KILMALLOCK came good in extra-time at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday afternoon to claim the AIB Munster senior club hurling title for the first time in 20 years.
The Limerick champions survived the loss of county star Gavin O’Mahony to a red card in the second half but led deep in stoppage time before Cratloe midfielder Martin Ógie Murphy took the game into extra-time with a sensational long-range equaliser.
But Kilmallock, returned to their full compliment of 15 players, dominated the additional 20 minutes, outscoring the Clare champions by 0-11 to 0-3 to land provincial silverware for a third time.
Kilmallock last won the Munster club title back in 1994 and will now face Ulster kingpins Portaferry in February for a place in the All-Ireland final on St Patrick’s Day.
In front of 6365 spectators at the Gaelic Grounds, the sides were deadlocked at the end of a tumultuous hour of hurling, after Graeme Mulcahy’s injury-time point looked to have won it for Kilmallock.
But there was still time for Martin Ogie Murphy to salvage extra-time for Cratloe with a sensational long-range equaliser.
Cratloe's Gearoid Considine and Mark O'Loughlin of Kilmallock. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Murphy’s score was a fitting end to a final 12 minutes that was pendulum-like in its flow.
O’Mahony’s red card had handed the advantage to Cratloe, less than a minute after Cathal McInerney had applied a one-handed finish to Liam Markham’s delivery for Cratloe’s second goal.
The next major turn was back in Kilmallock’s direction, when sub Robbie Hanley provided Jake Mulcahy with the pass for a 56th minute goal.
Sean Collins and Jake Mulcahy traded points but Cratloe were ahead again when Conor McGrath converted his side’s third goal, at the second attempt with two minutes left.
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Jake Mulcahy levelled matters again with a point before brother Graeme slotted over what appeared to be the winner.
But Murphy would ensure an extra twenty minutes with a superb point and that gripping climax drew a standing ovation from both sets of fans when referee Fergal Horgan blew for full-time.
At half-time, Kilmallock held a 0-12 to 1-6 lead, after coming from five points down with a stunning run of scores.
Gearoid Considine netted for a Cratloe team seemingly obsessed with goals in the tenth minute, taking a pass from Cathal McInerney before flashing a shot across the boughs of Barry Hennessy.
Kilmallock appealed for a free in the build-up, insisting that Conor McGrath had taken too many steps, but Horgan, who let the game flow from start to finish, allowed play to continue.
Cratloe created three other goal chances in that opening half but a combination of poor decision-making and heroic Kilmallock defending ensured that they would score just the one before the break.
Kilmallock rallied from that early setback, coming from 0-1 to 1-3 behind to outscore Cratloe by 0-11 to 0-3 for the remainder of the half.
80 minutes, 54 scores - Kilmallock end long Munster title wait in classic against Cratloe
Cratloe 3-18
Kilmallock 1-32
(Cratloe 3-15 Kilmallock 1-21 after 60 minutes)
KILMALLOCK came good in extra-time at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday afternoon to claim the AIB Munster senior club hurling title for the first time in 20 years.
The Limerick champions survived the loss of county star Gavin O’Mahony to a red card in the second half but led deep in stoppage time before Cratloe midfielder Martin Ógie Murphy took the game into extra-time with a sensational long-range equaliser.
But Kilmallock, returned to their full compliment of 15 players, dominated the additional 20 minutes, outscoring the Clare champions by 0-11 to 0-3 to land provincial silverware for a third time.
Kilmallock last won the Munster club title back in 1994 and will now face Ulster kingpins Portaferry in February for a place in the All-Ireland final on St Patrick’s Day.
In front of 6365 spectators at the Gaelic Grounds, the sides were deadlocked at the end of a tumultuous hour of hurling, after Graeme Mulcahy’s injury-time point looked to have won it for Kilmallock.
But there was still time for Martin Ogie Murphy to salvage extra-time for Cratloe with a sensational long-range equaliser.
Murphy’s score was a fitting end to a final 12 minutes that was pendulum-like in its flow.
O’Mahony’s red card had handed the advantage to Cratloe, less than a minute after Cathal McInerney had applied a one-handed finish to Liam Markham’s delivery for Cratloe’s second goal.
The next major turn was back in Kilmallock’s direction, when sub Robbie Hanley provided Jake Mulcahy with the pass for a 56th minute goal.
Sean Collins and Jake Mulcahy traded points but Cratloe were ahead again when Conor McGrath converted his side’s third goal, at the second attempt with two minutes left.
Jake Mulcahy levelled matters again with a point before brother Graeme slotted over what appeared to be the winner.
But Murphy would ensure an extra twenty minutes with a superb point and that gripping climax drew a standing ovation from both sets of fans when referee Fergal Horgan blew for full-time.
At half-time, Kilmallock held a 0-12 to 1-6 lead, after coming from five points down with a stunning run of scores.
Gearoid Considine netted for a Cratloe team seemingly obsessed with goals in the tenth minute, taking a pass from Cathal McInerney before flashing a shot across the boughs of Barry Hennessy.
Kilmallock appealed for a free in the build-up, insisting that Conor McGrath had taken too many steps, but Horgan, who let the game flow from start to finish, allowed play to continue.
Cratloe created three other goal chances in that opening half but a combination of poor decision-making and heroic Kilmallock defending ensured that they would score just the one before the break.
Kilmallock rallied from that early setback, coming from 0-1 to 1-3 behind to outscore Cratloe by 0-11 to 0-3 for the remainder of the half.
Scorers for Kilmallock: Jake Mulcahy 1-6, Bryan O’Sullivan 0-7, Graeme Mulcahy 0-6, Eoin Ryan 0-5 (4f, 1 65), Paudie O’Brien 0-4, Kevin O’Donnell, Gavin O’Mahony, Kieran Kennelly & Paddy O’Loughlin 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cratloe: Conor McGrath 1-6 (3f), Cathal McInerney 1-3, Gearoid Considine 1-0, Liam Markham (1f, 1 65) & Sean Collins 0-3 each, Martin Ogie Murphy, Pádraic Collins & David Collins 0-1 each.
CRATLOE
1. Gearoid Ryan
2. Shane O’Leary
3. Michael Hawes
4. David Ryan
5. Sean Chaplin
6. Conor Ryan
7. Enda Boyce
8. Martin Ogie Murphy
9. Liam Markham (c)
10. Shane Gleeson
11. Pádraic Collins
12. Sean Collins
15. Conor McGrath
14. Gearoid Considine
13. Cathal McInerney
Subs: 21. David Collins for Gleeson (half-time), 20. Damian Browne for Considine (58).
KILMALLOCK
1. Barry Hennessy
4. Aaron Costello
3. Mark O’Loughlin
2. Liam Hurley
30. Liam Walsh
6. Philip O’Loughlin
7. Kevin O’Donnell
9. Bryan O’Sullivan
5. Paudie O’Brien
8. Jake Mulcahy
11. Gavin O’Mahony
12. Robbie Egan
14. Kieran Kennelly
13. Graeme Mulcahy (c)
15. Eoin Ryan.
Subs: 10. Robbie Hanley for Kennelly (52), 21. Paddy O’Loughlin for O’Mahony (60; red card – Kilmallock restored to 15 players for extra-time).
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).
- This article was first published on 23 November at 16.25pm
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