Kilmurry capture fifth O’Gorman Cup title

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE picked up their fifth O’Gorman Cup title and the €1,500 prize money when they scored a relatively comfortable win over St Joseph’s in Doonbeg last Friday evening.

In what was a repeat of last year’s county final, Doora-Barefield competed manfully throughout the first half and in the final 15 minutes of the second.
The sides were tied at 0-4 each at half-time but Kilmurry stretched into a 0-7 to 0-4 lead by the eighth minute of the second half. While St Joseph’s cut that deficit to two points five minutes from time, Kilmurry never looked to be in serious danger of relinquishing their advantage.
Ivor Whyte kicked two excellent first-half points to establish a 0-3 to 0-1 lead for St Joseph’s. Cathal Duggan, from play, kicked their second score, while Michael O’Dwyer, linking with Shane Hickey and Ian McInerney, posted Kilmurry’s first score.
Nice points from Michael O’Dwyer, Thomas Lernihan and Niall Hickey helped Kilmurry into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead, before David O’Brien equalised six minutes before half-time with an impressive left-footed score.
Both teams missed kickable scores in the opening half with Cathal Duggan missing an easy free for St Joseph’s, while Niall Hickey, Ian McInerney, Darren Hickey, Michael O’Dwyer and Evan Talty were off target for a strangely profligate Kilmurry-Ibrickane.
Fouls on Niall Hickey and Seamus Murrihy led to Johnny Daly pointed frees, while Noel Downes pointed from play after he was freed by a perceptive Ian McInerney pass over the top.
While Kilmurry eased up somewhat after that, St Joseph’s upped their game. Ivor Whyte put over his third point from play before Niall Hickey and David O’Brien exchanged points, leaving the winners 0-8 to 0-6 ahead, ten minutes from time.
A Peter O’Dwyer drop-kick attempt sailed well wide before Downes fisted his second score. Five minutes from time, O’Brien pointed from a free, which he won himself, leaving St Joseph’s just two points adrift and not without hope.
Kilmurry closed the game out though when Declan Callinan and Johnny Daly curled over a brace of exquisite points.
Although the game was well short of championship fervour, Kilmurry did enough to win and had excellent displays from corner-backs, Thomas O’Connor and Shane Hickey, while Michael O’Dwyer was the hardest working attacker in Doonbeg, particularly when St Joseph’s were attempting to break out of defence. Noel Downes and Johnny Daly also had good moments.
David O’Brien, Ger Fannin, Kevin Dilleen and Ivor Whyte played well for St Joseph’s, who could well meet Kilmurry in the Cusack Cup final.
On a non-playing note, while the admission fee was good value, the absence of a match programme was noticeable, although the facilities and stewarding in Doonbeg were excellent.

Kilmurry Ibrickane: Dermot O’Brien; Thomas O’Connor, Darren Hickey, Shane Hickey; Thomas Lernihan, Evan Talty, Declan Callinan; Keith King, Peter O’Dwyer; Seamus Murrihy, Michael O’Dwyer, Ian McInerney; Niall Hickey, Noel Downes, Johnny Daly (captain).
Sub: Ciarán Morrissey for Ian McInerney (59).
Scorers: Johnny Daly (0-3, 0-2f); Noel Downes, Michael O’Dwyer, Niall Hickey (0-2 each), Thomas Lernihan, Declan Callinan (0-1 each).
Wides: 10; frees won: 19; 45s: 0.
Yellow cards: Declan Callinan.
Doora-Barefield: Ger Dullaghan; Paudie Nugent, Kevin Dilleen, Gavin O’Sullivan; Ger Fannin, Seán Flynn (captain), Eamon Clohessy; Mark Hallinan, Alan O’Neill; Paul Dullaghan, Cathal O’Sullivan, David O’Brien; Luke Brannock, Ivor Whyte, Cathal Duggan.
Subs: Donal Doherty for Luke Brannock; Aidan O’Connor for Paul Dullaghan, Christy O’Brien for Cathal O’Sullivan, Johnny O’Brien for Cathal Duggan.
Scorers: Ivor Whyte (0-3), David O’Brien (0-3, 1f), Cathal Duggan (0-1).
Wides: 6; frees won: 22; 45s: 2.
Yellow cards: Ivor Whyte.
Referee: John Hannon.