Late points see O’Callaghan’s Mills edge Tallow in Munster intermediate thriller

O’Callaghan’s Mills survived a Tallow comeback, edging a gripping contest and sending the Clare champions into the Munster intermediate hurling final

Late points from Jacob Loughnane and Killian Nugent helped O'Callaghan's Mills to victory over Tallow. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Munster Club IHC semi-final: O’Callaghan’s Mills (Clare) 1-23 Tallow (Waterford) 1-21 

O’Callaghan's Mills of Clare are into the AIB Munster Intermediate Hurling final after seeing off Tallow in a thriller in Mallow on Sunday afternoon.

After looking well on their way to victory halfway through the second half, the Banner side were reeled in by the Waterford champions only to find the right cocktail late on to deservedly take the spoils.

Both sides came into the tie after recording two point wins in their respective quarter-final tests two weeks before. O’Callaghan’s Mills saw off Kerry champions Abbeydorney while Tallow got the better of Limerick’s Garryspillane in a Fraher Field thriller.

For the Clare side, Conor Cooney, Keith Donnellan and Aidan Fawl were exceptional at the back with Cormac Murphy, Jacob Loughnane, Sean Boyce and keeper Killian Nugent all putting in tremendous shifts as well. Murphy in particular was sensational on the day - a first half tally of five from play enough to help his side into a 1-09 to 1-06 lead at the interval.

For Tallow, Ryan Grey, Thomas Ryan and Darragh Buckley did really well – Ryan in particular a driving force from the start.

A lively affair from the off saw the Clare champions strike first with a point from Murphy. Ryan responded immediately with a point for the Waterford men, but Murphy was again on target – O’Callaghan’s Mills looking solid from the off.

The game’s first pointed free followed for the men in green but as the game settled into a period of dominance for the Banner side, Tallow hit the first major, a goal from Grey brought the game back level on the quarter hour mark. A couple of points from Buckley and Ryan pushed the Deise side in front but the victors hit back with a goal from Boyce and five of the last six points to lead at the break by two.

It looked as if all the excitement in the game was spent in the opening 30 as the Clare side emerged from the break bagging the first six points but credit to Tallow they turned the game on its head and were back level by the 55th with a host of exceptional points and play of real quality.

The sides traded scores again to the end of the allotted 60 but a pair of minors - a free from Loughnane and a 65 from keeper Nugent sealed the deal to the delight of the majority of the large crowd on the banks of the Blackwater.

Scorers for O’Callaghan’s Mills: C Murphy 0-6; S Boyce 1-2; J Loughnane (four frees), G Cooney 0-4 each; K Nugent 0-2 (one free, one sixty five); S Cotter, A Fawl, D Moroney, C Henry, C Cleary 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tallow: D Buckley 0-9 (seven frees); T Ryan 0-5; R Grey 1-2 (two frees); S Murphy 0-2; J Henley 0-2, C Henley 0-1.

O’CALLAGHAN’S MILLS: K Nugent; C McNamara, C Cooney, K Donnellan; S Cotter, A O’Gorman, A Fawl; F Hickey, C Murphy; J Loughnane, D Moroney, C Henry; S Boyce, C Cleary, G Cooney. Subs: B Donnellan for C Henry (49), M Pewter for D Moroney (55), P Donnellan for S Cotter (59).

TALLOW: B Murphy; E McGrath, K Kearney, J Beecher; J Henley, J McDonnell, C McCarthy; C Henly, K Geary; I Beecher, T Ryan. R Grey; B Buckley, P O’Brien, S Murphy. Subs: J Henley for K Geary (40), C Geary for J Beecher (58).

Referee: C O’Donovan (Tipperary)