*Kevin Keane contests the high ball. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
HOLDERS Corofin/Ruan negotiated their path back to the Under 21A Hurling decider after seeing off neighbours Inagh/Kilnamona in Tubber on Sunday afternoon.
Corofin/Ruan 3-17
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-18
Venue: Tubber
A dramatic nine point turnaround in the space of only four minutes midway through the opening period kickstarted the defending champions’ challenge as quick-fire goals through Killian O’Connor, Robin Mounsey and Jack McDonagh catapulted Corofin/Ruan into an ascendency that they would hold for the remainder of the contest.
Despite being without Marc O’Loughlin and Conor Leen, the North Clare amalgamation were always able to keep their noses in front thereafter under the guidance of points from free taker Shane Punch, Diarmuid Cahill and Robin Mounsey.
A third minute goal through Josh Guyler had sparked Inagh/Kilnamona into life as a four point haul from the ever-impressive Sean Rynne powered them to a 1-6 to 0-4 advantage near the end of the opening quarter.
However, after being denied by goalkeeper Jack O’Connor only minutes earlier, Jack McDonagh did find the net in the 14th minute after good work from Cahill and Mounsey while the latter also teed up Killian O’Connor for two goals in the next three minutes as Corofin/Ruan sensationally soared 3-4 to 1-6 in front.
Inagh/Kilnamona did respond with the next three points through Rynne (2) and Niall Mullins only for an injury-time point from Mounsey ensured a slender 3-7 to 1-11 lead by the break.
That was as good as it got for Inagh-Kilnamona who only saw the tie slip further from their grasp in the third quarter after a four point unanswered burst through Punch (3) and Cahill extended the gap to six by the turn of the final quarter.
Inagh/Kilnamona did hit back with four of the next five points, three from the stick of Kealan Guyler. However, a Sean Rynne shot was somehow kept out by goalkeeper Kealan Mounsey entering the final ten minutes while a brace of last gasp Eoghan Foudy 20 metre frees were also repelled by Kealan and Robin Mounsey.
It was enough to tee up a historic first ever Under 21A showdown between Corofin/Ruan and Scariff-Ogonnelloe on Friday for what would be the ideal Christmas present.
Scorers for Corofin/Ruan: Shane Punch (0-8, 6f, 1’65); Robin Mounsey (1-03), Killian O’Connor (1-1); Diarmuid Cahill, (0-3); Jack McDonagh (1-0); Ryan Power (0-2)
Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: Sean Rynne (0-10, 8f, 1’65); Kealan Guyler, Niall Mullins (0-3 each); Josh Guyler (1-0); Conner Hegarty, Jason Griffin (0-1 each)
Corofin/Ruan
1: Kealan Mounsey
2: Gearoid Hanrahan
3: Ashley Brohan
4: Jason Power
5: Eoin Fitzgerald
6: Cillian McGroary
7: Tom O’Halloran
8: Ryan Power
9: Patrick O’Halloran
10: Kevin Keane
11: Diarmuid Cahill
12: Killian O’Connor
13: Jack McDonagh
14: Shane Punch
15: Robin Mounsey
Subs
23: Darragh McInerney for O’Halloran (57)
17: James Organ for McDonagh (57)
Inagh-Kilnamona
1: Jack O’Connor
2: Niall Glynn
3: Shane Woods
4: James Cullinan
5: Liam Hehir
6: Ricky Wynne
7: Eoghan Foudy
8: Jason Griffin
11: Mark Callinan
10: Dean Lynch
9: Conner Hegarty
12: Niall Mullins
15: Josh Guyler
13: Kealan Guyler
14: Sean Rynne
Subs
18: Keith Barry for Griffin (46)
25: Cathal Ryan for Hehir (46)
26: Jamie Wynne for Lynch (53)
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
