*Cormac Murphy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A MUNSTER final awaits O’Callaghans Mills who qualified for the provincial intermediate decider with a two point win over Tallow.
O’Callaghans Mills 1-23
Tallow 1-21
Venue: Mallow GAA Complex, Cork
O’Callaghans Mills will take on Upperchurch/Drombane from Tipperary in the Munster intermediate hurling championship final on Saturday week (November 29) following their two point win over Tallow from Waterford.
It was a victory the Clare champions deserved but they had to survive a strong fight back from their Waterford opponents in the second half when Tallow came from nine points in arrears to level in the closing minutes.
The first half was evenly contested with scores swapped on a number of occasions. Ryan Gray’s goal put the Waterford champions two points clear at 1-4 to 0-5 but Seán Boyce’s goal ensured that the Clare champions were ahead at the interval when the score was 1-9 to 1-6.
Midfielder Cormac Murphy had sparkled in the opening half for the Clare side, landing 0-5 from play.
The winners dominated the early minutes of the second half scoring 0-6 without reply to open a nine point lead. Sean Doyle’s outfit played some excellent hurling during this period and the big Clare following were in full voice as they extended their lead with some superb scores.
Far from dropping their heads, Tallow roared back into the contest and hit 0-7, four from open play, in as many minutes to move to within two of the Clare outfit.
A number of these scores came when Tallow managed to win possession from O’Callaghans Mills puckouts.
The Clare side responded with a brace but back came Tallow to level the game at 1-18 each. The winners pushed ahead again with a brace but Tallow responded again and the tie was level entering the final minute.
O’Calllaghans Mills finished strongly and goalkeeper Killian Nugent expertly converted a ‘65 while Gary Cooney also hit the target to seal victory.
Nugent was one of many stars in what was a great team performance from the Clare side. Cormac Murphy, as mentioned earlier, excelled at midfield while Aidan Fawl, Gary Cooney Aidan O’Gorman and Conor Cooney were others to impress.
Scorers O’Callaghans Mills: Cormac Murphy (0-6); Sean Boyce (1-2); Jacob Loughnane (all frees), Gary Cooney (0-4) each; Killian Nugent (0-2, 1f, 1’65); Colm Cleary, Darragh Moroney, Aidan Fawl, Conor Henry, Sean Cotter (0-1) each.
Scorers Tallow: Dara Buckley (0-9, 7f); Ryan Gray (1-3, 0-3f) Thomas Ryan (0-3); Jordan Henley, Ian Beecher, Stephen Murphy (0-2) each
O’Callaghans Mills; Killian Nugent; Cathal McNamara, Conor Cooney, Keith Donnellan; Sean Cotter, Aidan O’Gorman, Aidan Fawl; Fionn Hickey, Cormac Murphy; Jacob Loughnane, Darragh Moroney, Conor Henry; Sean Boyce, Colm Cleary, Garry Cooney;
Subs: Bryan Donnellan for C. Henry (49); Mark Pewter for D. Moroney (55), Patrick Donnellan for S. Cotter (59);
Tallow; Billy Murphy; Eoin McGrath, Ken Kearney, Jake Beecher; Jordan Henley, Joseph McDonnell, Callum McCarthy; Conor Heney, Kieran Geary; Ian Beecher, Thomas Ryan, Ryan Grey; Dara Buckey, Paul O’Brien, Stephen Murphy
Sub; Jordan Henley for K. Geary;
Referee; Ciaran O’Donovan (Tipperary)
