Updated at 19.17
Kilcummin (Kerry) 5-13
Naomh Éanna (Antrim) 2-9
Declan Bogue reports from Croke Park
AN ABSOLUTELY FRANTIC first half in Croke Park paved the way for Kilcummin’s All-Ireland Intermediate win.
The ball was in the net for the first time after a mere two minutes.
Kieran Murphy’s mark from a Naomh Éanna kickout starting a Kilcummin move that was worked through to Kevin McCarthy – a late replacement here – and just as it looked like he was taken out he dished off to Matt Keane to roll home.
Naomh Éanna missed a gilt-edged chance when Eoin Nagle’s fisted pass across the goal was palmed onto the crossbar by Ethan Gibson and they were in further bother on seven minutes when McCarthy netted the second goal, leaving them 2-3 to no score in front.
Playing no sweeper was to their detriment as McCarthy worked his way through the entire full-back of markers before the first half was out.
Naomh Éanna came back into it with huge cheers greeting the next two points from Odhran Eastwood and they had a goal when a flighted delivery from Conan Lyttle was flashed to the net.
Manager Frankie Fitzsimmons made two subs to stem the flow and they had another goal from Ruairi Scott to creep two points in arrears.
After that, Kilcummin manager Willie Maher identified that Naomh Éanna running game was effective and so made his son, William junior a sweeper to clog up the middle.
Kilcummin’s third goal came from the penalty spot, Kieran Murphy sending sub goalkeeper Michael Morgan the wrong way after original goalkeeper Paddy Flood was black carded for upending Noel Duggan.
Two brilliant saves from former Kerry goalkeeper Brendan Kealy kept Kilcummin in control of the second half as Naomh Éanna tried a fourth marker on Kevin McCarthy, who finished with a tally of 3-7, all from play.
-An earlier version of this report described Kevin McCarthy as a former Kerry player. This has now been corrected.
Scorers for Naomh Éanna: Odhran Eastwood 0-7, 5f, Ruairi Scott 1-2, Eoin Nagle 1-0
Scorers for Kilcummin: Kevin McCarthy 3-7, Kieran Murphy 1-1 1-0 Pen, Matt Keane 1-0, Gary O’Leary 0-3, Ian Devane, John McCarthy 0-1 each
Naomh Éanna
1. Paddy Flood
2. Killian Jennings
3. Damien Gault
4. Mick McNamee
5. Conan Lyttle
6. James McAuley
7. Conor McAuley
8. Philly Curran
9. Joe Maskey
10. Peter Healy
11. Ruairi Scott
12. Kristian Healy
13. Ethan Gibson
14. Odhran Eastwood
15. Eoin Nagle
Subs:
18. Ciaran O’Neill for Curran (20m)
23. Ciaran Thompson for C McAuley (25m)
16. Michael Morgan for Flood (22m – Black card replacement)
24. Cormac Eastwood for Gault (43m)
22. Niall McKeown for Gibson (53m)
17. Ryan Kennedy for Scott (57m)
19. Donal Walsh for K Healy (60m)
Kilcummin
1. Brendan Kealy
2. Sean ÓLeary
3. Donal Maher
4. Daniel Moynihan
5. Philip Casey
6. Chris ÓLeary
7. William Maher
8. Kieran Murphy
9. Kevin Gorman
10. Shane McSweeney
11. Gary ÓLeary
12. Padraig Nagle
13. Noel Duggan
23. Kevin McCarthy
15. Matt Keane
Subs:
18. John McCarthy for P Nagle (44m)
17. Daniel O’Leary for W Maher (44m)
14. Ian Devane for Duggan (53m)
21. Damien O’Leary for G O’Leary (55m)
20. Kelvin Teahan for Murphy (57m)
19. Mikey O’Shea for Keane (61m)
Referee: James Molloy (Galway)
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