Murroe Boher power to Limerick Intermediate title

The inside line was the key in tough conditions. 

The victory helps ease the hurt of relegation suffered in 2020 and 2021. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Murroe Boher 2-22 Bruree 1-13 

Murroe Boher collected a second ever Intermediate Hurling title, having swatted aside the challange of Bruree at a windy Fedamore, thanks in no small part to their inside line. Michael Ryan (M), Seanie Tobin and Mark Nicholas caused no shortage of damage to a Bruree outfit that have now lost consecutive finals.

This victory was build on a foundation of the opening half, where they led by a point, having been against a very strong breeze in Fedamore. A wasteful Bruree hit 12 wides in the opening half and when Ryan buried the first of his two goals, there seemed little way back for Bruree. That said, when Kieran O'Dea profited on a rare lapse in the Murroe Boher defence, the goal put just two points between the sides, however, they managed just a single point from here to the finish and Murroe Boher dominated to the final whistle.

The victory adds to the success of 1999, and helps ease the hurt of relegation suffered in 2020 and 2021 from Senior down as far as this third tier. Bruree, will have regrets, but it pales into insignficance given the recent bereavements suffered by the cohort of their panel in the past fortnight.

There was a point separating the sides at half-time, with Sam Cronnolly, Michael Lane and Conor Frawley all on target but at the other end Seanie Tobin was rolling back the years with a trio of points from play. Oisin Holmes pointed from range and greater use of the ball was from those in blue and green. The hardworking David Hickey had an influence and the sides were level seven times level before both Michael Ryan's point in stoppage time ensure a 0-10 to 0-9 interval lead. Crucial in the opening half was a stunning helmet save by Killian Quaid, son of Joe Quaid, who stood tall for so long to deny Kieran O'Dea.

Winners over Knockainey in that 1999 final, the new generation of Murroe Boher is now trying to capture the magic and their own history, with the U16 Division One title secured earlier on Saturday. Turning a point ahead, they would reel off the first three white flags from Darren Collopy, Michael Ryan (M) and Tobin opening some daylight. Bruree never looked like stringing scores together and while Ryan buried his chacne on 39 minutes.

The reply was a Sam Cronnolly free before a turnover saw Kieran O'Dea hit into a virtually empty net - with Quaid stranded awaiting a pass after leaving was his goal. However, a run of 1-7 to just 0-1 from here to full-time saw the eastern side home to victory. Mark Nicholas, Tobin andsub ohn O'Keeffe all pointed before Ryan raced clear in stoppage time and batted home to the joy of all who'd come to support James Butler's team. Butler was a player the last time they'd won this grade, which was the second tier at the time.

Elsewhere at Premier Junior level, the grade below Knockaderry defeated Doon's second team, 0-13 to 0-12, to return to the Intermediate grade.

Scorers for Murroe Boher: S Tobin 0-10 (6f, 1 '65); M Ryan (M) 2-3; M Ryan N 0-3; D Collopy 0-2; M Nicholas 0-2; O Holmes 0-1, J O'Keeffe 0-1 

Scorers for Bruree: S Cronnolly 0-8 (6f, 1 '65); K O'Dea 1-2; C Frawley 0-1, M Lane 0-1; P Lynch 0-1 

Murroe Boher: K Quaid; E Burke, C Byrnes, E Sheridan; D Kennedy, O Holmes, F Hourigan; J Nicholas, D Sheehan; M Ryan (N), D Collopy, D Hickey; M Ryan (M), S Tobin, M Nicholas.

Subs: A Kennedy for Sheridan (39); J O'Keeffe for Byrnes (48); P McNamara for Hickey (51); D Ryan for Burke (62); T Cusack for Ryan (M) (63).

Bruree: F O’Brien; S Feane, K Hayden, W Sexton; J L Madigan, T Cronnolly, C Frawley; P Deady, S Williams (C) ; P Lynch, K O’Dea, D McDonagh; M Lane, J O’Dea, S Cronnolly.

Subs: B Sexton for J Leslie Madigan (blood 12-15); B Sexton for McDonagh (ht); G McCarthy for Lane (43); E Lyond for Madigan (47); M Howard for Lynch (51); K O'Rourke for W Sexton (55).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Glenroe)