*David Reidy commiserates with Brian McGrath at the final whistle. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
ÉIRE ÓG are through to a Munster club senior hurling final for the first time since 1990, overcoming Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney with a powerful extra time showing.
Éire Óg 2-20
Loughmore-Castleiney 1-16
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
Not so much on par with scenes from Italia 90 but both sets of supporters were united for a brief spell prior to extra time when word emerged that Troy Parrot had scored a hat-trick to send Republic of Ireland into the play-offs for next year’s World Cup.
Another bridge to 1990 has also been reached by Éire Óg’s senior hurlers who have qualified for the provincial decider for the first time in thirty five years.
They outscored their opponents 1-7 0-3 in extra time, keeping them scoreless for the entire second period as they rattled off 1-4 without reply to claim their place in the Munster final where they Ballygunner who are chasing their fourth provincial crown in five years.
Shane O’Donnell really stepped up in extra time for the winners while Danny Russell was excellent throughout. Marco Cleary though not supplied with enough possession was threatening when found. Further back the field, Liam Corry, Robert Loftus and Ciaran Russell were prominent.
Hurler of the Year, John McGrath was in flying form for Loughmore, a side who have won the Tipperary SHC on six occasions, five of which in the last eighteen years but they will admit their Munster record has failed to build on the success within their own county.
Burst water mains in Francis Street prompted the game to be moved from Cusack Park to O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge at the eleventh hour and a delay of ninety minutes to the scheduled throw-in.
(Gallery by Ruth Griffin)
Far from a classic or a thriller, it was an opening half which yielded just eleven scores. Liam McGrath bagged a major with Loughmore Castleiney’s last contribution to the scoreboard, he get a flick on a long range delivery from Ed Connolly which put them back on level terms after points from Marco Cleary and Danny Russell put Éire Óg in front for the first time.
Cleary’s white flag on twenty three minutes was a turning point, not alone was it Éire Óg’s first score from play but the manner in which Shane O’Donnell won back possession lifted his opponents and subsequently their challenge. Russell had the final score of the opening half to leave Éire Óg 0-6 1-2 in front at the interval.
O’Donnell and McGrath, the Hurlers of the Year for the past two seasons both added a brace on the restart before Russell hit 1-1 without reply to give the Townies a three point advantage, their biggest lead of the afternoon.
Russell finished well after O’Donnell offloaded the sliotar to him on thirty nine minutes.
However, the visitors limited Éire Óg to one point over the next five minutes while four points of their own, two from McGrath and one each from Ed Connolly and John Ryan to get back on parity.
For the final quarter, Loughmore went ahead on three separate occasions but on each instance Éire Óg came back, all thanks to converted frees from Russell, the last of which was a pressurised one with sixty three minutes on the clock to force extra time.
In extra time Éire Óg only fell behind twice but they brought much more energy than their opponents which was central to the outcome. Russell continued to be their scorer in chief, he accounted for all but one of their first half tally, Marco Cleary hitting his second point of the day which left them ahead by the minimum for the quick break.
Substitutes stepped up with the first two scores of the second period, Tom Kavanagh converting following good work from O’Donnell and Russell. Rian Mulcahy may not have heard the “low trajectory” instruction from maor uisce Niall O’Connor when blazing the ball high but crucially between the posts to put them three clear.
Darren Moroney who was brought back on sealed the deal for the Ennis side. There was a series of blocks on Mulcahy and Oran Cahill before Reidy broke on to the ball and popped to Moroney who made up for his miss in the first half of extra time by sticking the sliotar to the back of the net. Who else but the excellent Russell finished off the scoring to record a 2-20 1-16 victory for Gerry O’Connor’s charges.
(Gallery of photos by Gerard O’Neill)
Scorers for Éire Óg: D Russell (1-14, 0-12 frees, 0-1 65); D Moroney (1-0); S O’Donnell, M Cleary (0-2 each); R Mulcahy (free), T Kavanagh (0-1 each).
Scorers for Loughmore-Castleiney: J McGrath (0-12, 5 frees, 2 65s); L McGrath (1-0); J Ryan, B McGrath, N McGrath, E Connolly (0-1 each).
Éire Óg
1: Darragh Stack
2: Fionan Treacy
3: Ciaran Russell
17: Jarlath Collins
5: Robert Loftus
6: Aaron Fitzgerald
4: Liam Corry
8: Oran Cahill
11: David Reidy
12: David McNamara
9: Darren Moroney
13: Darren O’Brien
15: Marco Cleary
14: Danny Russell
10: Shane O’Donnell
Subs:
25: Tom Kavanagh for O’Brien (HT)
18: James O’Dwyer for Moroney (52)
7: Rian Mulcahy for McNamara (55)
24: Aidan McGrath for Collins (57)
22: Eoin O’Regan for Cahill (62)
Darren Moroney for McGrath (69)
Oran Cahill for O’Regan (HT ET)
Loughmore-Castleiney:
1: Aidan McGrath
2: Lorcan Egan
3: Willie Eviston
4: Ed Meagher
7: Eoin O’Connell
6: Brian McGrath
5: John Ryan
8: Noel McGrath
9: Ciarán Connolly
17: Tommy Maher
11: Tomás McGrath
12: Ciarán McCormack
10: Ed Connolly
14: John McGrath
13: Liam McGrath
Subs:
15: Ciarán McGrath for McCormack (38)
18: Liam Treacy for T Maher (48)
23: Philip O’Connell for E Connolly (63)
Referee: Nicky O’Toole (Waterford)
