At last, a championship win in 2026
September 22, 2026
It took until the 13th of September for Killavullen to win a championship game, in either code in 2026 and Killavullen Junior B football team obliged and did so, against Kildorrery in their final pool game, of the Junior B championship, in a game played at midday on Sunday.
Liam Fox was back from Australia, and he wasted no time in showing what we have been missing all year with real leadership and grafting on the pitch. The young team was a delight to see, yes, they made mistakes, and many of them, but they battled hard for each other and showed a willing attitude. It was a pity that they were so few there to witness, what was a refreshing display, by a Killavullen team.
We started with a delightful point from Jack Martin, curled over the bar before Kildorrery took the lead with a booming two-point effort but Jack brought us level again, with an identi-kit second point, again curled over, from the roadside of the pitch in Shanballymore. We squandered a goal chance but credit the defender who pushed it aside for a 45-metre shot, that Cian stepped out of his goals to score with aplomb. We got the goal that we had been threatening when Sean O Shea was at the end of a good team move to finish low and with a decisive kick into the net. Seamus O Mahony was very influential at this grade and he got the next score only for Kildorrery to get right back in the mix again, with another two-point impressive score. Liam Fox finished a great move over the bar, when set up by Barry Cotter after Joe Cagney and Conor Barrett had combined well in defence to set up the chance. Colm Hannon scored a nice point for us, before Kildorrery got a point back, from their lively corner forward who had scored both of the two pointers for his side already in the game. Liam scored another point before Seamus finished delightfully to the net after David Walsh and Seamus Cronin combined to free him up, and he made no mistake, finishing emphatically to the net. Seamus scored a close in free, after Sean was fouled again whilst at the other end, Cian pulled off a great save with his feet, from close range, and the ball squired out for a 45-metre shot, that Kildorrery converted. The score when Mick Sheedy, the vastly experienced referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the opening half, was 2-08 to 0-06.
Playing now into the far end of the field, away from the village, Killavullen took a tad longer to make their superiority count, and Seamus scored the opening three points of the half, with two from open play, interspersed with a neat curling free. Colm Hannon was denied a goal with a great close in save from the Kildorrery custodian but not fazed, Colm kept trying and got the next two points from play, the second a clever fist over the bar, when he would have been blocked down, if he attempting a foot kick. Seamus Cronin got his rewards for covering every blade of grass with a neat point, before the impressive David Walsh, scored a point from a free, in off the upright. David was often the out ball in the game, not playing midfield, but coming back on a number of occasions, to fetch the ball and carry it forward. Alex O Callaghan and Gary Lane came into the forward line, and both carried out their instructions diligently, staying in close to goals where they were effective. Kildorrery were trying hard for goals at this stage, and Joe Cagney and Niall Fitzgerald, along with Niall Carroll were tested severely in our full back line and stood up well. Sean Bartley was resolute as well, in this period of Kildorrery pressure, and it was great to see him back after a long-term injury to his ankle, that necessitated surgery which eventually yielded a goal, followed by a point.
Cian O Connor anchored the half back line well, and young Conor Barrett kept up the defensive duties and our rear-guard unit were solid and limited Kildorrery to two more points from play but we got the same scores back, from Seamus, who was the finisher in chief on the team and amassed 1-08 in total.
Great to get the win, and better still to see smiles coming off the field. Final Score – Killavullen 2-18 to 1-08 for Kildorrery.
The win was not enough to overcome a significant points differential in our group, and so Mitchelstown, Buttevant, Fermoy and Liscarroll-Churchtown Gaels advance to the semi finals of the competition, whilst all is not lost, as Killavullen can enter the same team again in Junior C football, a welcome initiative from Avondhu GAA.
The team and scorers were;
- Cian Murphy (0-01)
- Niall Fitzgerald
- Joe Cagney
- Niall Carroll
- Conor Barrett
- Cian O Connor
- Sean Bartley
- Barry Cotter
- Liam Fox (0-02)
- David Walsh (0-01)
- Seamus O Mahony (1-08)
- Seamus Cronin (0-01)
- Sean O Shea (1-00)
- Colm Hannon (0-03)
- Jack Martin (0-02)
Substitutes used
- Alex O Callaghan for Sean O Shea
- Gary Lane for Jack Martin
- Jack Martin for Barry Cotter (Injured)