Sunday May 3rd @ 3.30pm

Ballygarvan suffered a one point defeat to Kilbrittain in the Intermediate first round hurling championship played at Brinny. Ballygarvan certainly hit the ground running and were 1-05 to 0-o2 ahead after fifteen minutes. Ballygarvan dominated the early exchanges and fully deserved to be ahead. Kilbrittain struggled to cope with the flowing attacks from the Ballygarvan forwards with Ken Ashman, Gary White & Mark Kennefick at the heart of every Ballygarvan attack. Mattew Riordan popped up with to excellent points from Mid field.  Peter Murphy was solid in goal and Captain Joe Spillane in control in the full back line. Ballygarvan were in total control of this game but failed to capitalise on at least three goal opportunities which would of almost certainly finished this game as a contest. Kilbrittain to their credit kept battling away and were rewarded with a goal which brought them right back into this game.  They tapped over two more points which left the scoreline at 1-06 to 1-06 at half time. This rattled Ballygarvan’s confidence and were now chasing this game. The second half was a very low scoring affair and the game ended with a one point victory for Kilbrittain.  If Ballygarvan can re-capture the form they showed in the first 15minutes of this game , Ballygarvan will still be a force in this years Championship. Team Peter Murphy,StephenWhite,Joe Spillane,Derry O'Sullivan, Ger Spillane, Ciaran O'Sullivan. Damian O'Sullivan, Mattew O'Riordan(0-2),Wm O'Hallaron,Alan Murphy,Ken Ashman(1-1) Mark Kennfick(0-3(f) 0-1),Gary White (0-1),Liam Dillion 0-1. Subs used Michael Dowd

 

Kilbrittain do enough

By By West Cork Gael Saturday May 9th, 2009

A CLOSE, low scoring encounter of the hurling kind goes right down to the wire as Kilbrittain just prevail! During the dying moments of this exciting Cork county intermediate hurling championship tie between Kilbrittain and Ballygarvan, which was played at sun-kissed Brinny on Sunday afternoon last, the South East representatives had two gilt-edged opportunities to restore parity. They squandered both, albeit by the narrowest of margins. Not that their opponents, Kilbrittain, were anyway less prodigal over the course of the hour, shooting fourteen wides, twelve in a wind assisted second half. Such was the nature of this close and sporting tussle that the missed chances formed the bulk of the post-match mortems. However, matches are never won on scores lost, rather that what pertains on the scoreboard at the conclusion of the game is the telling factor. In this respect Kilbrittain emerged narrow victors, but must have raised the blood pressure a few decibels amongst their followers in that spine tingling finale. They got off to a disastrous start, falling a goal and two points in arrears inside the first six minutes of play. Mark Kennefick, who lined out in the right corner in a plethora of changes to the starting Ballygarvan team-sheet, shot the opening point from a free inside the first minute. boost The losers, with the stiff diagonal cross-field breeze to their backs, soon afterwards received a massive confidence boost. A sideline on the left flank by the industrious Damien O’Sullivan was picked up by late replacement Liam Dillon, the latter having a major effect on the overall proceedings. His inch-perfect pass found the outstanding Ken Ashman and with the Kilbrittain defence unsighted, the ball flew into the rigging. When Kennefick added a further point in the next attack after a free had been awarded, Kilbrittain looked to be in a spot of bother. But with Paddy Ryan brilliant in the right corner of what at times was a somewhat beleaguered defence, captain Ross Cashman, under-21 star Tom Harrington and promising minor Darren Hickey forming a solid half back partnership, perhaps the anxiety was unfounded. Vincent O’Brien continued to hurl nicely in the midfield fulcrum and inside Owen Sexton, Fintan O’Connell, Pat O’Mahony and especially the sparkling Dave Desmond began to motor on. Cashman made no mistake from a 65 and when Owen Sexton bisected the uprights soon afterwards things began to look up,1-2 to 0-2, a fair reflection on the proceedings. Points by Mark Kennefick and Matt O’Riordan again performed the oracle for the losers, but when Vincent O’Brien and Maurice Sexton combined for Dave Desmond to raise a white flag, the Ballygarvan lead was reduced. Both the Ballygarvan full back and full forwards were now calling the shots as the pressure intensified. Riordan had another fine score, but the dynamic Desmond again negated it. Immediately afterwards Kilbrittain got a real wake up call. Gary White and Mark Kennefick both combined superbly but the latter shot into the side netting when it looked easier to find the back of the Kilbrittain net. It was the second of two glorious chances that would prove so costly. Soon afterwards at the other end a flick by Pat O’Mahony was directed into the path of Desmond and even though he only got a poor connecting shot, the ball still beat the whitewash and Peter Murphy. Jamie Wall added a smashing point and the sides were level for the first time. Maurice Sexton converted a free to put the Black and Amber in front, but Liam Dillon sent a screamer over the bar on the blow of the interval after Paddy Ryan had performed heroics to block down the original point-blank attempt by Mark Kennefick. All to play for at the break, 1-6 to 1-6, granted Kilbrittain had now the advantage of the elements. PRESSURE Intense Ballygarvan pressure on resuming saw Mark Kennefick force Paddy Ryan into another superb block-down, a replicate to the one just before the break. Damien O’Sullivan, Dillon, Ashman and Stephen White were now exerting a major influence, but Kilbrittain with Ryan, John Murphy, Vincent O’Brien and Darren Hickey all in uncompromising mood refused to falter. Maurice Sexton had moved to wing forward earlier and with Fintan O’Connell, Pat O’Mahony and still Dave Desmond to the good, O’Mahony broke the stalemate in the 40th minute. Not for long, as with scores as scarce as hens’ teeth, Kennefick restored the status quo at the close of the third quarter. It was a case of survival of the fittest now and when Desmond from play and a free by Maurice Sexton edged Kilbrittain two points’ to the good, 1-9 to 1-7, it looked curtains for Ballygarvan. But doughty battlers that they are they came again courtesy of a Gary White point to provide a spine tingling finale. Our verdict: Two honest, hard-working and committed fifteens gave their all in this game that was in doubt up to the final whistle. In many respects it was the third quarter control of Kilbrittain that provided the formula and platform for this narrow victory. Such was their dominance that one could be forgiven for thinking that Ballygarvan had taken a siesta. However, the wind factor allied to some downright poor Kilbrittain finishing almost allowed their opponents off the hook. As subsequent events transpired it did not cost them as they held out for a narrow victory in a frenetic finale to a match where the standard of play was mediocre enough at times. Kilbrittain march on while we believe Ballygarvan meet the losers of Valley Rovers and Aghada. Man of the match: Paddy Ryan, Kilbrittain. Referee: Niall Barrett, Carrigtwohill. Scorers – Kilbrittain: Dave Desmond 1-3, Maurice Sexton 0-2 frees, Ross Cashman 0-1, 65, Jamie Wall 0-1, Owen Sexton 0-1, Pat O’Mahony 0-1. Ballygarvan: Mark Kennefick 0-4, 0-3 frees, Ken Ashman 1-0, Matt O’Riordan 0-2, Liam Dillon 0-1, Gary White 0-1. Kilbrittain: Robert Hayes, Paddy Ryan, John Murphy, Damien Desmond, Tom Harrington, Ross Cashman, Darren Hickey, Vincent O’Brien, Michael Deasy, Pat O’Mahony, Fintan O’Connell, Owen Sexton, Jamie Wall, Maurice Sexton, Dave Desmond. Sub: Cian O’Leary for Owen Sexton. Ballygarvan: Peter Murphy, Stephen White, Joe Spillane, Robert Bouse, Derry O’Sullivan, Ger Spillane, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Damien O’Sullivan, William O’Halloran, Ken Ashman, Alan Murphy, Matt O’Riordan, Mark Kennefick, Gary White, Liam Dillon. Sub: Michael Dowd for Matt O’Riordan.

Kilbrittain do enough

By By West Cork Gael Saturday May 9th, 2009

A CLOSE, low scoring encounter of the hurling kind goes right down to the wire as Kilbrittain just prevail! During the dying moments of this exciting Cork county intermediate hurling championship tie between Kilbrittain and Ballygarvan, which was played at sun-kissed Brinny on Sunday afternoon last, the South East representatives had two gilt-edged opportunities to restore parity. They squandered both, albeit by the narrowest of margins. Not that their opponents, Kilbrittain, were anyway less prodigal over the course of the hour, shooting fourteen wides, twelve in a wind assisted second half. Such was the nature of this close and sporting tussle that the missed chances formed the bulk of the post-match mortems. However, matches are never won on scores lost, rather that what pertains on the scoreboard at the conclusion of the game is the telling factor. In this respect Kilbrittain emerged narrow victors, but must have raised the blood pressure a few decibels amongst their followers in that spine tingling finale. They got off to a disastrous start, falling a goal and two points in arrears inside the first six minutes of play. Mark Kennefick, who lined out in the right corner in a plethora of changes to the starting Ballygarvan team-sheet, shot the opening point from a free inside the first minute. boost The losers, with the stiff diagonal cross-field breeze to their backs, soon afterwards received a massive confidence boost. A sideline on the left flank by the industrious Damien O’Sullivan was picked up by late replacement Liam Dillon, the latter having a major effect on the overall proceedings. His inch-perfect pass found the outstanding Ken Ashman and with the Kilbrittain defence unsighted, the ball flew into the rigging. When Kennefick added a further point in the next attack after a free had been awarded, Kilbrittain looked to be in a spot of bother. But with Paddy Ryan brilliant in the right corner of what at times was a somewhat beleaguered defence, captain Ross Cashman, under-21 star Tom Harrington and promising minor Darren Hickey forming a solid half back partnership, perhaps the anxiety was unfounded. Vincent O’Brien continued to hurl nicely in the midfield fulcrum and inside Owen Sexton, Fintan O’Connell, Pat O’Mahony and especially the sparkling Dave Desmond began to motor on. Cashman made no mistake from a 65 and when Owen Sexton bisected the uprights soon afterwards things began to look up,1-2 to 0-2, a fair reflection on the proceedings. Points by Mark Kennefick and Matt O’Riordan again performed the oracle for the losers, but when Vincent O’Brien and Maurice Sexton combined for Dave Desmond to raise a white flag, the Ballygarvan lead was reduced. Both the Ballygarvan full back and full forwards were now calling the shots as the pressure intensified. Riordan had another fine score, but the dynamic Desmond again negated it. Immediately afterwards Kilbrittain got a real wake up call. Gary White and Mark Kennefick both combined superbly but the latter shot into the side netting when it looked easier to find the back of the Kilbrittain net. It was the second of two glorious chances that would prove so costly. Soon afterwards at the other end a flick by Pat O’Mahony was directed into the path of Desmond and even though he only got a poor connecting shot, the ball still beat the whitewash and Peter Murphy. Jamie Wall added a smashing point and the sides were level for the first time. Maurice Sexton converted a free to put the Black and Amber in front, but Liam Dillon sent a screamer over the bar on the blow of the interval after Paddy Ryan had performed heroics to block down the original point-blank attempt by Mark Kennefick. All to play for at the break, 1-6 to 1-6, granted Kilbrittain had now the advantage of the elements. PRESSURE Intense Ballygarvan pressure on resuming saw Mark Kennefick force Paddy Ryan into another superb block-down, a replicate to the one just before the break. Damien O’Sullivan, Dillon, Ashman and Stephen White were now exerting a major influence, but Kilbrittain with Ryan, John Murphy, Vincent O’Brien and Darren Hickey all in uncompromising mood refused to falter. Maurice Sexton had moved to wing forward earlier and with Fintan O’Connell, Pat O’Mahony and still Dave Desmond to the good, O’Mahony broke the stalemate in the 40th minute. Not for long, as with scores as scarce as hens’ teeth, Kennefick restored the status quo at the close of the third quarter. It was a case of survival of the fittest now and when Desmond from play and a free by Maurice Sexton edged Kilbrittain two points’ to the good, 1-9 to 1-7, it looked curtains for Ballygarvan. But doughty battlers that they are they came again courtesy of a Gary White point to provide a spine tingling finale. Our verdict: Two honest, hard-working and committed fifteens gave their all in this game that was in doubt up to the final whistle. In many respects it was the third quarter control of Kilbrittain that provided the formula and platform for this narrow victory. Such was their dominance that one could be forgiven for thinking that Ballygarvan had taken a siesta. However, the wind factor allied to some downright poor Kilbrittain finishing almost allowed their opponents off the hook. As subsequent events transpired it did not cost them as they held out for a narrow victory in a frenetic finale to a match where the standard of play was mediocre enough at times. Kilbrittain march on while we believe Ballygarvan meet the losers of Valley Rovers and Aghada. Man of the match: Paddy Ryan, Kilbrittain. Referee: Niall Barrett, Carrigtwohill. Scorers – Kilbrittain: Dave Desmond 1-3, Maurice Sexton 0-2 frees, Ross Cashman 0-1, 65, Jamie Wall 0-1, Owen Sexton 0-1, Pat O’Mahony 0-1. Ballygarvan: Mark Kennefick 0-4, 0-3 frees, Ken Ashman 1-0, Matt O’Riordan 0-2, Liam Dillon 0-1, Gary White 0-1. Kilbrittain: Robert Hayes, Paddy Ryan, John Murphy, Damien Desmond, Tom Harrington, Ross Cashman, Darren Hickey, Vincent O’Brien, Michael Deasy, Pat O’Mahony, Fintan O’Connell, Owen Sexton, Jamie Wall, Maurice Sexton, Dave Desmond. Sub: Cian O’Leary for Owen Sexton. Ballygarvan: Peter Murphy, Stephen White, Joe Spillane, Robert Bouse, Derry O’Sullivan, Ger Spillane, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Damien O’Sullivan, William O’Halloran, Ken Ashman, Alan Murphy, Matt O’Riordan, Mark Kennefick, Gary White, Liam Dillon. Sub: Michael Dowd for Matt O’Riordan.