Late Sheehan goal turns tide for Garryspillane

Garryspillane 1-11 Kilmallock 1-10

It was a dramatic finale to a tense and exciting replay, one in which the holders led all the way, until Sheehan stepped in to turn the tide.

Limerick hurling star TJ Ryan, who coached Garryspillane, later paid tribute to his young stars for their never say die spirit. A week earlier it was Kilmallock who struck with a late goal to force a second meeting.

Garryspillane, who had previously won the championship in the boardroom following a successful objection, must have feared the worst when Andrew O'Shaughnessy (2) and Kieran Kenneally had early points for the green-and-whites.

They saw some light when top marksman Maurice O'Brien pulled one back from a free, but O'Shaughnessy struck again with a goal from a penalty, after he had been fouled, to leave it 1-3 to 0-1.

With Derek O'Mahony and Paudie O'Dwyer leading from the back, Kilmallock were comfortable at 1-6 to 0-4 coming up to the break. All changed when Eoin Burke and Tom Harty had points at the other end the only minors that the Bouncers had from play to leave a single score between them at the break.

Ben O'Donnell kept the momentum going for Garryspillane immediately on the change of ends, but their revival halted when Derek O'Mahony clipped the ball between the uprights.

Maurice O'Brien, a commanding figure at centre back and who showed great accuracy from placed balls, narrowed the gap to one.

O'Shaughnessy decided it was time to take a hand again and he rattled over a brace. The onus was now back on Garryspillane, more especially after Eamonn Maguire opened a four points lead, 1-10 to 0-9.

Kilmallock conceded two frees, both converted by Harty Cup medal winner O'Brien, and just when it seemed they were ready to hold on, in stepped Sheehan to send the Garryspillane contingent wild with delight.

Scorers: Garryspillane: M. O'Brien 0-6, T. Harty 0-3, V. Sheehan 1-0, B. O'Donnell, E. Burke 0-1 each.

Kilmallock: A. O'Shaughnessy 1-4, D. O'Mahony 0-3, K. Kenneally 0-2, K. O'Mahony 0-1.

GARRYSPILLANE: M. Richardson; D. Burke, S. Burke, A. Noonan, B. Harty, M. O'Brien, E. Corbett;J. Ryan, B. O'Donnell; T. Harty, M. O'Donnell,, E. Burke,, P. Hyland, D. Dineen, J. Hayes.

Subs. V. Sheehan for Hayes, V. O'Connell for Dineen.

KILMALLOCK: M. Culhane; D. Deady, D. O'Mahony, N. Doody, K. O'Mahony, P. O'Dwyer, J.Meade; E. Maguire, K. O'Sullivan, S. Burchell, K. Kenneally, B. O'Sullivan, A. O'Shaughnessy, E. Ryan, G. O'Mahony.

Referee: B Mullane (West Limerick)