Caherline brush aside challenge of Dr Crokes to set up Munster Club JHC final with Kilshannig 

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Munster Club JHC semi-final: Caherline 2-20 Dr. Crokes 0-13

In Caherconlish A brace of goals from full-forward Hugh Murnane, as well as six points from the outstanding Andrew Brennan saw Limerick side Caherline stride into the Munster Junior Hurling final, when seeing off Dr. Crokes on home soil.

Brennan’s half-dozen, all from play, showed the class of the veteran attacker. He laid on more scores while Murnane’s early double kept the Kerry side at arms length, while also taking full advantage of the breeze in the opening half.

Crokes were 107 days removed from their Kerry Intermediate title triumph in late July, while Caherline had suffered a heavy Limerick Premier Junior hurling final loss to Doon’s second string three weeks ago.

In 2021, Caherline were edged out by Ballygiblin after extra-time, before the Cork outfit marched all the way to All-Ireland glory at the end of that season.

Manager Mike Hickey was able to get a tune out of his players, who had been one of the form teams in Limerick’s fourth tier, prior to a well below par county final showing. Dr. Crokes had just two scorers over the hour, which included only two points from play.

Having won the toss in Fr. Hayes Memorial Park in Caherconlish, Caherline opted to use the elements. They would be thirteen points ahead by half-time.

A score from the throw-in from captain Páraic Wixted, was soon followed by a goal. Hugh Murnane collected a delivery from his cousin Diarmuid Murnane, and finished from close range, inside two minutes.

By the 11th minute, they had another. Youngster Pádraig McCarthy unselfishly handpassed across to Murnane who batted to the net. With just a brace of Mark Heffernan points in reply, the gap was out to nine points.

By the interval, all six starting forwards had scored for the east Limerick side, but only placed balls from Mark Heffernan came for the Killarney men.

A five-point scoring burst at the start of the new half put the visitors in the ascendancy. This included Michael Horgan with their first from play, and four from Heffernan, the pick of was a point from play from the left wing.

The gap was back to eight by forty-four minutes but three in a row from Brenna stemmed the flow. His ability to claim puck-outs, and find space for openings emphasised all the experience he has at 41 years of age.

Brennan played for the Limerick masters this year, but looked every bit as comfortable in his club colours.

From here to the finish it was routine. Murnane added another free, while James Enright and Seán Whelan split the posts late on.

Kilshannig of Cork await in the final, pencilled in for Saturday 28 November, with the exact details to be confirmed by Munster GAA in the coming days.

Scorers for Caherline: H Murnane (2-5; 0-3f); A Brennan (0-6); P Wixted, S Whelan (0-2 each); S McElligott, A Power, P McCarthy, J Kennedy, James Enright (0-1 each).

Scorers for Dr. Crokes: M Heffernan (0-12; 9f, 2 ‘65); M Horgan (0-1).

CAHERLINE: Jake Enright; D Power, Diarmuid Murnane, S Tiernan; S Whelan, K Wixted, Daniel Murnane; C O’Dwyer, P Wixted (Capt); S McElligott, A Power, A Brennan; P McCarthy, Hugh Murnane, J Kennedy.

Subs: S McCarthy for P Wixted (inj – ht); D Wixted for P McCarthy (52); B Hourigan for McElligott (53); James Enright for Kennedy (58).

DR CROKES: D Kenny (Capt); M O’Connor, J Murphy, S Barry; M Horgan, C O’Hare, D Carroll; M Heffernan, T Doyle; J O’Riordan, K O’Connor, A Byrne; N Doncel, F Dineen, A O’Connor.

Subs: A Keogh for A O’Connor (ht); K Landers for Doncel (42); K Collins for O’Riordan (49); S Noonan for K O’Connor (52); C Ó Cuiv for Barry (54).

Referee: Patrick O’Mahoney (Cork).