The Nire 1-13
Cratloe 2-8

LATE POINTS FROM Jamie Barron and Brian Wall earned The Nire a spot in their second ever Munster final after a sensational eighty minute joust with Cratloe at Fraher Field.

The Waterford club reached their first Munster final since 2006 and in the process ended Cratloe’s hopes of landing a Munster double. The Clare club have already qualified for next Sunday’s Munster hurling decider against Kilmallock.

The sides were level seven times before Barron struck over a raking point with four minutes remaining. He then supplied the assist for Wall to curl in and cue incredible scenes of emotion at the full time whistle.

The Ballymacarbry outfit had huge performances throughout the park from the O’Gorman twins, Wall brothers Diarmuid and Brian with Jamie Barron, Shane Ryan and Conor Gleeson in flying form up top. Cratloe’s hopes of a provincial double were spoiled but Cathal McInerney and Podge Collins did everything in their power to keep Colm Collins’ side on track.

Cratloe's John Galvin has a shot on goal blocked by Jack Guiry of The Nire. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

An end to end opening half finished all square at 2-3 to 1-6. Cathal McInerney fisted home on eleven minutes following a misjudged kickout from Tom Wall. Conor Gleeson was causing mayhem at the other end however and he rounded Pierce DeLoughrey after 16 minutes when he fetched Jamie Barron’s delivery. Cratloe answered instantly as Conor Ryan blasted past Wall from close range (2-2 to 1-3). Gleeson and Barron restored parity by the break.

The Nire claimed the third quarter with frees from Shane Ryan and Brian Wall. They couldn’t press home their dominance however. Cratloe punished them by picking off four points in a row (three from Cathal McInerney and a Podge Collins beauty). Two points back, The Nire went to the well. Shane Walsh blasted over before a belter from Conor Gleeson forced extra time (1-10 to 2-7).

The added twenty minutes was absorbing fare. McInerney and Walsh swapped points in the first period as tiredness became an issue. Both sides fluffed chances before The Nire’s fitness levels told. Barron and Wall produced the goods as they stride forward to the provincial decider.

Cratloe's Cathal McInerney kicks a free. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for The Nire
Conor Gleeson 1-2, Jamie Barron, Shane Walsh, Shane Ryan (0-2f) 0-3 each, Brian Wall 0-2.Scorers for Cratloe
Cathal McInerney 1-6 (0-4f), Conor Ryan 1-0, Podge Collins 0-2.

The Nire's Tom Wall and Liam Lawlor celebrate at the end of the game. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

THE NIRE

1. Tom Wall

2. Maurice O’Gorman
3. Thomas O’Gorman
4. Justin Walsh

5. Seamus Lawlor
6. Brian Wall
7. Diarmuid Wall

8. Craig Guiry
9. Shane Walsh

10. Michael O’Gorman
11. Michael Moore
12. Jamie Barron

13. Shane Ryan
14. Liam Lawlor
15. Conor Gleeson

Subs
Keith Guiry for Michael O’Gorman (H-T)
Jack Guiry for J Walsh (54)
Dermot Ryan for Moore (55)
Alan Lawlor for K Guiry (77)

The Nire's Conor Gleeson in action against Cratloe's John Galvin. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

CRATLOE

1. Pierce De Loughrey

2. Sean Chaplin
3. Barry Duggan
4. Shane O’Leary

5. David Ryan
6. Michael Hawes
7. Enda Boyce

8. John Galvin
9. Fergal Lynch

10. Conor Ryan
11. Sean Collins
12. Liam Markham

13. Cathal McInerney
14. Conor McGrath
15. Podge Collins

Subs
David Collins for Boyce (34).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary)

- * This article was first published on 16 November at 5.54pm

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