Imagine the palpable excitement echoing throughout the town of Buttevant as they triumphantly concluded a staggering 99-year drought without a county title. On a day that will forever be etched in their history, Buttevant secured victory in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Junior Football Championship, easily defeating St Nick's with a final score of 1-15 to 0-10.
After waiting nearly a century for success at the adult level, the North Cork club has ushered in a new era with a well-deserved win in front of their fans at the legendary SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. And here's where it gets particularly interesting: this milestone victory was not just a random blip in their history but a testament to their strategic play and revitalized team spirit.
The match began with a notable advantage for Buttevant, who were aided by the wind during the first half. They swiftly established a comfortable lead, racking up four two-point scores that allowed them to head into halftime with a seven-point cushion. Conor Hanlon, playing an influential role as centre-forward, notably contributed to this surge, netting three two-point scores before the intermission, demonstrating his prowess throughout the match.
Under the guidance of manager Joey Hanlon, Buttevant maintained their distance from St Nick's in a professionally executed performance that exemplified maturity and teamwork, ultimately winning by an impressive margin of eight points. St Nick's faced a setback, finishing the game with only 14 players following a late red card issued to Robert Downey.
Taking advantage of their wind-assisted play, Buttevant opened the scoring early. Within the first five minutes, David Hanlon and Mark Lenahan had already put points on the board, setting the stage for Conor Hanlon, who added two successive two-point scores. Buttevant then seized control of the game decisively by scoring a goal within the first 12 minutes. Mark Lenahan delivered a beautifully placed ball into the square, where Michael O’Neill skillfully gathered it and slotted it into the net, elevating the score to 1-6 to 0-0.
This initial setback sparked a response from St Nick's. They found their rhythm with two scores from Jack O’Sullivan, including one from a free, along with contributions from Danny Morris and Dave Dunlea, narrowing the gap to just five points after 18 minutes.
However, Buttevant’s knack for securing two-pointers played a pivotal role in their overall strategy throughout the season. They struck back with two consecutive two-point scores from Mark Lenahan (off a free) and Conor Hanlon, extending their lead to 1-10 to 0-4. O’Sullivan converted a free, and substitute Dean Brosnan managed another point, allowing St Nick's to remain somewhat in the game, closing out the half at 1-10 to 0-6.
As the second half commenced, St Nick's needed a powerful start given that they now had the wind in their favor. Dan Morris pointed for St Nick's, trimming the lead to six points, only for Conor Hanlon to counter with another score from a free. Hanlon continued his impressive display, knocking over two quick points—again including a free—and putting Buttevant ahead by 1-13 to 0-7 just after 39 minutes.
Despite their struggles, St Nick’s continued to fight back, with timely points from Dean Brosnan and O'Sullivan (another free) giving them a glimmer of hope as the game approached its final quarter. Yet, they couldn't close the gap. The match began to wind down with both teams trading points, resulting in Buttevant leading 1-14 to 0-10 with only five minutes remaining.
A final free from Conor Hanlon further cemented Buttevant's significant advantage as the clock ticked into added time. St Nick’s evening took a sharp turn for the worse when Robert Downey received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident, marking a disappointing end to their fight.
With this monumental win, Buttevant proudly claimed their much-coveted county title.
Scorers for Buttevant:
C Hanlon 0-11 (3 two-points, 0-3 frees)
M Lenahan 0-3 (1 two-point free)
M O’Neill 1-0
D Hanlon 0-1
Scorers for St Nick’s:
J O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-3 frees)
D Brosnan, D Morris 0-2 each
E Downey, D Dunlea 0-1 each
BUTTEVANT LINE-UP:
R Donovan; M Walsh, J Whelan, K Crowley; S Madigan, K Bowles, J O’Neill; A O’Neill, K Lenahan; M Lenahan (captain), C Hanlon, A Trimm; D Hanlon, M O’Neill, A Horgan.
Substitutes:
K Sheehan for J O’Neill (half-time), D Ryan for M O’Neill (43rd minute), B O’Riordan for S Madigan (47th minute), B O’Connor for A O’Neill (55th minute), P Behan for A Horgan (57th minute).
ST NICK'S LINE-UP:
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 (captain).
Substitutes:
D Brosnan for D Coughlan (23rd minute), J Corkery for G Marshall (half-time), L Quilligan for E O’Leary (37th minute), Z Lynch for D Morris (46th minute), C McCarthy for J Brosnan (53rd minute).
Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).
What do you think of Buttevant's impressive comeback after nearly a century? Do you believe such prolonged droughts impact a team's spirit and performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
