MITCHELSTOWN were forced to see off a late revival by Kilshannig in the last 12 minutes before they claimed their 19th Fermoy Credit Union sponsored JAFC title witnessed by a large crowd at Doneraile on Sunday. The winners were the sharper side for most of the game and their early dominance was reflected with Shane Beston, Dave Dineen and Padraigh Donegan having points to race them into a 0-3 to no score lead by the 10th minute.

Kilshannig slowly began to find their composure with Patrick Cronin registering their first score moments later. However, Mitchelstown were in the ascendancy at this stage and over the next eight minutes were to kick a number of wides while the Kilshannig keeper Trevor O'Regan came to his sides rescue when Laurence O'Flynn put through Shane Beston where he was to be denied by a great save.

As the half progressed Kilshannig began to find their rythem and in the 24th minute the hard working Killian O'Hanlon found Frank McCarthy whose return pass set up O'Hanlon to score a delightful point under severe pressure. In the run up to the break Mitchelstown regrouped well and responded in great fashion when a a long clearance was held up by Dave Moher on the edge of the square and he released Padraigh Donegan to score a great goal.

Moments later Colm Courtney picked out Padraigh Donegan out near the sideline who turned his marker to punch over a well taken point. Kilshannig nevertheless were to finish the half on a positive note and were to kick four wides in quick succession before Darragh O'Mahony's delivery in injury time led to Frank McCarthy gaining possession on the edge of the square to set up Liam Casey who cut through the Mitchelstown defence only to see his effort for a goal go narrowly over the crossbar for a point. Mitchelstown were quick to respond and from the resultant kick-out Shane Cahill was to kick over a point that gave them an interval lead of 1-5 to 0-3.

On the restart Mitchelstown were to get off to a blistering start and they totally dictated matters during the opening sequences where Colm Courtney, Michael Maher, Laurence O'Flynn, Dave Moher, Padraigh Donegan, Shane Beston and man of the match Dave Dineen all excelled and helped by three points in a two-minute spell by Dineen, Donegan and Moher they surged into a 1-8 to 0-3 lead and at this stage looking like running out easy winners.

However, Kilshannig despite finding scores hard to come by battled their way back into contention as they held the Mitchelstown outfit to a mere single point for the remainder of the game. Killian O'Hanlon pointed a free in the 42nd minute while the quick thinking of Alan Cronin prevented Shane Cahill a goal scoring opportunity at the three quarter stage when he saved well off the line.

Kilshannig were to enjoy their best spell of the game from here with Richard Ryan, Tadgh Twomey, David Ruby and Darragh O'Mahony featuring strongly. Darragh O'Mahony got their fightback in motion with a point before David Ruby deceived everyone to score a fine goal in the 49th minute. Substitute Martin Kiely following immediately with a point and all of a sudden the lead was down to two points 1-8 to 1-6

In a nail biting finish the Glantane side tried hard to get back on level terms but were unable to breach the Mitchelstown defence where Michael Maher and team captain Colm Courtney made a number of vital clearances before the final whistle. In the 57th minute the impressive Dave Dineen extended ' Town's' lead when he kicked over from close range.

Kilshannig went in search of an equalising goal but time was not on their side with Mitchelstown holding out for a close but deserved victory in the end. After the game North Cork Board Chairman Christy Morrissey presented the cup to the winning captain Colm Courtney in the presence of Michael Dwane, Fermoy Credit Union and the large Mitchelstown gathering.

MITCHELSTOWN: T Power, J Finn, M Maher, D Lynch, E Burke, C Courtney, F Herlihy, L O'Flynn, D Dineen 0-3, D Nugent, D Moher 01, P Donegan 1-3 (0-1 f), G Carroll, S Beston 0-1, S Cahill 0-1, Subs: L Keane for G Carroll, S Coughlan for E Burke, P Magee for D Nugent, A O'Brien for S Cahill

KILSHANNIG: T O'Regan, I Twomey, R Ryan, A Cronin, D Ruby 1-0, T Twomey, K O'Hanlon 0-2 (01 f), D O'Mahony 0-1,R O'Mahony, P Cronin 0-1 (f), R McSherry, D Murphy, L Casey 0-1, M O'Regan, F McCarthy, Subs: M Kiely 0-1 for D Murphy, C O'Dea for F McCarthy, J Curtin for P Cronin, M Sheehan for D Ruby (injured)

REFEREE: Michael Sheedy (Shanballymore)