MITCHELSTOWN LOSE OUT IN A THRIILLING COUNTY FINAL

MITCHELSTOWN 0 13
KANTURK 0 14

Mitchelstown lost out by the narrowest of margins in the 2017 I F C final at Páirc ui Rinn last Sunday.

In perfect conditions for football and in front of a huge attendance the team put up a fabulous performance and just lost out to a more experienced side on the day.

Mitchelstown started the stronger and were quick into their stride a great point by Shane Beston was followed quickly by a Cathail O Mahony point then on the 10th min Shane Beston finished a great move to put Town 3 up and firing on all cylinders they were cutting through the Kanturk defence like a knife through butter they created 3 great chances in the next 5 min but failed to punish Kanturk and instead of being 8 or 9 up and in control of the game they gave Kanturk a lifeline in which they grabbed 3 pointed frees that had them level on the 20th min and 3 more well taken points had them in front unbelievably approaching half time then Cathail O Mahoney pointed from a 45 was followed straight away by a good score by Sean Walsh to leave the score 0 6 to 0 7 in Kanturks favour.

Mitchelstown started the 2nd half the same as the first running straight at the Kanturk defence in the opening 5 minutes. Michael Walsh kicked two wonderful points to put Town ahead & it was tit for tat up and down the field but a well kicked point had Kanturk level again at 9 a piece in the next 5 min Mitchelstown would like to have it back again they kicked 3 wides from favourable positions and then the Kanturk keeper made a great save from Sean Walsh the rebound been put over the bar then a Jim Sheehan pointed free had Town 2 ahead entering the last 15 minutes but Mitchelstown seemed to switch off and Kanturk kicked the next 5 points to put them 3 ahead entering the last 5 min of the game but Mithelstown were not going to lie down a pointed free from the Brick Walsh reduced the gap to 2 then a brilliant move involving Dave Dinnen feeding the Brick Walsh back to Dinnen who looked nailed on to rattle the net but a brilliant save by the keeper kept Kanturk in front it was all Mitchelstown now another good move by Town involving Cahill to Dylan Price who turned his marker and was bearing down on goal when John McLauughan rugby tackled him to the ground but Price had just got the ball to Dineen who was in on goal but the ref called it back for a free totally ignoring the advantage rule which he had been playing for the whole of the game for both sides he called it back and gave the Kanturk player a black card and for me Kanturk got the advantage Mitchelstown cut the gap to 1 from the free but from the kick out Kanturk won the kick out and showed their experience and ran the clock down.

Mitchelstown bodies sunk to the ground in disappointment some were just inconsolable they played their hearts out no doubt they will have some regrets.

To any neutral Mitchelstown were the better team but did not take their chances 16 wides versus 6 tells its own story. We would like to congratulate Kanturk on a great achievement they are a great bunch of lads and we wish them the best for the following year.

The journey from Páirc ui Rinn to Blackrock club house where we togged out I will never forget or neither will any one of the players or selectors.

The management and players have asked me to pass onto you their appreciation for the support they had over the year and especially for the final. Ye were absolutely brilliant outnumbered Kanturk supporters by 3 to 1 and the good wishes they received it did not go unnoticed. To the Business people we cannot thank you enough, you never leave us down and always support the Club.

On behalf of the club I want to thank this bunch of lads they are a credit to their families to Mitchelstown GAA Club and to Mitchelstown itself you gave us some year of enjoyment, great games and Unbelievable excitement and made us all proud to be part of this great club. 

TEAM L HANNA M MAHER F HERILIHY L FINN P MAGEE P MOLLOY G CARROLL S WALSH (0 2) D DINNEN (0 1) M WALSH (0 4) S CAHILL S O SULLIVAN (0 1) J SHEEHAN (0 1) S BESTON (0 3) C O MAHONEY (O 1) SUBS L KEANE 44 MIN S FOX 46 MIN O BURKE 50 MIN L FLYNN 51 MIN B COFFEY 53 D PRICE 55MIN.

SELECTORS AND MANEGMENT JOHN WALSH PETER CONROY KARL SWEENEY BRENDAN WILEY TRAINER SHANE RONAYNE PHYSIO D O MAHONEY
LOTTO
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