Goals key for Garryspillane as they overcome Bruff 

FINAL BOUND: Garryspillane are a step closer to returning to the senior ranks as they overcome Bruff to reach Limerick PIHC final. Picture: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Limerick Premier IHC semi-final: Garryspillane 2-14 Bruff 1-14

Garryspillane are 60 minutes away from an immediate return to senior level following a 2-14 to 1-14 win over Bruff in their Premier Intermediate semi-final in Kilmallock.

‘The Bouncers’ will face Newcastle West in the decider after the latter’s victory over Effin earlier today.

A goal in each half from Hugh Flanagan and Colin Ryan sealed the final spot for Aaron Considine’s charges.

It was Bruff that made a fast start aided by the breeze with Owen Meany (2), Gavin Bracken and Danny O’Leary all hitting the target.

Diarmuid Dennehy was then nearly in for a goal after being set up by Josh Keating but he was smothered by the advancing Adam Sheehan. Bryan Heavey got Garryspillane on the board but Meany immediately responded for Bruff.

However, the game was turned on its head on 14 minutes when Eoin O’Mahony glided past a couple of Bruff defenders, before flnding Flanagan and the Limerick U20 starlet flashed a powerful shot to the net.

Heavey and Ryan then raised white flags to leave the score at 1-3 to 0-5 in Garryspillane’s favour.

Bruff were struggling to find their feet at this stage with the opposition dominating physically and territorially.

Their cause wasn’t helped with four wides on the trot and then Mark Quinlan stretched the lead to two.

Bruff rallied with scores from Josh Keating and Bobby O’Brien to square the game up in the run up to half time.

Garryspillane finished with a flourish thanks to Dylan O’Shea, Callum Sheehan and Flanagan to leave the score at 1-7 to 0-7 at half time.

O’Shea had that lead at five points early in the second half with two long range frees with Darragh Butler responding for Bruff.

‘The Bouncers’ were flying at this stage and continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over thanks to O’Shea and Heavey to keep Bruff at bay.

Any hopes Bruff had of a comeback evaporated on 49 minutes with Heavey setting up Ryan in space and the Garryspillane full forward made no mistake by burying a shot to the net from 15 metres.

Bruff did pepper the Garryspillane goal in the final stages with O’Brien testing Sheehan with a powerful shot that the keeper did well to bat away.

They were rewarded with the last puck of the game – a free from Meany that cut the deficit to three at the full time whistle.

Scorers for Garryspillane: H Flanagan 1-3 (2f), D O’Shea 0-5 (4f), C Ryan 1-1, B Heavey 0-3, M Quinlan and Ciaran Sheehan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Bruff: O Meany 1-4 (1-4f), J Keating 0-4 (3f), D O’Leary and B O’Brien 0-2 each, G Bracken and D Butler 0-1 each.

GARRYSPILLANE: A Sheehan; J O’Sullivan, R Sampson, Ciaran Sheehan; D Heavey, M Quinlan, J Morrissey; J Dineen, D O’Shea; R Tobin, B Heavey, E O’Mahony; Calum Sheehan, C Ryan, H Flanagan.

Subs: S Ryan for O’Mahony (48), P Morrissey for Dineen (59).

BRUFF: E Finn; P Finn, S Casey, S Murnane; P O’Riordan, P Browne, K Bonor; G Bracken, O Meany; J Keating, B O’Brien, D Butler; M O’Riordan, D Dennehy, D O’Leary.

Subs: D Browne for O’Leary (47)

Referee: E Stapleton (Doon).