Buttevant………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4-11
Charleville…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1-12
The first of the league finals for 2018 took place at Churchtown on Friday evening when Buttevant saw off a good second half revival by Charleville to emerge victors in the Division 1 FL decider.
In the semi final Buttevant with an impressive first half display swept aside the challenge from Kilshannig. On Friday evening it looked the same scenario with Buttevant running riot. The pace and awareness of their entire forward line caused havoc to the Charleville defence as they built up a commanding lead.
They were 0-4 to no score to the good before they struck for two goals in quick succession. In the 11th minute Tadgh O’Sullivan and Denis O’Connell linked up well to set up Ryan Fowley for a goal, with Fowley getting his sides second goal three minutes later when he punched a free by man of the match Paul Mannix to the net that raced them ahead 2-5 to no score. Further pressure saw Paul Mannix with two long range points extend their lead to 13 points by the 21st minute. As the half went on Charleville gradually found their feet. Mark Kavanagh got their account up and running with a free in the 23rd minute with Jack Callaghan and Kavanagh tagging on late points that saw them trail by a huge margin at the interval, 2-8 to 0-3.
On the changeover Charleville enjoyed their best spell with Finbarr Cagney, Danny O’Flynn, Alan Dennehy, Mark Kavanagh, Kevin O’Connor and substitute Jack Buckley making an impression. The Rathluirc side got the first three points in this half but these scores were quickly cancelled out when Mark Lenahan, Ryan Foley and Denis O’Connell had points for the winners who maintained an 11 point lead by the 40th minute, 2-11 to 0-6. Charleville continued to claw back their opponents lead with Darren Butler, Mark Kavanagh and Michael O’Flynn having points by the end of the third quarter. Back again came Buttevant and they struck for a third goal two minutes later when a great solo run by the impressive Seán Flynn found Denis O’Connell whose delivery set up Mark Lenahan for a goal, 3-11 to 0-9.
Charleville rallied once again and they picked off the next three points by Mark Kavanagh, Kevin O’Connor and Michael O’Flynn before Jack Callaghan gave them a lifeline when he finished to the net following a goalmouth scramble in the 58th minute, 3-11 to 1-12. In the closing moments Charleville went all out to close the deficit further but in injury time Buttevant secured victory when Ryan Fowley was upended in the square and a penalty awarded. The resultant spot kick by Paul Mannix, who was later named man of the match, secured victory for Buttevant by an 8 point margin.
After the game Aidan O’Mahony presented the cup to the winning captain James O’Keeffe in the presence of North Cork Board Chairman Barry Aherne.
Scorers for Buttevant: Ryan Fowley 2-2, Paul Mannix 1-4 (1-0 pen. 0-2f), Mark Lenahan 1-3, Denis O’Connell 0-2.
Charleville: Mark Kavanagh 0-5f, Jack Callaghan 1-2 (0-1f), Michael O’Flynn 0-2, Cathal O’Carroll 0-1, Darren Butler 0-1, Kevin O’Connor 0-1.
BUTTEVANT: Ronan Donovan, David Walsh, Jack O’Riordan, J D Murphy, Kevin Crowley, Seán Flynn, John Buckley, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Brendan Jones, Seamus Madigan, Paul Mannix, Denis O’Connell, Brian O’Shaughnessy, Mark Lenahan, Ryan Fowley. Subs : Denis O’Sullivan for John Buckley (inj), Kevin Lenahan for J D Murphy, Willie Fitzgibbon for Brian O’Shaughnessy, Aidan O’Connor for Mark Lenahan, Chris O’Toole for Seamus Madigan.
CHARLEVILLE: Jessie Smith, Michael O’Flynn, Brian O’Connell, Jack Meade, Finbarr Cagney, Denis O’Sullivan, Jack Doyle, Alan Dennehy, Danny O’Flynn, Cathal O’Carroll, Kevin O’Connor, James Kennedy, Mark Kavanagh, Conor Buckley, Jack Callaghan. Subs : Jack Buckley for Denis O’Sullivan, Darren Butler for Conor Buckley, Shane Corkery for James Kennedy, Tim Hawe for Kevin O’Connor, Sean Buckley for Jessie Smith (black card).
Referee: Eoin Walsh (Dromina).