No argument about either result, but gallant Old Parish made Kilgobinet battle all the way in the footballer decider 0-13 to 1-7), while Tourin came back literally from the dead to set up a thrilling second half that had the fans of both teams on their toes in what ultimately turned into an enthralling hurling final. A deserved victory in the end though to Geraldines on a 1-19 to 4-5 scoreline

DESERVED

First things first, and a football final that saw Old Parish force the pace throughout the opening half at the end of which they were well worthy of their four point, 1-4 to 0-3, advantage.

But credit Kilgobinet for a never say die performance that gradually saw them ease back into major contention as that second half wore on, and once they hit the front in the 54th minute there was only ever going to be one result.

It promised so much more however for the Shocks as they took the game to the favourites in determined and confident first half fashion. Brilliantly led in attack by Paudie O’Mahony, in my book the most polished player on view, they led inside thirty seconds when Tucker Curran kicked a fine point.

The outstanding Kevin ‘C’ Walsh, their eventual matchwinner, had Kilgobinet level by the 5th minute, but they were rattled, rocked, and on the ropes when O’Mahony pointed in the 9th minute and crashed the ball to the back of the net two minutes later for an absolute gem of a goal.

Kilgobinet owed much to the fine play of Walsh and Mark Radley as they kept in touch, but the Shocks weren’t at all flattered by their four point interval advantage which would surely have been greater had they not kicked seven wides to the opposition’s one.

They stretched their advantage with a Timmy Power pointed free within three minutes of the restart, but that was as good as it was to get for them. With the breeze favouring them Kilgobinet gradually began to play as we know they can and between the 35th and 51st minutes they reeled off seven unanswered points to ease into a 0-10 to 1-5 lead.

Five of them came from the unerring Walsh(four from frees),with Paul Radley chipping in with the other.

O’Mahony notched up a very badly needed point for the Shocks in the 55nd minute, but in truth it should have been a goal. Seconds later though he scored brilliantly from an acute angled free and the sides were deadlocked on the scoreboard with a grandstand finish in prospect.

To Kilgobinet’s credit however they found those vital extra reserves when they were needed most and three further points, all from play, from Ray Lynch, Mark Radley, and Tomas O’Brien signed, sealed, and delivered their first title win in this grade in a decade and a half.

The new champions scores came from Kevin ‘C’ Walsh (0-6), Mark Radley (0-3), Paul Radley (0-2), and one each from Ray Lynch and Tomas O’Brien.

The Old Parish marksmen were Paudie O’Mahony (1-3), Timmy Power (0-2), and Ray Power and Tucker Curran (0-1) each.

GERS HURLING CHAMPS

What an extraordinary game the hurling decider turned out to be, and how very close Tourin came to pulling off what would have been a major shock.

Everything looked to be going exactly according to plan throughout an opening half which Geraldines decisively dominated. The exchanges were even enough in the early sequences, and in fact Tourin held a one point lead with eleven minutes on the clock. But then the Gers, and more especially the outstanding Michael Murray took over, and by halftime they had eased a commanding eight points clear, 0-12 to 0-4.

Murray rifled over four marvellous points on the trot, all from play, helped himself to a fifth on the stroke of half time, and overall was unquestionably his side’s man of the match.

But that a transformation the second half brought, and Geraldines were rocked by a Tourin goal blitz which yielded them four goals in a sensational nine minute spell.

Kenneth O’Donnell grabbed the first, Daragh Wilkinson helped himself to a brace, and Patrick Walsh notched up the fourth to give the rank outsiders a 4-5 to 0-16 lead going into the final quarter.

Amazingly Tourin failed to raise another flag of any colour from there to the end. Badly rattled though they were, the Gers regained their composure, and when Donncha Tobin’s point brought them level in the 57th minute they were again on a victory role.

Murray pointed a 65 for the lead, and sub Noel Downing heralded his entry with what proved to be the decisive goal in the 60th minute. Alan Cullen had an injury time point to put them five clear, and there was now no way back for Tourin.

There’s still plenty of room for improvement by Geraldines on the evidence of this display, but at least they showed both bottle and battle to hit back when it seemed things had gone irretrievably against them in the second half.

For Tourin the disappointment of defeat will probably linger for a while more, but they made one whale of a game of this final, and brighter days must surely lied ahead for this famous old hurling club.

TROPHY PRESENTATION MIX UP

There were a few red faces around Fraher Field on Saturday after a huge mix up when it came to the presentation of the junior football trophy to Kilgobinet captain Paul Radley.

Western Board chairman Paddy Walsh did the honours, but unwittingly presented the junior hurling cup to Paul. Eventually amid all the jubilation in the Kilgobinet dressing-room the blunder was discovered, and it was left to groundsman Ollie Drummey to return the trophy to the presentation area in the stand where he was given the football cup to bring back to the newly crowned champions.

This is certainly a first (and hopefully a last) for the Western Board whose officials must have felt a sense of embarrassment about the mix up.

ARDMORE INTO SEMI-FINALS

Their ability to grab goals when it mattered most was the decisive factor in Ardmore’s 3-8 to 0-10 victory over Cappoquin in the intermediate hurling championship at Fraher Field last Saturday.

Damien Lenane’s goal on the stroke of half time enabled the seasiders to go in at the interval break leading 1-5 to 0-4, and further second half goals by from a Seamas Prendergast free and another from play by Billy Harty copperfastened their victory.

SEMI-FINALS

Both semi-finals in the intermediate hurling championship are down for decision at Fraher Field on Saturday with Abbeyside and Ring in local derby opposition at 2 o’clock followed by the meeting of St. Mary’s and Ardmore (3.15).

Abbeyside will be favourites to book their place in the decider, although they have been delivered a blow with the departure of Mickey Enright to the US on a work assignment. His loss will be sorely felt in attack and certainly evens things up from a Ring perspective.

It would be unwise in the extreme to discount Ring, but on balance the Villagers seem to carry that extra degree of firepower through the field, and they are given a confident enough vote to garner the spoils.

The St. Mary’s/Ardmore clash should be a real humdinger. The Prendergasts, Seamas and Declan, lead an all round solid Ardmore outfit, but they are going to have to play better than they did in the defeat of Cappoquin last weekend to halt the gallop of a St. Mary’s side powered by the likes of J. P. and Aidan Fitzpatrick, Seanie Kerins, Colm Geary, John Ahearne, the Hallinans, and David Whelan.

Should be a tight one all the way, but a tentative vote, and nothing more, goes to St. Mary’s.

NIRE THROUGH, REDS MUST GO AGAIN

A fine attendance at Fraher Field for the county senior football semi finals last Sunday, but no great fare on display I’m sorry to say.

As expected the Nire proved too strong for a youthful Dungarvan opposition, winning on a 1-15 to 1-8 scoreline, and not at all flattered by a seven point victory margin. However champions Stradbally somehow managed to force a 1-8 all draw against Rathgormack, having stared seemingly certain defeat in the face with little more than five minutes remaining.

At that stage the titleholders were five points adrift, 1-8 to 0-6, with seemingly no way back for them. But somehow they managed a rescue act that Harry Houdini himself would have been proud of, sparked off by Trevor Costello’s goal and completed in the form point priceless points from Niall Curran and Emmet Cummins.

Trevor and Emmet haven’t always been given the credit in the past their lionhearted endeavours have deserved. Last Sunday however they were in the thick of everyone, and it was entirely fitting that at the end of the day they were the real heroes of their side’s Lazarus like comeback.

My punt is still on the champions to do the business in Sunday’s Walsh Park replay, but they are going to have to step up many notches on what was unquestionably their poorest display by some distance todate in this championship campaign.

ABBEYSIDE GALLANT INDEFEAT

The county minor hurling championship dream ended in disappointment for gallant Abbeyside at Fraher Field last Sunday evening when they went under to Ballygunner in a cracker of an A final against Ballygunner by three points, 1-15 to 2-9.

First things first and an acknowledgement that the Gunners were deserving winners. But let nothing or no one attempt to take anything away from what was a herculean Abbeyside effort. They fought the good fight from first whistle to last and with a little more steadiness in attack just night have lived to fight another day.

Ballygunner led by 1-8 to 0-7 at half time, with the brilliant Gearoid O’Connor their goal scorer and scorer in chief. But the Villagers were never that far off the pace to allow the winners feel comfortable, and the outcome hung excitingly in the balance to the very last puck of a decider that ended in semi darkness.

When the disappointment of defeat has lifted everyone involved in the Abbeyside/Ballinacourty club will know what a marvellous year it has been at under age level. And with the Western minor football final replay still to come against Brickey Rangers the trophies may not have yet dried up.

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