Kilshannig 1-17 Newtownshandrum 3-06

Kilshannig got their Junior A Hurling Championship campaign off to a superb start with an opening round victory over Newtownshandrum at Ballyhea. Kilshannig set their stall out in the early stages against a fancied Newtown side and after a good start they never looked back. They produced some good passages of play in the opening quarter and with Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Killian O'Hanlon and Kevin O'Flynn all pointing, Kilshannig moved into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead. Newtown responded though with the first goal off the evening with David O'Connor setting up brother Kevin who finished superbly from a tight angle. Shortly after, they added a second, Jamie C Coughlan netting from a 21 yard free to tie the sides, 0-8 to 2-2. Newtown then took the lead for the only time with their first point from play before Tadhg O'Sullivan quickly equalised. Despite the two goal setback, Kilshannig continued to battle hard and were rewarded before the break when Killian O'Hanlon's long distance free went all the way to the Newtown net and he added another free to put four between the sides at the interval, 1-10 to 2-3.

Kilshannig moved five in front after the restart but began to struggle with Newtown getting on top in their half back line and around midfield. While Kilshannig were under constant pressure they defended resolutely through O'Hanlon, Pa Cronin and Mossy O'Connell. Newtown pulled the lead back to three however and had the opportunity to level entering the final quarter from the penalty spot. Coughlan's effort though was saved by Michael Twomey before Damien Murphy cleared the rebound off the line. Coughlan pointed the resulting 65 but the impressive Roddy O'Mahony replied with a badly needed point. Kilshannig found another gear in the final 10 minutes with the excellent Diarmuid O'Sullivan, sub Jack Kearney and Damien Murphy on target to move 1-16 to 2-06 ahead with five minutes remaining. Newtown did manage a third goal late on but there was no denying Kilshannig a well deserved win to secure their place in the quarter finals. 

Scorers for Kilshannig: K O'Hanlon 1-5 (1-3 frees, 0-1 65), D O'Sullivan 0-4, K O'Flynn 0-3 (0-2 frees), T O'Sullivan, R O'Mahony, C Murphy, D Murphy, J Kearney 0-1 each.

Kilshannig: M Twomey; C Casey, P Cronin, I Twomey; K O'Donovan, K O'Hanlon, T O'Connell; D Murphy, C Murphy; T O'Sullivan, R O'Mahony, D Mahoney; K O'Flynn, D O'Sullivan, T O'Regan.

Subs: J Kearney for T O'Regan (45), C Twomey for K O'Flynn (45), D Ruby for T O'Sullivan (57).