Killavullen win in local derby, of sorts
April 17, 2026
On Friday night last, Killavullen and Ballygiblin, two teams from the Avondhu division, went toe to toe for most of the game in the latest instalment in the Red FM Cork County Division 6 hurling game, with Killavullen emerging victorious in the end by a mere two points.
In front of an appreciative crowd, from both clubs, on a pitch was held up well, despite being heavy, with great work from grounds-man, Tim O Neill, Killavullen opened the scoring in the 3rd minute when Jamie Magner converted a free, and the same player scored from a similar situation again, in the 6th minute. What was apparent then, and right through the game, was that frees were not easily earned, from the referee, Bernard Kieran who contributed a huge part, in a very enjoyable game. Padraig Looney was influential and he scored from open play, in the 8th minute, only for Ballygiblin to get their opening score in the 10th minute. That was the precursor for the away team to show their nuance, and they gradually chipped over a series of points, from open play, to take the lead in the 17th minute. Ballygiblin were physically very strong down the middle of the field, and that led to ruck situations, that they were coming out with the ball, on several occasions. Jamie equalised for us again after Darragh O Grady was fouled, and our Darragh was very effective, in and around midfield. Darragh O Flynn demonstrated his fine prowess from dead ball situations to press ahead again, by the 18th minute.
Niall Feaheny who was very effective, in the opening half scored a great point for us, in the 20th minute, from distance to equalise only for Ballygiblin to scored three points in quick succession, to take a commanding lead in a tight game, by the 26th minute of the game, with John O Sullivan influential in that burst. Jamie scored from open play, and Ronan Barry was introduced for Colm Looney, to try to curb the influence of Fionn Herlihy, the long serving and very effective Ballygiblin full back. We then lost Niall Feaheny to a hamstring injury to be replaced by Fionn Magner, and Niall having a stellar game, up to that point. Darragh O Flynn scored another point for Ballygiblin, before Liam Cronin, fresh from an impressive time, in the Paris marathon of last Sunday dissected the posts, with a long-range effort and Jamie scored another free to bring the score at half time to 0-09 to 0-08 in favour of the away time. Unfortunately, Patrick O Grady succumbed to an injury as well, to test our depleted squad depth, just before the break.
After the turnover, Padraig Looney was quick to draw parity on the scoreboard to be followed by another converted free, from Jamie, and then another point from open play from the hard-working Sean Palmer. Ballygiblin hit back with a point, only for Jamie to cancel that out with a converted free. Ballygiblin refused to give up the ghost though, and equalized again before, Jamie edged us ahead with another free, 0-13 to 0-11 in the 9th minute of the half and that lead was pushed out to 3 points, when Mikey O Connor scored for us, from open play. Again our opponents hit back with a point, that was cancelled by Padraig Looney to bring our tally to 0-15 by the 11th minute of the half. Ballygiblin responded impressively though, to the deficit, and forcing the play, they scored a point, and three free’s in quick succession, each from a difficult angle, but each and every one of them scored with deadly accuracy by Darragh O Flynn, to take the lead by the 20th minute of the half.
Jamie equalized for us in the 21st minute, but in a pulsating last ten minutes, our opponents edged ahead again, in the 25th minute of the half. It was tough, uncompromising and compelling and we equalized when Padraig Looney capitalized on a quick accurate free out of defense, by Liam Cronin after the very impressive Eddie Cotter was fouled in the act of clearing the ball. In injury time, Colm O Mahony nailed a free from distance and in the final act of the game, Owen Magner scored a decisive point to push out the lead in favour of Killavullen by two points, and the requisite time of the game had elapsed. The referee called a halt to the game, and Killavullen had edged a tight game, that will stand both teams in good stead, in the forthcoming championship ambitions.
Final score Killavullen 0-19 ; Ballygiblin 0-17
Good tight sporting game that the referee played a huge part in
The team and scores were:
- Charlie Cremin
- Eoin Birchill
- Brian Cotter
- Patrick O Grady
- Eddie Cotter
- Liam Cronin (0-01)
- Niall Feaheny (0-01)
- Darragh O Grady
- Jamie Magner (0-9) (0-8F)
- Paudie Looney (0-4)
- Colm O Mahony (0-01F)
- Mickey O Connor (0-01)
- Owen Magner (0-1)
- Colm Looney
- Sean Palmer (0-01)
Substitutes
- Ronan Barry for Colm Looney
- Fionn Magner for Niall Feaheny (injured)
- Kevin Fox for Patrick O Grady (injured)