlehorse of energy up to the final whistle, racing up the wing. Kilbrittain were now in the lead with fifteen minutes to go, but following a pause in play for a Caheragh player's cramp up and a subsequent break for water, Caheragh had time to regroup. Midfielder Danny O'Sullivan made the most of his next opportunity on the ball and popped a nice point over for the westerners. They had possession for the next minute or two but then a push-in-the-back on Darragh Crowley saw Kilbrittain earn a free which the minor diligently put through the uprights himself. Smart with the ball, Kilbrittain became more ruthless as the match went on. While the team as a whole was performing well throughout, it was brave Griffin who stole the show moments later with another excellent two pointer, well taken and well earned. Kilbrittain's attacking style was impressive. Mustering more drive, as the match wore on in the July heat, Fionn Ustianowski and Ronan Crowley paired well together to challenge Caheragh with their next run. Bringing the ball to Griffin again, the forward neatly directly the ball through the uprights. Then kamikaze Crowley barrelled through Caheragh's backline from midfield. Delivering the ball diagonally across to Ustianowski he let fly for a goal and only narrowly missed the post and went out wide, yet drawing delight from supporters all the same. Corner back, O'Donnell, also joined in on the attack a minute later, unlucky to point wide, but gladly trying.

Loughlin O'Donnell solos up the wing.

We like to edify our lads in these match reports, but without exaggerating, Kilbrittain's U21 footballers were putting on an outstanding show. They were piling unbelievable pressure on Caheragh, a Carbery footballing stronghold, forcing them to play on their terms. Another water break under the gaze of Ballinacarriga Castle, saw both teams prepare for their final 5 minute push, Kilbrittain now leading 2-15 to 2-10.

James O'Mahony drives the ball through midfield.

At midfield, Kilbrittain took control, with O'Mahony, O'Donnell, Desmond and Shaye Ustianowski forming an unbreakable line, pressing ever forward. They directed the next ball to Griffin who made off on a run through the halfback line. Throwing in a dummy to CJ Bryan fresh on the field, he offloaded the ball to Shaye Ustianowski who found himself off the corner of the square with a man to beat. Showing some excellent dexterity to put boot to ball, he pointed over. Caheragh made a last effort push from the kick out but Kilbrittain's full back line forced them wide and when Fionn Ustianowski replied down the other end with a handy, pop-over of a point, Kilbrittain's fate was sealed as they catapulted themselves into the semi-final of this U21 football championship.

Starman Luke Griffin led by example, ever attacking the Tadhg MacCarthaigh defence securing 1-10 from play. This fine display of football certainly saw supporters and the coaching team proud, especially given the high workrate all the way to the final whistle despite the heat. Now through to the semi-final stage, they are joined in the final four by Muintir Bhaire and Owen Gaels. The last spot int hat group will go to the winners of the last quarter-final, Gabriel Rangers and Urhan. That match takes place this Thursday, July 16th, in Kealkil at 7.30pm. Fixtures for the semi-finals are to be confirmed. Scorers: L.Griffin (1-06)(0-04<2 pointer), D. Crowley (1-00)(0-02F), R.Crowley (0-03), S.Ustianowski (0-01), F. Ustianowski (0-01) Kilbrittain Team: Owen McCarthy, Adam Desmond, John Ryan, Loughlin O'Donnell, Gavin O'Shea, Niall Egan, Fionn Ustianowski, Shaye Ustianowski, Brian Kelleher (Sub: James O'Mahony), Ronan Crowley, Cathal O'Callaghan, Darragh Crowley, Luke Griffin, CJ Bryan. Scorers: A. O'Donovan (2-02)(0-04< 2 pointer), L.Shorten (0-02), D. O'Sullivan (0-01), UN (0-01) Tadhg MacCarthaigh Team (As per teamsheet): Niall Kingston, Conor Crowley, Jonathan O'Neill, Jack Crowley, Conan Farrell, Neil O'Sullivan, Rory Kingston, Adam O'Donovan, Danny O'Sullivan, Adam Gilman Burke, Liam Murray, Denis Collins, Luke Shorten. Subs: Cathal Kingston, Gavin O'Sullivan, Dylan Murnanem Tadhg Crowley, Fionan Bohane, Ryan baker, Darragh O'Regan, Cormac O'Shanahan, Stephen O'Neill, Tadhg Collins, Stephen Delaney