Croom ready to end the wait
That year they won both titles, and on the evidence of their display over hot favourites Kilmallock in this semi-final, there is every chance they could reclaim the hurling crown.
Showing total disregard for their more fancied opponents, Croom outhurled their opponents from start to finish. That Kilmallock could only manage two points from play over the hour, speaks volumes for the tenacity of the winners’ defence throughout.
Top of the list was Mick Cahill. He was entrusted with marking Andrew O’Shaughnessy and though the Allstar finished with 1-6, Cahill ensured all of those scores came from placed balls.
Limerick full back Stephen Lucey was also magnificent for the winners. Time and again, he cleared his lines under enormous pressure, ably assisted by Patsy Cahill and keeper Ger Flynn.
Croom’s victory was all the more remarkable as they failed to find the net from two penalties, conceded a goal from a 20-minute free and played the final 10 minutes with 14 men following the dismissal of Mark O’Riordan.
With massive minor and U-21 county successes in recent years, Kilmallock went into the game raging favourites, but failed miserably to live up to their billing. Only goalkeeper Barry Hennessy, Richie Murphy, Paudie O’Dwyer and Paudie O’Brien can take satisfaction from the game.
This game had a frenetic opening, Croom winning a penalty after 40 seconds when Peter Cregan was grounded in the small square. But his brother Marcus’s shot was deflected over his crossbar by ‘keeper Barry Hennessy.
Despite the miss, Croom rattled over four points in a row, as the loser’s defence seemed vulnerable. Liam Walsh got one back for Kilmallock before the Croom attack again exposed the weakness of the Kilmallock defence to win a second penalty, despite Hugh Flavin kicking the sliotar to the net.
Again superb Kilmallock ‘keeper Hennessy denied Cregan with a wonder save. It was a temporary respite, however, as the razor-sharp Croom attack tacked on two further points to lead by five at the end of the opening quarter.
Only the accuracy of O’Shaughnessy from frees kept Kilmallock in touch, though Croom were fortunate not to concede a goal when ‘keeper Ger Flynn lost possession but his blushes were saved by some good defending.
Croom led 0-10 to 0-5 at the break and were full value for that advantage.
They maintained their grip on affairs in the second half and put the game beyond Kilmallock with a goal in the 36th minute when Stephen Moore touched home Marcus Cregan’s free.
That gave them a seven-point cushion and they weren’t going to be caught. Kilmallock threw everything at their opponents in an effort to turn the game around but never looked like breaching their defence, in which Stephen Lucey was a colossus.
The goal Kilmallock badly needed finally came with 10 minutes to go when O’Shaughnessy drilled home a 20-metre free, but it was only a token score and Croom, despite being down to 14 players, finished the game with a brace of points by John Barry to set up a final against Adare — a side they’ve never beaten in the championship.
Croom: M. Cregan (0-6, 0-5f); S. Moore (1-1); H. Flavin, J. Barry (0-2 each); S. Cahill, P. Cregan (0-1 each). Kilmallock: A. O’Shaughnessy (1-6f); L. Walsh, E. Ryan (0-1 each).
G. Flynn; P. Reidy, S. Lucey, M. Cahill; M. O’Riordan, P. Cahill, S. Lawlor; J. Cahill, P. Lawlor; S. Cahill, H. Flavin, M. Cregan; N. Cregan, P. Cregan, S. Moore.
J. Barry for J. Cahill; K. Kenneally for N. Cregan.
B. Hennessy; B. Carroll, M. Cronin, L. Hurley; K. O’Mahony, P. O’Dwyer, R. Murphy; L. Walsh, P. O’Brien; B. O’Sullivan, G. O’Mahony, K. O’Dwyer; A. O’Shaughnessy, P. Connery, E. Ryan.
G. O’Sullivan for K. O’Mahony; G. Mulcahy for G. O’Mahony. G. O’Mahony for Connery; S. O’Donnell for K. O’Dwyer.
M. O’Connor (Na Piarsaigh).
