An Ghaeltacht Claim Munster Intermediate Club Football Title

An Ghaeltacht secured their second Munster Intermediate crown in eight years with a seven-point victory over aghabullogue at Mick Neville park, Rathkeale, finishing 2-12 to 1-8.

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 only 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 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.There was brief confusion whether