Castlehaven hang tough to win dramatic Munster final penalty shoot-out in biblical conditions

Mikey Geaney's missed strike in sudden death penalty shoot-out after Damien Cahalane had converted his second dead ball eventually sealed victory for a Haven side that never led in either regulation or extra time

MUNSTER GLORY: Castlehaven’s Mark Collins lifts the trophy. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Munster Club SFC final: Castlehaven (Cork) 0-13 Dingle (Kerry) 0-13.

*Castlehaven win 4-3 on pens.

Castlehaven are Munster senior champions for the first time in 26 years after a remarkable game of football in brutal conditions at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Mikey Geaney's missed strike in sudden death penalty shoot-out after Damien Cahalane had converted his second dead ball eventually sealed victory for a Castlehaven side who had never been ahead in either regulation or extra-time.

The excellent Cathal Maguire kicked the last two points of the game to bring them the game into penalties. After Dylan Geaney’s spot kick came off the bar and Conor O’Driscoll and Rory Maguire both failed to send their penalties to the net, Tom O’Sullivan had the kick to win it for Dingle but Cahalane, who filled the goalkeeper’s role, dealt with it easily.

Backed by the wind as they were in the first half of normal time, Dingle were eager to make the most of it and Paul Geaney booted over his third point from 53 metres within 13 seconds of the restart. Five minutes later and he angled over a free and Tom O’Sullivan joined in on the act to bravely fist over a squared hand-pass.

Up 0-13 to 0-10, that’s how the half finished and remained until the second minute of the new 10-minute period when Mark Collins aimed 20m outside the posts to draw the ball over the bar.

Leading the Castlehaven line, Brian Hurley had been brilliant but his radar let him down in the closing stages and he succumbed to cramp. However, Cathal Maguire was still able to shoot and he picked off a couple to force penalties.

CLOSE CALL: Castlehaven’s Brian Hurley has his goal effort saved by Dingle keeper Gavin H Curran and Matthew Flaherty in SUnday's Munster Club SFC final at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Only up a point at half-time of normal time (0-6 to 0-5), Dingle would have figured they’d be further ahead given the wind advantage. Kicking four wides and skying a couple of efforts was par for the course on a brutal afternoon, though.

Paul Geaney had the ball in the net in the third minute but a foul by Tom Leo O’Sullivan in creating the move ruled it out. Less than two minutes later and Seán Browne’s point effort and came off the bar and back into play.

The scoring was opened in the 10th minute by Conor Flannery coming from deep to split the posts. Cathal Maguire cancelled it out with a mark prior to Dylan Geaney and Brian Hurley swapping scores.

The tit-for-tat scoring pattern continued with Conor Geaney and Brian Hurley frees although the latter’s brother had to be substituted a few minutes later after injurying himself in winning that free.

The absurdity of the conditions was summed up by a Jack Cahalane shot in the 22nd minute. Raising his fist, he seemed to think his shot was good only for the gale to blow it back in towards the 13-metre line.

A fine outside of the boot strike by Matthew Flaherty in the 24th minute pushed Dingle one up for the fourth time and Paul Geaney backed it up with a free two minutes later.

Castlehaven fired back with a couple of points in succession, both Brian Hurley and Cathal Maguire again negotiating the elements. However, Conor Geaney finished out the half with his second converted free.

For less than a minute, Dingle led by three points in the 40th minute as they began the second half brighter. Mark Collins quickly cut the gap to two before Barry Dan O’Sullivan smacked the post in an attempt to restore that gap.

Brian Hurley’s second free made it a one-point game in the 43rd minute and then Conor Geaney produced the score of the half to bend over a point into the wind.

A goal looked on for Brian Hurley in the 53rd minute but his shot was deflected for a 45, which he converted to bring Castlehaven to within one. However, they then lost Jamie O’Driscoll to a second yellow for a high foul on Tom O’Sullivan.

Nevertheless, the Cork champions ploughed on and levelled in the penultimate minute of normal time as Conor Flannery was forced into overcarrying. Conor Geaney won and sent over Dingle’s 10th point but there was time for Hurley to penalise a foot-block and send the game into extra-time.

Scorers for Castlehaven: B. Hurley (0-7, 4 frees, 1 45); C. Maguire (0-4, 1 mark); M. Collins (0-2).

Scorers for Dingle: C. Geaney, P. Geaney (0-4, 3 frees each); C. Flannery, D. Geaney, M. Flaherty, N. Geaney, T. O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

CASTLEHAVEN: D. Cahalane; J. O’Regan, R. Maguire, R. Walsh; T. O’Mahony, R. Maguire, C. Maguire; C. Cahalane, C. O’Sullivan; J. O’Neill, M. Collins (c), S. Browne; B. Hurley, M. Hurley, J. Cahalane.

Subs for Castlehaven: J. O’Driscoll for M. Hurley (inj 25); A. Whelton for C. Cahalane (30+2); C. Cahalane for S. Browne (37); C. O’Driscoll for C. O’Sullivan (52); M. Maguire for J. O’Neill (60+2); R. Minihane for C. O’Sullivan (e-t h-t); R. Whelton for J. O’Neill (78); M. Maguire for J. O’Regan (80+2).

Red card: J. O’Driscoll (second yellow, 55).

DINGLE: G. Curran; T.L. O’Sullivan, C. Flannery, T. O’Sullivan; D. O’Sullivan, B. O’Connor, N. Geaney; B.D. O’Sullivan, B. O’Connor; M. Flannery, P. Geaney (c), M. Flaherty; M. Geaney, C. Geaney, D. Geaney.

Subs for Dingle: C. O’Sullivan for D. O’Sullivan (46); T. Browne for M. Flannery (53); P. Devane for C. Geaney (inj 69); B. Devane for M. Flaherty (74); B. Kelliher for B. O’Connor (80+2).

Referee: D. O’Mahoney (Tipperary).