CATHAL MCINERNEY’S GOAL seven minutes from time clinched Cratloe’s first ever Munster championship victory as they battled past 14-man Ballygunner at a blustery Walsh Park.
The Clare champions built up an eight-point half-time lead through a Conor McGrath double but the hosts narrowed to a single during a storming third-quarter revival.
The turning point arrived when Brian O’Sullivan received a second yellow to stall Ballygunner’s sprint and keep Cratloe on track for the Munster semi-final.
Joe McGrath’s side used possession better than their opponents with star names Conor McGrath, Podge Collins and Conor Ryan all on song. David O’Sullivan and Pauric Mahony were best for Ballygunner.
McInerney boots home the decisive goal seven minutes from time. Ken Sutton / INPHO
Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO
On a dull afternoon at the city ground, Cratloe played with the strong breeze for the first half hour and led 2-4 to 0-2 by the break.
McGrath netted a delightful goal on eight minutes. Podge Collins made the initial break from halfway to slice open the defence, Collins located Shane Gleeson who supplied McGrath, and he shot across Stephen O’Keeffe to the far corner.
McGrath struck again six minutes later. A burst of pace from David Collins left the defenders for dead and his pass found the unmarked McGrath who rounded O’Keeffe and slipped home low to the net.
The Gunners charged back into contention during the third quarter. Conor Power scrambled in a goal on 39 minutes as they stitched together 1-4 without response. Their comeback hit the rocks however when Brian O’Sullivan was dismissed on a second yellow card after 46 minutes.
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JJ Hutchinson dejected at full time. Ken Sutton / INPHO
Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO
Immediately afterwards, Enda Boyce advanced from wing back to strike Cratloe’s first point of the second half and steady the ship. Pauric Mahony and David O’Sullivan kept the Waterford winners in the hunt before the knockout punch arrived from the blue corner.
With seven minutes remaining, Podge Collins swung a pass across for Cathal McInerney to kick to the net. Cratloe meet the Tipperary champions in the last four of the provincial competition.
Scorers for Cratloe: Conor McGrath 2-4 (3fs); Cathal McInerney 1-0; Enda Boyce, David Collins, Gearoid Considine 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-5 (4fs, 1 65’); Conor Power 1-0; David O’Sullivan, JJ Hutchinson 0-2 each; Brian O’Sullivan 0-1.
Cratloe
1. Gearoid Ryan
2. Shane O’Leary
3. Michael Hawes
4. David Ryan
5. Enda Boyce
6. Conor Ryan
7. Sean Chaplin
8. David Collins
9. Liam Markham
10. Shane Gleeson
11. Padraic Collins
12. Sean Collins
Cathal McInerney's late goal steers Cratloe past 14-man Ballygunner in Munster
Cratloe 3-7
Ballygunner 1-10
CATHAL MCINERNEY’S GOAL seven minutes from time clinched Cratloe’s first ever Munster championship victory as they battled past 14-man Ballygunner at a blustery Walsh Park.
The Clare champions built up an eight-point half-time lead through a Conor McGrath double but the hosts narrowed to a single during a storming third-quarter revival.
The turning point arrived when Brian O’Sullivan received a second yellow to stall Ballygunner’s sprint and keep Cratloe on track for the Munster semi-final.
Joe McGrath’s side used possession better than their opponents with star names Conor McGrath, Podge Collins and Conor Ryan all on song. David O’Sullivan and Pauric Mahony were best for Ballygunner.
On a dull afternoon at the city ground, Cratloe played with the strong breeze for the first half hour and led 2-4 to 0-2 by the break.
McGrath netted a delightful goal on eight minutes. Podge Collins made the initial break from halfway to slice open the defence, Collins located Shane Gleeson who supplied McGrath, and he shot across Stephen O’Keeffe to the far corner.
McGrath struck again six minutes later. A burst of pace from David Collins left the defenders for dead and his pass found the unmarked McGrath who rounded O’Keeffe and slipped home low to the net.
The Gunners charged back into contention during the third quarter. Conor Power scrambled in a goal on 39 minutes as they stitched together 1-4 without response. Their comeback hit the rocks however when Brian O’Sullivan was dismissed on a second yellow card after 46 minutes.
Immediately afterwards, Enda Boyce advanced from wing back to strike Cratloe’s first point of the second half and steady the ship. Pauric Mahony and David O’Sullivan kept the Waterford winners in the hunt before the knockout punch arrived from the blue corner.
With seven minutes remaining, Podge Collins swung a pass across for Cathal McInerney to kick to the net. Cratloe meet the Tipperary champions in the last four of the provincial competition.
Scorers for Cratloe: Conor McGrath 2-4 (3fs); Cathal McInerney 1-0; Enda Boyce, David Collins, Gearoid Considine 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-5 (4fs, 1 65’); Conor Power 1-0; David O’Sullivan, JJ Hutchinson 0-2 each; Brian O’Sullivan 0-1.
Cratloe
1. Gearoid Ryan
2. Shane O’Leary
3. Michael Hawes
4. David Ryan
5. Enda Boyce
6. Conor Ryan
7. Sean Chaplin
8. David Collins
9. Liam Markham
10. Shane Gleeson
11. Padraic Collins
12. Sean Collins
13. Gearoid Considine
14. Cathal McInerney
15. Conor McGrath
Subs: Damian Browne for Gleeson (43); Alan McNamara for Considine (62).
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keeffe
2. Barry Coughlan
3. Philip Mahony
4. Alan Kirwan
5. David O’Sullivan
6. Wayne Hutchinson
7. Shane Walsh
8. Harley Barnes
9. Shane O’Sullivan
10. JJ Hutchinson
11. Pauric Mahony
12. Barry O’Sullivan
13. Conor Power
14. Brian O’Sullivan
15. Peter Hogan
Subs: Stephen Power for Hogan (29); Ian Kenny for Coughlan (H-T); David Walsh for C Power (52); Barry Coughlan for W Hutchinson (52).
Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)
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