O’Sullivan saves Kilshannig in thrilling final with Aghabullogue 

In the end, Darragh O’Sullivan was Kilshannig’s saviour after he kicked two frees in the third minute of added time to earn his side a draw that they probably deserved. It was the sixth time that the sides were level after a game that brought the very best out of both sides.

Aghabullogue led by two points at the break, and then they took over the game completely on the resumption, outscoring Kilshannig by 1-3 to 0-2. Luke Casey had two of the points, while their inspirational captain, John Corkery, hit 1-2. The goal came in the 37th minute when Corkery slid the ball home after good work from Brendán O’Sullivan. It put them 1-10 to 0-7 in front, and Kilshannig looked in big trouble.

All summer, Kilshanning have shown resilience, and they did the same here. Two points from substitute Diarmuid O’Sullivan and another two from Darragh O’Sullivan had the margin back to two within five minutes, and when Alan O’Connell pounced for a goal five minutes later, they seemed to be in total control. Éanna O’Hanlon then clipped over his fourth of the evening and it looked like it was Kilshannig who would kick for home.

Aghabullogue deserve huge credit for the way they managed to turn the momentum in their favour again. David Thompson and O’Sullivan brough them level, before Corkery and Casey put them two clear again with three to go. They had three efforts to increase their advantage from there, but the failed to, allowing Kilshannig’s O’Sullivan to rescue his side from defeat.

It was clear from the off that this game was going to be won on the front foot as there was a willingness to move the ball at pace and both attacks were loaded with direct runners. They were level on four occasions during the first half, and there was never more than two between them at any stage.

Matthew Bradley had Aghabullogue in front after four minutes but then three points in three minutes from three of Kilshannig’s danger men seemed to put them in control. Darragh O’Sullivan got them off the mark, Éanna O’Hanlon clipped over the next before a Killian O’Hanlon ’45 put them two to the good. They weren’t to score for thirteen minutes, however, as John Corkery set up Aaron and Evan O’Sullivan for neat points to level the game for the second time before Bradley’s second put them back in front just after the quarter hour.

KIlshannig may not have been scoring, but that wasn’t for a want of opportunities. They may have only kicked four first-half wides to Aghabullogue’s two, but their accuracy was also marred by an O’Hanlon free that came back off the post and two efforts that dropped short. The most telling of those wides came just after Bradley’s second score. Tom Cunningham floated a ball in around the house, Éanna O’Hanlon eventually brought it under control before popping it off to Alan O’Connell. O’Connell’s connection was pure, but it crashed into the side netting.

Still, points from Éanna O’Hanlon and O’Sullivan soon had them back in front before Aghabullogue finished the half the stronger. Aaron O’Sullivan levelled the game for the fourth time, Corkery got the score his endeavours merited before Padraic O’Sullivan gave them a two-point cushion before Andrew Whelton called time on an entertaining opening period.

What came after was even better, and now they’ll have to do it all over again.

Scorers for Kilshannig: Darrgh O’Sullivan (0-6, 0-3 frees), É O’Hanlon (0-4), A O’Connell (1-0), K O’Hanlon (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 ’45), Diarmuid O’Sullivan (0-2).

Scorers for Aghabullogue: J Corkery (1-3), L Casey (0-3), A O’Sullivan (0-3), M Bradley (0-2), D Thompson (free), E O’Sullivan and P O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

KILSHANNIG: G Creedon; M Twomey, E Burke, S O’Connell; C Murphy, C O’Shea (c), E Healy; B Curtin, S Murphy; T Cunningham, K O’Hanlon, A O’Connell; E O’Hanlon, K Twomey, Darragh O’Sullivan.

Subs: Diarmuid O’Sullivan for Twomey (39), C O’Sullivan for Murphy (40), C McMahon for Curtin (47), C O’Connell for A O’Connell (58)

AGHABULLOGUE: I O’Sullivan; C Smith, M Dennehy, P Dilworth; B O’Sullivan, T Long, A Murphy; C Gillispie, D Merrick; A O’Sullivan, J Corkery (c), P O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.

Subs: D Thompson for E O’Sullivan (47), C O’Sullivan for P O’Sullivan (55) Referee: Andrew Whelton (Clonakilty).