Inspired Kelly the hero for Sion

Mount Sion 2-12 Mullinahone 0-15

Forced to play without their inspirational wing back Paul Kelly and midfielder Eddie Carey, both ruled out because of injury, Mullinahone looked set for victory when Pat Croke hit over a point from a free to edge them in front two minutes from the end of normal time.

But Mount Sion bravely refused to buckle and a stunning second goal from Eoin Kelly, who had been astutely switched from midfield to left half forward for the second half, turned the tide in the home side’s favour.

This was gripping stuff right from the word go after Mullinahone right corner back Dermot Hackett and Mount Sion’s left corner forward Eoin McGrathy were shown yellow cards in the opening minute.

Referee Denis Richardson of Limerick subsequently booked four Mount Sion players, Ken McGrath, Eoin Kelly, John Meeney and Jamie O'Meara. The sheer intensity of the proceedings, the remarkable resilience displayed by both sets of defences, and superlative individual performances made this a provincial semi-final to be remembered. Tony Browne, who went into the game with a hand injury, was a colossus at centre back for Mount Sion before being forced to retire near the end with a leg injury.

Centre forward Ken McGrath contributed to his side’s great triumph with a tally of nine-points, three from play, five from frees and one from a 65 five. But Eoin Kelly donned the mantle of hero of the hour as the Waterford champions staked their claim to a seventh Munster final appearance.

Once again it was Eoin Kelly, at full forward, with John Leahy at centre forward, who did most to keep Mullinahone in the hunt early on when Mount Sion opened up a two points lead with strikes from McGrath and right corner forward Michael White. With Kelly for Mullinahone and McGrath for Mount Sion exchanging points, both from frees and play at the rate of knots, the teams were level on three occasions in the first half before Mullinahone, primarily due to the scoring exploits of Kelly, opened up a 0-8 to 0-6 lead at half-time.

Within four minutes of the resumption however, Mount Sion caught their opponents with a sucker-punch when Eoin Kelly ghosted in behind the leaden-footed Mullinahone defence to flick home a high-lobbing ball from his first half midfield partner Roy McGrath.

Ken McGrath quickly added two further points and Mount Sion, now a goal in front, looked as if they would open the floodgates.

But Mullinahone, with Paul Curran, outstanding at full back, resolutely battened down the hatches.

Mullinahone’s work-rate bordered on the phenomenal, and with Pat Croke now storming into the picture and taking over the free-taking duties from Kelly, who received a knock on the leg, they came back to draw level for the fourth time, 10-minutes from the end.

With Croke and McGrath exchanging points they were level for the fifth and last time before a now clearly on-song Croke nudged Mullinahone into the lead with another point from a free with two minutes of normal time remaining.

But then came the thrilling surge from defiant Mount Sion. Eoin Kelly soloed all of 35-metres before planting the ball in the roof of the Mullinahone net. Conor Arrigan did manage to get a point back for Mullinahone to leave just the bare minimum between them. But man-of-the-match Eoin Kelly and Ken McGrath sealed Mount Sion’s fantastic victory with two late points. Scorers for Mount Sion: E. Kelly 2-1; K. McGrath 0-9 (0-5 from frees; 0-1 from 65); M. White 0-2.

Mullinahone. E. Kelly 0-8 (0-6 from frees); P. Croke 0-5 (0-3 from frees); B. O'Meara and C. Arrigan 0-1 each.

MOUNT SION: I. O'Regan; J. O'Meara, A. Kirwan, B. Flannery; J. Cleare, T. Browne, B. Green; E. Kelly, R. McGrath; D. Kelly, K. McGrath, M. O'Regan; M. White, S. Ryan, E. McGrath.

Subs. J. Meaney for O'Regan; B. Browne for Kelly; M. Frisby for Ryan; K. O'Neill for T. Browne (injured).