Kilmurry crowned county IAFC champions after commanding win over Buttevant

McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC Final
Kilmurry 2-18 (2-2-14) Buttevant 0-10 (0-2-6)
SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Kilmurry’s rise through the grades goes on after a 14-point win over Buttevant in Friday night’s McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Muskerry club won the Junior A in 2022 and the Premier Junior in 2024, and this third county title in five seasons takes them up to Premier Intermediate. It also finally lays to rest their 1995 intermediate final defeat to Dohenys. Buttevant, the 2025 Premier Junior champions, were going for back-to-back titles but never got a foothold.

Kilmurry started fast. Ruadhrán Ó Curraoín pointed inside the first minute and Liam Wall finished to the net soon after, just after Mark Lenahan had gone close for Buttevant. Aaron Horgan and Lenahan pointed for Buttevant to make it 1-1 to 0-2, but Kilmurry were finding scores more easily. Points from Denis O’Mullane (free), Seán O’Leary and two from Wall put them 1-5 to 0-2 ahead after 22 minutes.

Conor Hanlon ended a ten-minute wait for a Buttevant score, but Kilmurry finished the half strongly. Kyle Kelleher curled over a fine point with the outside of his boot, and Ó Curraoín slotted a goal into the corner a minute before the break. David Hanlon’s two-point free left it 2-6 to 0-5 at half-time.

Kilmurry’s well-organised defence kept Buttevant quiet after the restart. Kilmurry nearly scored a third goal when Wall’s two-point attempt hit the post, but goalkeeper Ronan Donovan saved Ó Curraoín’s rebound. Michael O’Neill pointed for Buttevant, but Kilmurry kicked on. Two quick points and a two-point free from O’Mullane put them ten clear. A Wall two-pointer and a second point from sub Tomás Collins made it 2-13 to 0-7 after 51 minutes.

Conor Hanlon landed a late two-pointer for Buttevant, but the Kilmurry bench finished the job. Joe McGinn scored two points and Joe Ryan’s free was the last score of the night.

Scorers for Kilmurry: L Wall 1-4 (1 2pt), R Ó Curraoín 1-2, D O’Mullane 0-4 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), J McGinn (0-1 f), T Collins 0-2 each, K Kelleher, L Asling, J Ryan (0-1 f), S O’Leary 0-1 each.

Scorers for Buttevant: C Hanlon 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), M Lenahan, D Hanlon (1 2pt f) 0-2 each, M O’Neill, A Horgan 0-1 each.

KILMURRY: J McDonnell; W Ronan (c), B Hinchion, O Keane; M O’Leary, A Asling, S O’Leary; K Kelleher, D Cahalane; R Duggan, James O’Mullane, L Asling; D O’Mullane, L Wall, R Ó Curraoín.

Subs: T Collins for L Asling (20-21, temp), T Collins for R Duggan (h-t), John O’Mullane for D Cahalane (51), J McGinn for R Ó Curraoín, J Ryan for D O’Mullane, P Hinchion for B Hinchion (all 59).

BUTTEVANT: R Donovan; K Crowley, M Walsh, B O’Riordan; T O’Connell, K Bowles, A Trimm; A O’Neill, K Lenahan; M Lenahan (c), D Hanlon, D Ryan; K Sheehan, C Hanlon, A Horgan.

Subs: M O’Neill for T O’Connell, S Madigan for A Trimm (both h-t), R Fowley for K Sheehan (38), C O’Toole for D Ryan (54), E O’Donoghue for K Lenahan (57).

Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).