It's beena busy week of Inter Firm Hurling action with success for Clare sides involved
Munster Inter-Firm Senior Hurling Final
EI Electronics (Clare) 5-27
Limerick Teachers 3-28 (AET)
EI Electronics from Shannon won their first ever Munster Inter-Firm Senior Hurling title after defeating Limerick Teachers at UL on Thursday night in what will be long remembered as one of the best hurling matches ever seen by those lucky enough to be in attendance. With both sides having a number of really talented hurlers it was no surprise that this turned into a classic that took extra time to eventually decide the winners. EI Electronics hit the front inside the first minute with a point from Cathal O’Connell. Nickie Quaid responded for the Teachers with a free on 2 minutes. EI went back in front after a good point from Alex Morey who got on the end of an O’Connell pass. Niall Moran levelled the game with his first point on 4 minutes. Back came EI again and this time on 5 minutes Aaron Cunningham split the posts. Quaid tied up the game again on 6 minutes with another pointed free. Shane McGrath put the Teachers in front on 7 minutes with a fine score on the run off the hurley. O’Connell made it 8 scores in 8 minutes and a level game again with a point from a free. The scores were coming thick and fast and the Teachers got through for the first goal of the match on 10 minutes when Tommy O’Brien got some space to score a good goal. Eoin Walsh won the resultant puck out and fired over another point for the Teachers on 11 minutes and this was followed by a point from a free by Willie Griffin to open up a 5 point lead. Alex Morey pulled a point back on 14 minutes and the gap was down to 3 on 15 minutes when Derek Fahy scored a point on the run. There was no let up in scoring and Barry Loughnane got his first point on 16 minutes to keep the comeback going. O’Connell made it a 1 point game on 18 minutes after converting a free when Conor Deacy as fouled. Shane McGrath scored his second point of the game on 20 minutes to restore the 2 point advantage for the Teachers. Back came O’Connell with points on 21 and 22 minutes to level the match. The Teachers hit the front again when Quaid slotted over a free on 23 minutes. EI scored their first goal of the match on 24 minutes when good work from Fahy in the corner setup Aaron Cunningham who made no mistake from inside the 14. The Teachers responded with a goal of their own on 26 minutes when Willie Griffin converted a penalty after a foul on Walsh. Right before half time Quaid struck another point from a free to give his side a one point lead at the break Limerick Teachers 2-9 EI Electronics 1-11. Griffin opened the scoring in the second half with a point on 32 minutes. Shane McGrath won the puck out and made a great run from center field before setting up Griffin on the 21 who finished off the chance with another goal for the Teachers to open a 5 point lead. EI continued the pattern of score for score and Deacy setup Cunningham on 34 minutes and he made no mistake to score his second goal of the match. O’Connell scored another fine point on the run after 35 minutes and it was now a one point game again. McGrath setup Walsh for another Teachers point on 36 minutes and Tommy O’Brien made it a 3 point game with a point on 37 minutes. EI responded with a point from Simon Griffin on 38 minutes. Back came the Teachers again with a fine score out on the touchline from Moran and another point on the run from McGrath. There was no letting up here as EI hit back again with 2 points in a minute from O’Connell to leave 2 points in the match with 15 minutes left. Cunningham made it a one point game on 46 minutes after getting some space in the corner and scoring a good point. Moran continued his excellent shooting with a point on 47 minutes but this was quickly responded to by O’Connell with a pointed free following a foul on Loughnane. Moran continued to torment EI when he scored two more points in quick succession on 53 minutes. O’Connell scored a fine point from center field on 54 minutes to leave 2 points between the sides again. EI got a good chance to keep the comeback going when they were awarded a free on the 21 after a foul on Cunningham but O’Connell’s effort for a goal was saved and cleared. Nickie Quaid made it a 3 point game with 2 minutes left after converting a difficult free from the left sideline. Barry Loughnane gave EI some hope with a point on 59 minutes. Alex Morey reduced the deficit to the minimum with a fine score on 60 minutes. There was still enough time for the puck out and the ball broke to O’Connell who made a good run and struck a great point from 40 yards to level the match and send this exhibition of brilliant hurling to extra time. Alex Morey opened the scoring for EI in extra time inside the first minute. O’Connell made it a 2 point game after 2 minutes with a pointed free. Back came the Teachers with a point from Tommy O’Brien after good work from McGrath created the chance. The sides were level again after 4 minutes when Griffin scored another point from a free. Griffin then had a goal chance on 5 minutes but was denied by a good block from Jamie Roughan. Quaid put the Teachers back in front on 6 minutes but back came EI again to level with a point from O’Connell. Mark Deegan scored a great point from his own half on 8 minutes and this was followed by another Quaid point to leave the Teachers 2 points in front. You could not take your eye off this game for a second as O’Connell made another good run and setup Cunningham inside the 14 who rattled the back of the Teachers net to complete his hat-trick and put EI one point in front. There was still time for Tommy O’Brien to level the scores again just before the half time whistle as the score now stood at 3-24 to 3-24. It was impossible to predict a winner at this stage and the possibility of a replay was on the cards. Conor Deacy put EI back in front inside a minute with a well struck effort from the 65 yard line. Willie Griffin had the sides level again with a pointed free after 2 minutes of the half. Moran then put the Teachers back in front with only 6 minutes left with another long range point. EI hit the front again with 5 minutes left when Derek Fahy scored a great goal after bursting through the Teachers backline and hitting an unstoppable shot to the back of the net. The Teachers nearly responded with a goal of their own inside a minute when a shot from Moran hit the post and O’Brien sent the rebound wide. Eoin Walsh made it a one point game again with 3 minutes left after a good point on the run. O’Connell scored his 15 point of the match with 2 minutes remaining and then with a minute to go Fahy burst through like he had done minutes earlier and kicked the ball to the back of the Teachers net to spark great celebrations among the EI faithful. There was still time for Nicky O’Connell to get in on the scoring with a point and a late consolation point from O’Brien for the Teachers as this great game of hurling came to an end after over 80 minutes of non-stop action and entertainment. After the game Munster Inter-Firm Chairman Michael Mulcahy presented the cup to the EI Electronics captain Jamie Roughan.
EI Electronics: Brian Tierney (Newmarket), Dara McNamara (Sixmilebridge), Jamie Roughan (Wolfe Tones), Jeffrey Daly (Fermoy), Enda Boyce (Cratloe), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara) 0-1, Noel Purcell (Sixmilebridge), Barry Loughnane (Wolfe Tones) 0-2, Kevin Fennessy (Sixmilebridge), Conor Deacy (Sixmilebridge) 0-1, Alex Morey (Sixmilebridge) 0-4, Simon Griffin (Monaleen) 0-1, Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara) 0-15, Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) 3-2, Derek Fahy (Sixmilebridge) 2-1
Limerick Teachers: Alan Murnane (Parteen), Cathal King (Na Piarsaigh), Patrick Kelly (Kilfinnane), Enda Kelly (Effin), Diarmuid McCarthy (Glenrue), Steve Walsh (Glenrue), Mark Deegan (Hospital) 0-1, David Balfry (Caherline), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch) 0-3, Nickie Quaid (Effin) 0-7, Tommy Giltenane (Mungret) 1-4, Tommy O’Brien (Patrickswell), Willie Griffin (Adare) 2-4, Niall Moran (Ahane) 0-6, Eoin Walsh (Glenrue) 0-3
Munster Inter-Firm Junior Hurling Quarter-Final
Dromoland Castle Holdings (Clare) 3-20
Kerry Group (Cork) 2-13 (AET)
Clare Champions Dromoland Castle Holdings are through to the Munster Junior Hurling semi-final after defeating Kerry Group in a thrilling encounter at UL on Wednesday night. This game had it all from brilliant hurling, great commitment, skill, drama and huge entertainment for the large crowd in attendance. Dromoland had a goal chance inside the first minute when Oisin Pender got some space but his effort went wide of the left post. Liam Clancy opened the scoring for Dromoland after 2 minutes from a free. Clancy made it a 2 point game after 3 minutes when converting after getting a good pass from Jack O’Connor. Kerry Group got their first point after 4 minutes when David Condren scored a good point from out on the right corner but it came at a cost as he damaged his hamstring and had to be replaced. Harry Dore levelled the match on 7 minutes with a long range free from his own half. Alan Markham put Dromoland back in front after 9 minutes with a fine score off the hurley on the run. Mike Bowles tied up the scored again from a free on 12 minutes. It was end to end stuff and Clancy had Dromoland back in front on 16 minutes with a good point from out on the sideline. Owen McCarthy had a good effort for a goal saved by Kerry Group keeper Padraig O’Sullivan on 19 minutes. The sides were level again on 20 minutes when Bowles slotted over another free. Bowles put Kerry Group in front on 22 minutes and then had a chance to extend the lead when Kerry got a free on the 21. This time Bowles went for a goal and Kieran Devitt stopped the effort and Philip O’Donnell cleared. Clancy made it a level game at half time when he scored his fourth point of the match on 28 minutes. Daniel Relihan put Kerry Group in front after 32 minutes with a well struck effort on the run. Dromoland looked to be in trouble after 34 minutes when a long clearance from Dore resulted in a goalmouth scramble and Adam Curtin finished the chance to the back of the Dromland net to open a 4 point lead. Oisin Pender pulled a point back for Dromoland on 36 minutes after good work from Jack O’Connor created the chance. Clancy kept up his impressive striking from frees with points on 37 and 39 minutes to leave one point between the sides. Tommy Downes scored a great score from his own half on 41 minutes and the sides were level again. Dromoland substitute Stephen Barry got some space inside the 21 on 42 minutes and buried the chance with a great finish to completely turn this game around. John Reidy replied for Kerry Group with a point on 43 minutes and Daniel Relihan had the margin back to a 1 point game with a pointed free on 45 minutes. Downes was starting to dominate around center field and he scored another long range point on 46 minutes to leave 2 points between the sides. Kerry Group kept this see saw contest going when Curtin scored his second goal of the contest on 48 minutes and Kerry were now back in front by a point. Clancy responded for Dromoland with a point on 49 minutes to level and then put Dromoland back in front with a point from a free on 50 minutes. Clancy then made it a 2 point game when he converted a 65 on 53 minutes. Back came Kerry Group again with points from Bowles and Relihan and yet again the sides were level with 2 minutes on the clock. Downes made another good run from center field on 59 minutes and was fouled. Clancy made no mistake from the free and with time almost up Dromoland were back in front. There was still time for Relihan to hit one last dramatic score and this game was going to extra time. Who was now going to come out on top in this adsorbing contest was anyone’s guess at this stage. Dromoland made a good start to extra time when Niall O’Connor scored a fine point on the run after breaking up the field from his own half. Clancy continued his rich vein of scoring form with another point. Darren O’Connor got in on the scoring from his own half back line and Dromoland were 3 points clear. There was daylight between the sides after 67 minutes when Downes got on the end of a Darren O’Connor clearance and made no mistake with a well struck effort to the back of the Kerry Group net. Trevor O’Connor made it a 7 point game with a good score from out on the right sideline and then the game was over as a contest on 69 minutes when Stephen Barry scored his second goal of the match after getting on the end of a good pass from Owen McCarthy. Kerry Group pulled a point back right on half time when John Reidy scored. Clancy finished off the scoring for Dromoland with 2 more points in the second half of extra time while Kerry Groups only reply was a point from Bowles. Dromoland will not take on Imtech Suir Engineering from Waterford in the semi-final next week in Thurles in what promised to be another exciting contest.
Dromoland Castle Holdings: Kieran Devitt (Newmarket), Philip O’Donnell (Crusheen), Joe Barry (Clarecastle), James Warren (Newmarket), Darren O'Connor (Newmarket) 0-1, Niall O'Connor (Newmarket) 0-1, Paudie Hayes (Newmarket), Cathal Finucane (Newmarket), Tommy Downes (Eire Og) 1-2, Alan Markham (Kilmaley) 0-1, Liam Clancy (Newmarket) 0-13, Pat McCoy (Newmarket), Oisin Pender (Newmarket) 0-1, Jack O'Connor (Newmarket), Owen McCarthy (Newmarket)
Subs: Trevor O'Connor (Drom-Inch) 0-1, Aaron Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Daniel Reddan (Clooney-Quin), Paul Coleman (Eire Og), Stephen Barry (Clarecastle) 2-0
Kerry Group: Padraig O’Sullivan (Meelin), Paul Mannix (Buttevant), David Clancy (Grangh-Ballingarry), Myles Cunningham (Killeedy), Donnagh O’Sullivan (Knockaderry), Harry Dore (Castletown/Ballygran) 0-1, Luke Hanley (Ballyhea), William Buckley (Meelin), Michael Clancy (Grangh-Ballingarry), Batt Curtin (Tornafulla), Michael Bowles (Newtownshandrum) 0-4, Daniel Relihan (Ballyhea) 0-5, John F Reidy (Feohanagh-Castlemahon) 0-2, David Condren (Grangh-Ballingarry) 0-1, David Sheehan (Charleville)
Subs: Owen O’Sullivan (Ballyhea), Adam Curtin (Ballyhea) 2-0, Paudie O’Brien (Milford)
Zimmer (Clare) 3-9
Cork Garda 2-11
Zimmer staged a great comeback in the closing stages to come from 6 points down to win by a point with a goal from a James McInerney free in the last play of the match proving decisive. Cork Garda will look back on this one and wonder how they lost it but credit to Zimmer who never gave up and once they got the momentum after a Ken Collins goal with 12 minutes left they kept the pressure on right to the end to reap the rewards. Zimmer started the game well and Gary Murphy opened the scoring inside the first minute with a point from center field after good work from Caimin Howard created the opening. Gary Hogan put Zimmer 2 points ahead on 3 minutes after getting a good pass from Dermot Gannon and it was a 3 point game on 6 minutes when David O'Connor scored a point from a free. Cork Garda got their first score of the match on 9 minutes with a point from Vincent Hurley. Garda hit the front on 10 minutes with a great strike in the air to the back of the Zimmer net from Niall Hayes after getting on the end of a long clearance from Mark Harrington. Zimmer responded with a point from Padraigh Chaplin on 14 minutes to level the match. Chaplin had a goal chance for Zimmer on 18 minutes but his well struck effort was saved by Tom Delaney and cleared. Zimmer kept the pressure on and when a ball broke on the 21 Ken Collins buried the chance to the back of the Garda net with a low strike to the right corner. This was to be Zimmer's last score of the half as Garda dominated the last 10 minutes. Liam O'Connor pulled a point back on 20 minutes with a good point on the run. Harrington scored a great point from his own half on 22 minutes. Hurley leveled the game with a point from a free on 25 minutes and just before half time Garda went back in front with a great goal from David Cuthbert who won the ball on the 21 and busted through before hitting an unstoppable shot to the top left corner of the net. This left the half time score Cork Garda 2-4 Zimmer 1-4. Zimmer got the first point of the second half when O'Connor scored from a free on 32 minutes. Hurley hit back for Garda with a point from a free on 34 minutes. Dave Hickey made it a four point game on 38 minutes after linking up well with Tom Aherne. There was 5 points between the sides on 40 minutes when Hurley slotted over another free. James McInerney pulled a point back for Zimmer on 41 minutes from a free. Hurley hit the target again from a free on 43 minutes and then scored a great point on the run after 45 minutes to open a big lead of 6 points with 15 minutes remaining. Zimmer were given some hope of a comeback on 48 minutes when Collins scored his second goal of the match after finishing well when the ball broke inside the 14. Garda responded with a good point from Liam O'Connor. Alan O’Connell responded for Zimmer within a minute and Gary Murphy made it a 2 point game with a point from a free on 51 minutes. Zimmer had a good chance to reduce the deficit to the minimum on 53 minutes when they had a free 30 yards from goal but McInerney’s effort for a goal was saved by Delaney and Garda cleared. Brian Maher restored the Garda 3 point lead on 57 minutes. Zimmer were denied a goal by a brilliant save from Delaney on 58 minutes when McInerney made a good run and his well struck shot was tipped over the bar. One last attack from Zimmer with the game in injury time and O'Connor was fouled on the 21. McInerney who had picked up a knock before the free dusted himself down and sent a rocket of a shot to the back of the Garda net despite the best efforts of Delaney who got a touch to it. The final whistle sounded and Zimmer advanced to a semi-final meeting with Clancy Construction from Tipperary next week.
Cork Garda: Tom Delaney (Douglas), Ger O'Leary (Barryroe), Shane Fitzgerald (Kildorrey), Brain Smiddy (Castlemartyer), Ger Melvin (Douglas), Mark Harrington (Douglas) 0-1, Tom Aherne (Dripsey), Vincent Hurley (Coursey Rovers) 0-5, David Cuthbert (Douglas) 1-0, Ger Whelton (Barryroe), Dave Hickey (Bishopstown) 0-2, Brian Maher (Boherlahan) 0-1, Liam O'Connor (Fr Sheedys) 0-2, Niall Hayes (Blarney) 1-0, Jimmy Smiddy (Castlemartyer)
Zimmer: Darren Duggan (Newmarket), Donal O'Grady (Feakle), James McInerney (Newmarket) 1-2, Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge), Mark O'Riordan (Croom), Alan McNamara (Killanena), Caimin Howard (Ruan), Cian Kelly (St Thomas), Gary Murphy (Caherline) 0-2, Stephen Mulready (Sixmilebridge), Ken Collins (Feakle) 2-0, Dermot Gannon (Inagh-Kilnamona), Gary Hogan (Clooney-Quin) 0-1, David O'Connor (Sixmilebridge) 0-2, Padraigh Chaplin (Cratloe) 0-1
Subs: Alan O’Connell (Clonlara) 0-1, David Hickey (Broadford)
