Persistence pays as Croagh-Kilfinny end run of final defeats

The west Limerick club had lost the last three Limerick IHC deciders

Former Limerick star Seamus Hickey was on target for Croagh-Killinny. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Limerick IHC final: Croagh-Kilfinny 0-18 Bruree 1-14

Croagh-Kilfinny are Limerick Intermediate hurling champions following a dramatic 0-18 to 1-14 victory over Bruree at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.

The west Limerick club had lost the last three deciders at this grade but had to hold on at the death after Sam Cronolly’s penalty brought their lead back to two in added time.

Cronolly then added another free to cut the gap to one but Bruree ran out of time and Croagh-Kilfinny will play Premier Intermediate hurling in 2025 following the win.

It was Cronolly that opened the scoring from a free in the second minute but that strike was immediately cancelled out by James Lanigan.

Bruree, aided by the conditions in the opening half, then fired over the next four points with Paddy Lynch, Brian Sexton, Cronolly and Jimmy O’Dea all hitting the target to leave the score at 0-5 to 0-1 after seven minutes.

Croagh-Kilfinny eventually got to the pace of the game thanks to centre forward Cian O’Carroll who landed three frees on the bounce to make it a one-point game.

The slippy underfoot conditions made fluid hurling extremely difficult in the opening half with Kieran O’Dea’s point catching the eye on 16 minutes.

Sexton then had Bruree three to the good moments later but Croagh-Kilfinny stuck to their task thanks to Cian O’Carroll from a placed ball and Brian Hannon from play.

It was nip and tuck for the remainder of a first half that saw Bruree edge ahead at the break one a score of 0-10 to 0-9.

Seton’s third of the game gave Bruree a brilliant start of the second half but it proved to be a false dawn as they failed to score for another 22 minutes.

Croagh-Kilfinny were dominant and soon levelled thanks to Hannon and Cian O’Carroll scores. The latter then popped over a free to put his side in front for the first time on 42 minutes.

It was one-way traffic for large parts of the second stanza with Seamus O’Carroll, former Limerick star Seamus Hickey and Cian O’Carroll raising white flags to put their side 0-15 to 0-11 clear.

Andrew Meade and Seamus O’Carroll then put the deficit at six points heading into the final stages of the contest.

Conor Frawley stopped the rot for Bruree with a fine effort from midfield that was soon followed by another Cronoilly free.

Brian Flynn then put Croagh-Kilfinny five up once more before the dramatic finish after Sexton was fouled.

Cronolly put the penalty low into the corner to ensure a tense finale but it was Croagh-Kilfinny that held on for the deserved victory.

Scorers for Croagh-Kilfinny: C O’Carroll 0-8 (7f), S O’Carroll 0-3, B Hannon 0-2, J Lanigan, J Lenihan, S Hickey, A Meade and B Flynn 0-1 each.

Scorers for Bruree: S Cronolly 1-7 (1-0 pen, 6f), B Sexton 0-3, P Lynch, J O’Dea, K O’Dea and C Frawley 0-1 each.

CROAGH-KILFINNY: C Sheehy; D Lenihan, A O’Shea, E Barry; S Lenihan, T McMahon, C Lenihan; A Shanagher, B Lenihan; J Lanigan, C O’Carroll, J Lenihan; S O’Carroll, B Hannon, S Hickey.

Subs: A Meade for J Lenihan (46), B Flynn for Barry (52).

BRUREE: F O’Brien; S Feane, K O’Rourke; K Hayden, S Williams, C Frawley; W Sexton, D McDonagh; T Cronolly, J O’Dea, B Sexton; P Lynch, S Cronolly, K O’Dea.

Subs: F Barrington for Lynch (46), J O’Connell for Deady (49), N Tobin for Hayden (57), R O’Halloran for McDonagh (57).

Referee: T McGrath (Oola).