AIB Munster Club IFC Final: Impressive An Ghaeltacht triumph

AIB Munster Club IFC Final

An Ghaeltacht 2-12 Aghabullogue 1-8

By Stephen Barry at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale

An Ghaeltacht secured their second Munster Intermediate crown in eight years with a seven-point victory over Aghabullogue at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.

Kerry’s dominance at this grade was extended to 17 titles in 19 attempts as their representatives stretched away in the final 10 minutes in front of 1,216 supporters.

Their bid for an All-Ireland breakthrough will begin with a semi-final against Kildare champions Sallins or Tubberclair of Westmeath.

The first half teetered between manic moments and controlled football. There were a couple of lead changes, but the sides were level at the midway whistle; An Ghaeltacht’s 1-6 to Aghabullogue’s 2-3.

The Mid Cork side were backed by a decent wind advantage, but the men from Slea Head controlled the ball for the most part.

They were also able to punch through the Aghabullogue rearguard on repeat in those early exchanges. Against a defence with seven clean sheets from eight games, that was no mean feat.

It started with Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Éanna Ó Conchúir combining to send Tomás Ó Sé (DC) through, only for John Buckley to produce an excellent save.

An Ghaeltacht took their first three placed balls short, signalling the strength of the breeze. Their ball retention was such, though, that their patience paid off by the eighth minute. They kept the move going until Ó Beaglaoich offloaded for the rampaging Ó Conchúir to thump into the bottom corner of the net.

Aghabulllogue wouldn’t raise a white flag all half, but were fuelled by two-pointers. Captain John Corkery booted their opening orange flag.

In the 10th minute, they were ahead. Paul Ring forced Ó Beaglaoich to overcarry, and they transferred the ball downfield for Matthew Bradley to cut inside for a goal.

The game’s third goal arrived by the 12th minute. As Ó Beaglaoich zigzagged across the halfway line, it inadvertently created space for him to surge forward before releasing Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich to make it 2-0 to 1-2.

The Kerrymen moved further ahead with points from Ruaidhrí and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich, and a Gavin Ó Cinnéide free.

Aghabullogue brought Oisín O’Connell in to help steady their defence. Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich had another half-chance of goal spoiled as the underdogs countered for a Corkery two-pointer. A huge Adam Murphy effort on the stroke of half-time brought them level. Aghabullogue’s tally of 1-6 was mined from just six shots.

It took them 19 minutes to add to that total. After former Cork dual star Aidan Walsh won the throw-in, An Ghaeltacht almost profited from a shot dropped short, but Ó Sé punched wide. Ó Cinnéide found his radar from beyond the arc for a go-ahead two-pointer. Ó Conchúir and a Cathal Ó Beaglaoich 45 extended their lead to four.

Aghabullogue’s chance to claw their way back into contention slipped away when Bradley’s shot was saved by Seán Ó Luing.

They did get back within one score through Aaron O’Sullivan’s point, but An Ghaeltacht sped away with four-point streak from Conchúr Ó Corrduibh, Tomás Ó Sé, and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich’s two-pointer.

Both teams ended with 14-a-side after a black card for Cian Ó Murchú and a second booking for Ring in the final play.

Scorers for An Ghaeltacht: Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich, Éanna Ó Conchúir 1-1 each, Cathal Ó Beaglaoich 0-4 (1 2pt, 1 45), Gavin Ó Cinnéide 0-3 (1 2pt, 1f), Pádraig Ó Sé, Tomás Ó Sé (DC), Conchúr Ó Corrduibh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: Matthew Bradley 1-1, John Corkery 0-4 (2 2pt), Adam Murphy 0-2 (2pt), Aaron O’Sullivan 0-1.

An Ghaeltacht: Seán Ó Lúing; Cian Ó Murchú, Rónán Ó Beaglaoich, Adam Mac Amhlaoibh; Pádraig Ó Sé, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich; Aodán Breathnach, Cathal Ó Beaglaoich; Gavin Ó Cinnéide, Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich, PJ Mac Láimh (capt); Conn Ó Riagáin, Éanna Ó Conchúir, Tomás Ó Sé (DC).

Subs: PP Sauerland for Rónán Ó Beaglaoich (30, inj), C Ó Corrduibh for Ó Riagáin (42), S Ó Gairbhí for Ó Cinnéide (48), S Ó Cuinn for Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich (58), C Mac Gearailt for T Ó Sé (60+1).

Aghabullogue: John Buckley; Dhani Merrick, Conor Smyth, Paul Dilworth; Paul Ring, Shane Tarrant, Breandán O’Sullivan; Colm Gillespie, Adam Murphy; Aaron O’Sullivan, John Corkery (capt), Pádraig O’Sullivan; Matthew Bradley, Evan O’Sullivan, Luke Casey.

Subs: Oisín O’Connell for Tarrant (19), David Thompson for Casey (35), C O’Sullivan for P O’Sullivan (38, inj), Odhrán O’Connell for E O’Sullivan (55).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).