Cronin goal fires Mullinahone to victory

A WELL-CRAFTED goal midway through the second half from substitute Niall Cronin earned Mullinahone victory at Clonmel yesterday.

Despite wind assistance in the first half, the Tipperary champions, who boasted a few All-Ireland senior hurling medallists in their ranks, looked off the pace and struggled against the short-passing game of Mountcollins. However, late scores from Mullinahone pair Seán Curran and Paul Kelly left it four points apiece at the break.

Mullinahone looked a more purposeful physical unit after the interval, however, and three unanswered points in the opening eight minutes gave them a lead they never relinquished. Their eighth point came from Eoin Kelly shortly after the 2010 All-Ireland captain’s introduction as substitute.