Charleville repel spirited Saints challenge

Charleville’s Intermediate hurling adventure continues at pace, brushing aside a spirited challenge from St Catherine’s in Glanworth on Saturday.

Last season’s Munster junior champions were pushed hard for over 55 minutes by the Imokilly side and were flattered by the six-point winning margin.

Trailing 0-8 to 0-5 at the break, they managed to claw themselves back into the tie thanks mainly to the efforts of the O’Flynn brothers, Danny and Colm. The siblings were inspirational throughout and dragged their team back into a game that looked like it was slipping away for a long time. The O’Flynn’s performances may have been the catalyst for this victory, but they were aided in their efforts by classy displays from team-mates James O’Brien, James Casey, Brendan Dennehy, Mervyn and Paul Gammell.

St Catherine’s led for all but eight minutes, but when the pressure came, even with heroic displays by Shane Kearney and Kevin Dineen, they fell short.

The St Catherine’s defeat may have stemmed from the fact Charleville scored the last nine points of the game. But, in truth, the game was probably lost in the first period as the Ballynoe side only managed eight points with a strong wind to their backs.

Scorers for Charleville: D O’Flynn, J O’Brien (3fs) 0-4 each, B Dennehy (1 65), J Casey, M Gammell, P Gammell 0-2 each, A O’Connor 0-1.

Scorers for St Catherines: K Dineen (2fs) 0-5, S Kearney 0-3, B Mulcahy, M Mulcahy, D Mangan 0-1 each.

CHARLEVILLE: N O’Keeffe; M O’Flynn, C Fitzgerald, A Dennehy; G Kelleher, C O’Flynn, B Dennehy; D O’Flynn, J Casey; D Murphy, A O’Connor, M Gammell, A Cagney, P Gammell, J O’Brien.

Subs: M Kavanagh for D Murphy (40), S Butler for C O’Flynn (68).

ST CATHERINES: E Ahern; S O’Brien, C Hegarty, E Kenneally; C Ahern, R Clancy, L O’Connor; S Cotter, S Fitzgerald; P O’Connor, M Mulcahy, B Mulcahy; D Mangan, S Kearney, K Dineen.

Referee: B Coniry (Castlehaven).