Buttevant 1-15 (1-4-7) St Nick’s 0-10 (0-0-10)
Glory for the black and amber on a famous day for Buttevant as they landed the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC title after a comfortable win over St Nick’s.
99 years on from the club’s last county football success at adult level, the North Cork club have made new history after a deserved win in this final on Saturday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
On such a huge occasion, it did help that Buttevant were wind-assisted in the first half. They built up a commanding lead with four two-pointers giving them a seven-point buffer at the interval.
Conor Hanlon, influential throughout from centre-forward, kicked three orange flags, all in the first half.
Joey Hanlon’s charges kept their opposition at arms-length in what was a very professional and mature performance to win by eight points.
St Nick’s ended with 14 men following a late Robert Downey red card.
Buttevant’s Mark Lenahan shoots from St Nick’s Diarmuid Wall. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
Buttevant made the most of the wind advantage early on. David Hanlon and Mark Lenahan added points inside five minutes before two-point king Conor Hanlon kicked two successive orange flags.
The winners took a firm grip on proceedings with a goal after 12 minutes. Mark Lenahan sent a delicious ball into the square where Michael O’Neill fetched the ball brilliantly and slotted it to the back of the net, 1-6 to 0-0.
The concession of the green flag did wake St Nick’s from their slumber. A pair of Jack O’Sullivan efforts, one from a free, and efforts from Danny Morris and Dave Dunlea did leave them five points adrift after 18 minutes.
But Buttevant’s ability to kick two-pointers has been a key part of their game all year. They put together two on the trot from Mark Lenahan (free) and Conor Hanlon, 1-10 to 0-4.
An O’Sullivan free and a nice point from sub Dean Brosnan did keep St Nick’s just about in touch, with Cork hurler Robert Downey very effective around the middle, 1-10 to 0-6 at the break.
The city outfit required a strong opening to the new half given they had now the wind at their backs.
St Nick’s Robert Downey is tackled by Buttevant’s Aaron Trimm. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
Morris did point for his team to leave six points between the sides only to be cancelled out by a Conor Hanlon free.
The same player tacked on two quick-fire white flags, one from a free, to push Buttevant 1-13 to 0-7 clear after 39 minutes.
St Nick’s never wilted, Dean Brosnan and O’Sullivan (free) left their team still with a slim chance with a quarter of the game remaining.
They couldn’t reel in their opposition though as the game petered out. The sides traded white flags as Buttevant led 1-14 to 0-10 with five minutes to go.
Another Conor Hanlon free copper-fastened his side’s advantage approaching added time.
St Nick’s evening ended on a sour note when Robert Downey received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident as tempers flared.
Buttevant finally claim county glory.
Buttevant players celebrate after defeating St Nick’s in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC final. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
Scorers for Buttevant: C Hanlon 0-11 (3 2 pt, 0-3 f), M Lenahan 0-3 (1 2pt f), M O’Neill 1-0, D Hanlon 0-1.
St Nick’s: J O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-3 f), D Brosnan, D Morris 0-2 each, E Downey, D Dunlea 0-1 each.
BUTTEVANT: R Donovan; M Walsh, J Whelan, K Crowley; S Madigan, K Bowles, J O’Neill; A O’Neill, K Lenahan; M Lenahan (c), C Hanlon, A Trimm; D Hanlon, M O’Neill, A Horgan.
Subs: K Sheehan for J O’Neill (h-t), D Ryan for M O’Neill (43), B O’Riordan for S Madigan (47), B O’Connor for A O’Neill (55), P Behan for A Horgan (57).
ST NICK’S: R Cronin; D Dunlea, S Horgan, C Horgan; F O’Driscoll, E Varian, D Wall; R Downey, D Coughlan; G Marshall, J Brosnan, E Downey; J O’Sullivan, E O’Leary, D Morris (c).
Subs: D Brosnan for D Coughlan (23), J Corkery for G Marshall (h-t), L Quilligan for E O’Leary (37), Z Lynch for D Morris (46), C McCarthy for J Brosnan (53).
Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).