Limerick Premier MHC final: Cathal Connery's goal the difference as Kilmallock edge Na Piarsaigh
CHAMPIONS: Jackie Dwane collects the Limerick Minor Hurling Championship title for Kilmallock.
Kilmallock 1-15 Na Piarsaigh 0-15
Goals win games, and in the case of Cathal Connery, they win championships.
His first half green flag was the difference as Kilmallock bridged a gap back to 2010 when claiming the Premier Minor Hurling title against Na Piarsaigh on Wednesday evening.
It is a record 15th minor hurling crown for the Balbec.
That goal, as well as eight points from Connery’s stick, saw them lead from the fifth minute until the whistle sounded deep into stoppage time. In what proved to be a low scoring but no less enjoyable contest, the south Limerick club shaded it and keep the momentum of their Seniors moving into the Autumn.
This was a contest littered with star names on both the field and sideline. With Limerick minor captain Shane Waters on the Na Piarsaigh side, he was met by two more heroes from June’s All-Ireland win; Gavin O’Brien and Xavier Neligan, while Kilmallock also had panellists Conor O’Riordan and Rocco Walsh in their ranks.
On the sideline, Shane Dowling and Peter Casey were in charge of Na Piarsaigh, who haven’t won this grade since 2016. Dowling was a hero in the 2011 final win.
Kilmallock were quicker to settle with the breeze at their back. They led 0-6 to 0-3 by the end of the first quarter with Conor O’Riordan, Gavin O’Brien and Shay McCarthy joined on the scoresheet by a find Rocco Walsh effort.
In reply came a brace from Shane Waters while David O’Keeffe also found the target for the city side before their other midfielder Padraig Murnane fired over from long range.
The goal arrived from Connery, whose bullet effort from a tightening angle found the net despite a strong touch from Bobby Collins in the Na Piarsaigh goal.
Waters knocked over another point, which narrowed the gap for Dowling’s men was battle needed but it was Kilmallock who sprinted to the dressing room leading 1-9 to 0-8.
Alex Kearns’ second point kick-started the Caherdavin crusade in the second half. However as the wind picked up scores were at a premium. Connery and Waters traded frees as Na Piarsaigh overcooked handful of deliveries that were swallowed up by Jackie Dwane or indeed the endline.
There was a point in it, when Waters slotted another from a free and a fine point from play. This left it at 1-10 to 0-12 with a quarter of the contest remaining.
However, Cathal Connery settled things when landing a free from near 50 meters. Another six minutes from time restored the two-goal lead. It was Neiligan, Dwane and Conor O’Riordan who powered them to victory. They simply locked the back door with Andy O’Donnell’s defence firmly on top for much of the contest.
David O’Keeffe fired over for the boys in blue but once more, the concession of a free allowed Connery slot a free to bring his total to 1-7 late on, crucially it restored the goal advantage.
However, trading blow for blow was never going to suffice for Na Piarsaigh and Shay McCarthy landed a first Kilmallock point from play during an arm wrestle of a second half, to cement the victory late on.
C Connery 1-8 (0-7 frees, 1 ‘65); R Walsh, S McCarthy 0-2 each; C O’Riordan, G O’Brien, S Maguire 0-1 each.
S Waters 0-7 (5 frees); A Kearns 0-3; D O’Keefe 0-2; P Murnane, Seán Connolly 0-1 each.
A O’Donnell, C O’Dwyer, J Dwane (Capt), J Allen; M Power, X Neligan, D Fenton; S Maguire, C O’Riordan; G O’Brien, R Walsh, C O’Riordan; T Power, C Connery, S McCarthy.
R Collins for Cian O’Riodan (half-time); P Connery for Power (50), O Earls for Maguire (60+1); Tadhg Lynch for Fenton (60+2).
B Collins; S O’Brien, M Murphy, B Murray; F Minihane, D Sheehan (JC), R Gleeson; D O’Keeffe (JC), P Murnane); A Kearns, S Waters, D O’Donovan; C Ryan, C Bermingham, J McGann.
L Sheehan for Gleeson (inj - 7); Ross O’Flangan for O’Donovan (46); S Connolly for McGann (54), G Stack for Bermingham (60+1).
K Guina (Feoghangh Castlemahon).
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