Epic battle takes last final twist

Brownstown 1-18, Turin 2-14

On a perfect evening for hurling at the well-appointed Killucan pitch on Friday, Brownstown and Turin went hammer and tongs for over 60 minutes. The tide ebbed and flowed significantly throughout, with the lead changing hands 10 times.

In the end, the width of a post from a Sean Leech strike - some say it may even have been a score - was all that separated these two doggedly determined and fully committed sides.

While both teams will claim they deserved the points, it was the men from Archerstown who took the spoils when Leech’s late attempt was waved wide. Brownstown took another step closer to the Intermediate title, which they have firmly set their sights on. For Turin, it’s another case of “what might have been,” a recurring theme this season. They were tremendous on Friday evening and deserved something from the game, but sport can be a cruel master. They’ll now have to regroup and go again to salvage something from 2024.

The game started as it continued, with both sides enjoying periods of superiority. After 10 eventful and skilful minutes, the score was tied at four points apiece - Emmett Cunneen, Robbie Dugdale, and Jamie Fitzsimons (one free and one from play) scoring for Brownstown, while Ray Aughey (free), Sean Leech from long range, and two opportunistic strikes from David Aughey levelled for Turin in what was already a rip-roaring contest.

Conor Rice from a narrow angle and two Fitzsimons frees pushed Brownstown three ahead, but Khassim Carey and another Ray Aughey free brought Turin back within one. However, Turin also squandered several scoring opportunities with poor wides during this period. Cunneen then cut a brilliant sideline over the bar to increase Brownstown's lead, but a speculative long-range free from Sean Leech somehow found the net, putting Turin ahead again.

Fitzsimons levelled with a free, but two marvellous strikes from Ray Aughey and the imperious Leech kept Turin in the driving seat until Fitzsimons closed the half with another free, leaving Turin ahead by 1-8 to 0-10 at the break.

Alan Aughey added to Turin’s advantage on the restart with a well-taken point, but Brownstown responded with three unanswered points from Rice (long range), Fitzsimons (a brilliant catch and strike), and Rice again after great work by Donal Lane, regaining the lead. Khassim Carey levelled with the score of the game for Turin as the final quarter began.

Paddy Reilly for Brownstown and Leech with an enormous free for Turin exchanged scores, before the industrious Declan McGrath set up Ciaran Kiernan to put the Reds back in front. Fitzsimons from a free and Carey, capitalising on a Brownstown defensive error, exchanged scores. Then Brownstown hit a purple patch, with Cormac Foley flicking a long-range ball from Philip Gilsenan into the net, followed by a beautiful point from Cunneen, another long-range effort from Rice, and a well-constructed move finished by Cunneen. This saw the Archerstown men lead by five with three minutes remaining, and they appeared to have the game wrapped up.

However, Turin were not ready to concede. Leech, now moved forward, was fouled and stepped up to rifle an unstoppable shot to the net. When Carey added a point, only the barest of margins separated the teams. With one final hurrah, Leech found himself with an ideal chance to level the match, but his effort was declared wide of the post, and Brownstown just hung on after a superb game that had a bit of everything.

Scorers - Brownstown: Jamie Fitzsimons 0-8 (6 frees), Conor Rice 0-4, Emmett Cunneen 0-4 (1 sideline), Cormac Foley 1-0, Paddy Reilly 0-1, Robbie Dugdale 0-1.

Turin: Sean Leech 2-3 (2-2 frees), Khassim Carey 0-4, Ray Aughey 0-3 (2 frees), David Aughey 0-2, Ciaran Kiernan 0-1, Alan Aughey 0-1.

Brownstown: James Moore; Rory Carolan, Philip Gilsenan, Kenny Higgins; Cormac Foley, Conor Shaw, Paddy Reilly; Tom Flynn, Conor Rice; Anthony Mulvanney, Emmet Cunneen, Robbie Dugdale; Gary Smith, Jamie Fitzsimons, Donal Lane. Subs used: Oisín Kiernan for Smith (half-time), Tiernan Purcell for Flynn (54).

Turin: Eoin Aughey; Seán Scally, Derek Hourihane, David McGrath; Oisín L’Estrange, Seán Leech, Jack Penrose; Declan McGrath, Craig Neville; Khassim Carey, David Aughey, Ciarán Kiernan; Ray Aughey, Alan Aughey, Danny McGrath. Subs used: Luke Gardiner for L’Estrange (59).

Ref: Mick Murtagh (Clonkill).