Golden Kilfeacle reach the Crosco Cup final after edging out Kickhams in a thriller

John O’Shea at Sean Treacy Park

Golden/Kilfeacle are through to their first Bertie's Bar Dundrum Crosco Cup Final since 2016, when they lost out to Cappawhite, following their two point victory over Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams at Sean Treacy Park on Thursday evening last.

In a close contest throughout, the difference between the sides was the two goals by Golden, the first from Jack Bergan after sixteen minutes and the second from Jack Leamy, ten minutes after the break. Two saves from Jack Currivan late on was also a contributing factor. His save from Orrin Jones at the expense of a 65, with seven minutes remaining, when he dived full length, was top drawer stuff.

As the game progressed it developed into a shootout between Stephen Browne and Andy Byrnes, with both scoring some long range placed balls. Browne, in particular, gave a man of the match performance, scoring thirteen points, which included four from open play.

Kickhams were quickly out of the traps and went four points up inside six minutes, three from Stephen Browne and one from Lorcan Carr. Golden settled and three converted frees from Andy Byrnes in the next four minutes got them back into the game. Jack Bergan equalised from a side line cut out near the scoreboard, before Orrin Jones put Kickhams back in front by the minimum. Andy Byrnes equalised for the second and last time with a good effort from open play, before Stephen Browne hit his fourth on fifteen minutes.

This was the last time that Kickhams would hit the front in the game as a Jack Bergan goal at the dressing room end gave Golden the lead for the first time, a lead that they would hold to the final whistle. Ger O’Dwyer came up field and cut the deficit to the minimum. The last ten minutes before the break saw Browne and Byrnes share six points between them, three a piece, leaving the Golden men ahead at half time by the minimum, 1.8 to 0.10.

Jack Bergan extended the Golden advantage with a point in the opening minute, but Stephen Browne replied with a converted free at the other end. Seanie O’Halloran and Mike McCormack then traded scores before Jack Leamy hit the net to put Golden four up with forty minutes on the clock. Browne hit his ninth and tenth points of the game, before Eoin Marnane struck a huge effort from far out. Orrin Jones cut the deficit to two as Kickhams upped the tempo. Andy Byrnes restored the three-point advantage with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

Orrin Jones picked up a ball out around the middle and cut through the defence before unleashing a goal bound shot to Jack Currivan left. The keeper went full length and saved at the expense of a 65, which Stephen Browne converted. Andy Byrnes hit his ninth point from a free to keep three between the sides with two minutes of normal time remaining. Two converted Stephen Browne frees cut the lead to the minimum but Andy Byrnes had the final say of an entertaining game when he put over deep in to injury time for a deserved two-point victory for the Golden men.

This is a victory that Golden/Kilfeacle will savour, given the fact that this is a young side, with some only in adult competition for the first time. Currivan kept a clean sheet between the posts. The defence overall will be happy enough. Eoin Marnane and Paudie Dalton held their own at midfield, while Jack Leamy, Andy Byrnes and Jack Bergan got the scores that counted.
Kickhams will be probably disappointed overall, but depended too much on the Stephen Browne in attack, while Orrin Jones will be happy with his contribution

Scorers & Teams:
Golden/Kilfeacle: Andy Byrnes (0.10, 9 frees), Jack Bergan (1.2), Jack Leamy (1.0), Seanie O’Halloran (0.1), Eoin Marnane (0.1)

Kickhams: Stephen Browne (0.13, 9 frees), Orrin Jones (0.2), Mike McCormack (0.1), Ger O’Dwyer (0.1), Lorcan Carr (0.1)

Golden/Kilfeacle; Jack Currivan, Aidan Tuohy, Cian Ryan, Daithi Bargary, Cian O’Connell, Aidan O’Connell (Captain), Jack Lonergan, Eoin Marnane, Paudie Dalton, Jack Leamy, Andy Byrnes, Aaron Colohan, Jack Bergan, Seanie O’Halloran, Jack Dalton
Subs used; JJ Byrnes for Aidan Tuohy (H.T.), Shane Stapleton for Jack Dalton (H.T.), Eanna Ormond for JJ Byrnes (44 mins.), Gavin Dalton for Aidan O’Connell (53 mins.)

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams; Jack Breen, Joe Fitzgerald, Michael Shanahan, Ger O’Dwyer, Ben Loughman, Kieran Breen, Lorcan Carr (Captain), Jamie Duncan, Paudie Slattery, Conor Farrell, Shane Farrell, Elliott Thompson, Orrin Jones, Stephen Browne, Pa Ryan
Subs used; Mike McCormack for Conor Farrell (H.T.), Eoin McCormack for Joe Fitzgerald (H.T.), Dean Thompson for Elliott Thompson (39 mins.), Eddie Daly for Paudie Slattery (44 mins), Diarmuid Kinane for Michael Shanahan (47 mins.)

Referee; Davy Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs)