Killavullen bow out of Junior C hurling at SF stage.
November 29, 2025
Killavullen went under to a very decent Charleville team for this grade at the semi-final stage, earlier today, in Killavullen. The pitch was in excellent condition, rather dead but no doubt the sanding program, embarked on earlier in the year, allowed this game to be played in Killavullen, at the end of November when ordinarily, we would be closed since October or so.
Colm Hannon opened the scoring for Killavullen, short Ian O Gorman and Joe Cagney since the defeat over Ballyhooly, with injuries and illness. Charleville replied in the 4th minute, scored by their half forward, wearing the No. 9 jersey who was pivotal to their win. The same player scored a free, before some neat inter play between the Killavullen forwards, released Sean Woulfe to score from distance. Michael Walsh then put Killavullen ahead with a great point on the run before Charleville got the next two points, to forge ahead by the 10th minute. This was a very good honest game between two game teams, who were trying manfully to play the game, in the correct spirit. Michael Walsh scored our next point again, a somewhat similar score to his earlier effort, with Tomas Fennell breaking out of defence, and releasing Michael down the wing. Cian O Connor and Barry Cotter were keeping lively Charleville forwards at bay, with last ditch tackles and blocks, repelling the Charleville efforts. Charleville got another point back to etch in front again, but Barry Murphy found the back of the net from close range, to belie his age and he was unlucky in the follow up move, that he did not get another goal, as the Charleville goalkeeper did well to turn his shot behind for a 65 Metre shot. Sean Woulfe was to score that effort to push our lead out further. Barry added a point to our tally, after great play from Conor Brennan and Eoin O Hanlon had earlier just about kept our goal line intact. Charleville got the last two scores of the game though, top leave the score at the interval 1-06 to 0-07, in our favour.
Charleville had a much stronger bench numerically than us, and they sprang a few young whippets with loads of hurling ability, with one Billy Kiely catching the eye, in particular. Charleville had wiped out our two-point lead by the 3rd minute but then Barry Cotter hit a booming long range point, from distance to put us ahead again. Charleville again equalised and went ahead with a converted free, and repeated the dose with another free conversion, by the 8th minute of the half. The free count reflected the superiority of Charleville in this period around midfield, and with strong running, they were creating overlaps. Our best player on the pitch, in Eoin O Hanlon got a point back for us before Barry Murphy collected a pass from Colm Hannon, and turned, and beat two men for pace over 5 yards, a trademark of Barry of yesteryear, and rifled the ball into the corner of the net to give us a two point advantage again, with 20 minutes remaining in the game. That goal from Barry was worth enduring the cold, cold day for, and you could only admire the execution.
Charleville got a point back though from No. 9 again, before Barry had another point for us, from a dead ball situation. Patrick Angland and Mick Cronin combined to push a certain goal away from danger, but Charleville kept pressing and got the goal to bring them into the lead by a solitary point in the 21st minute. Killavullen were awarded a penalty for a foul on Barry but the goal keeper, from Charleville as he had shown against Fermoy, in a penalty shootout is formidable between the sticks when faced with a dead ball penalty situation, and he pushed Barry’s shot away from danger. Barry equalised for us, from a free in the 29th minute but the hopes of extra time, or even a win evaporated with another Charleville goal, in the 2nd minute of injury time, to win the game. They added an insurance point in the 3rd minute of stoppage time to ensure that they will be in the final.
It was very good game, but Charleville’s ascendancy in their half back line, was their platform for success. Still, Killavullen put up a brave defence for the cup, that they won in 2024. Well done to all involved, especially John Breenan for his commitment to this team, aided by Tim O Neill, and Barry Murphy.
The team and those who scored were;
- Michael Cronin
- Conor Brennan
- Patrick Angland
- Eoin O Hanlon
- Cian O Connor
- Barry Cotter (0-01)
- Tomas Fennell
- Michael Walsh (0-02)
- Kian Lane
- Sean Woulfe (0-02 0-01F)
- Colm Hannon (0-01)
- Barry Murphy (2-04, 0-02F)
- Oisin Larkin
Substitutes
Joe Cagney for Oisin Larkin
Ian O Mahony
Jack Stafford
The referee was Justin Murphy who was aided in the administration of the game by two teams who played with honest endeavour.