Golden Kilfeacle end thirty-year wait to claim dramatic county final win over Kickhams

FBD Insurance Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Golden Kilfeacle 3-19

Knockavilla Kickhams 2-21

By Michael Dundon

Two goals in three second-half minutes helped Golden Kilfeacle bridge a 30-year gap as they annexed FBD Insurance County Intermediate hurling honours with the narrowest of victories over West rivals Knockavilla Kickhams in a thriller at Cashel on Saturday.

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Divisional rivalry, a bumper attendance, and an electric atmosphere set the scene for a cracking encounter with favourites Golden Kilfeacle having to dig deep to stifle a late Knockavilla surge that came within a whisker of snatching a draw and replay, a last-ditch long-range effort from Adam Daly into the breeze, tailing narrowly wide.

The Cashel committee had everything in ship-shape as the crowds poured in in anticipation of an epic struggle, and they were not disappointed. 

Golden Kilfeacle, beaten in the semi-final and quarter-final in the last two years, looked the slicker outfit, but a gutsy Knockavilla Kickhams were relentless in their endeavours, and neutrals would not have begrudged them a second chance in that hectic finish.

A highly motivated Kickhams took the fight to their opponents from the start, and with Stephen Browne’s radar spot on from frees, they led 0-6 to 0-3 by the end of the first quarter. 

They continued to have the better of things and were 0-11 to 0-6 clear after 22 minutes, but then the scales tipped in Golden’s favour. A Ben Currivan point, followed by two more from Jack Leamy, closed the gap, and in the 26th minute, Leamy set up Sam Hall for a Golden goal to which Leamy added another point to send them 1-10 to 0-11 clear.

Playing into the fresh breeze, this was a huge turnaround for Golden, though Stephen Browne landed another point for Kickhams before the break. 

A point advantage at half-time (1-10 to 0-12) with the breeze to assist them in the second half left Golden in a very strong position at the break, but no one doubted Kickhams’ resolve.

And so it transpired. Points by Michael Gleeson and Stephen Browne had Kickhams ahead three minutes after resuming. A Jack Leamy brace from frees kept Golden in touch, but in the 39th minutes, Stephen Browne and Paudie Buckley combined to set Elliott Thompson up for a great Kickhams’ goal and a 1-14 to 1-12 lead. 

Four points were shared as the game went into the last quarter, and then came the decisive period.

In the 45th minute, Josh Keane set Jack Leamy clear, and he showed great strength and pace to force his way through to finish in the Kickhams’ net. 

Michael Gleeson quickly countered with a point for Kickhams, but, in the 48th minute, Andy Byrnes availed of the good work of Seanie O Halloran and Ben Currivan to shoot past Eoin Horgan in the losers’ goal to put his side 3-15 to 1-17 clear.

The closing stages were hectic and not for the faint-hearted. Stephen Browne reeled off three Kickhams points to make it a one-point game, but Ben Currivan, Eanna Ormond and Jack Leamy (2) restored Golden’s five-point advantage approaching the hour mark.

Golden’s title, surely, but there was yet another twist. In the 61st minute, Elliott Thompson netted for Kickhams, followed two minutes later by a Stephen Browne pointed free to narrow the deficit to one point. 

Kickhams were throwing everything into attack, and Golden were calling for the final whistle, but Kickhams had one last chance, Adam Daly’s long-range effort into the breeze tailing narrowly wide to the dismay of the black and amber brigade and delight of the large Golden following.

Along with the title, this win earns Golden Kilfeacle promotion to the premier intermediate grade next year, but sadly for them, there will be no Munster club action as it is the premier intermediate champions who represent the county in the provincial intermediate campaign.

Having been narrowly beaten by Sarsfields in the football semi-final a week previously it would have been devastating for Golden to again falter, but they showed great resilience as they withstood the late Kickhams barrage to get over the line.

Having been in the frame for honours for the past two years, this success is well merited, and the indications are that, on the basis of their performances throughout the year, they will again be title contenders next year. 

Team captain Jack Leamy was an inspiring figure for them with 1-3 from play, but he had no shortage of support with Niall Heffernan, Ben Currivan, Josh Keane, Seanie O’Halloran, and Shane O’Connell all having big games on a great day for the club.

Knockavilla Kickhams contributed enormously to the game and occasion and went very close to emulating their previous success of 1992. 

The two quick third-quarter goals were their undoing, but their performance overall was one they can be proud of, and surely they will be in the frame to make amends next year. 

They will rue a few chances spurned when they reflect on the game, but clearly they have the material to succeed and can look forward to 2026 with optimism. Stephen Browne’s free-taking was vital to their cause, and the contribution of Michael Gleeson was also immense. 

Bill Creamer was a formidable figure on the edge of the square, while Adam Daly’s inter-county class was apparent all through. Elliott Thompson and Shane Buckley also played big parts for them.

Scorers: Golden Kilfeacle: Jack Leamy (1-9, 0-6f), Sam Hall 1-1, Andy Byrnes 1-0, Ben Currivan 0-3, S O’Halloran 0-2, Eoin Murnane, Josh Keane, Ciaran Byrne, Eanna Ormond all 0-1 each.

Knockavilla Kickhams: Stephen Browne (0-11, 0-9f), E Thompson 2-1, Adam Daly 0-3, Michael Gleeson, Shane Buckley 0-2 each, Paudie Slattery 0-1, Eoin Horgan 0-1f

Golden Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan; Aidan O’Connell, Shane O’Connell, Ciaran Byrne; Eoin Murnane, Niall Heffernan, Cian O’Connell; Gavin Dalton, Seanie O’Halloran; Ben Currivan, Jack Leamy, Josh Keane; Eanna Ormond, Padraig Dalton, Sam Hall.

Subs used: Andy Byrnes for Dalton (38); Cian Lonergan for G Dalton (50); Jack Bergin for Hall (55); Jack Lonergan for C O’Connell (59).

Knockavilla Kickhams: Eoin Horgan; Eddie Daly, Bill Creamer, Michael McCormack; Conor Farrell, Lorcan Carr, Jamie Dunican; Paudie Slattery, Adam Daly; Stephen Browne, Shane Buckley, Michael Gleeson; Cormac Carr, Davy Butler, Elliott Thompson.

Subs used: Ben Ryan for Butler (48); Shane Farrell for C Carr (55).

Referee: Johnny Dooley (Thurles Gaels)

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