Interpro Hurling Semi Final – Leinster 3-14 Munster 1-16

Early Leinster damage decisive

Leinster 3-14 Munster 1-16

By Diarmuid O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

The powerbases of hurling in Leinster and Munster was reflected in the starting sides chosen by the respective managers Joe Dooley and Liam Sheedy for this Martin Donnelly Interprovincial Championship hurling semi-final in Nowlan Park yesterday. All-Ireland champions Kilkenny supplied 11 for Leinster (all six backs, both midfielders, three forwards), while Tipperary — beaten All-Ireland finalists last year and champions of 2010 — had three of the Munster defence, one midfielder and two forwards while a seventh, Conor O’Mahony, missed out through illness.

On the evidence of the display on the field the centre of power hasn’t changed since that All-Ireland final with Leinster powering to a three-goal half-time lead (3-8 to 0-8) then holding on reasonably comfortably to record a four-point win. But it wasn’t an all Kilkenny show by any means with Offaly forwards Joe Bergin (1-1) and the manager’s son Shane Dooley (0-5) contributing 1-6 between them. Leinster began well, midfielder Michael Fennelly having the ball in Donal Og Cusack’s net in just the second minute after a surging run down the middle, and with points from Brian Hogan, Dooley (2), Richie Power and Bergin, against points from Shane McGrath and Pa Cronin, they led by six after seven minutes (1-5 to 0-2). That lead was extended to nine in the 26th minute (2-8 to 0-5), Joe Bergin with the second Leinster goal, set up by Richie Hogan after a short Cusack puck-out went awry.

Munster hit back with three points before the break, Clare youngster John Conlon (a late call-up) was in fine form, but the third Leinster goal, a rifle-shot penalty to the net by Richie Power, enabled Leinster to keep that three-goal cushion at the break. Munster were far more organised at the back in the second-half, Michael Cahill, Paul Curran and Tom Condon (especially) really upping their game, and they began to eat into the Leinster lead. John Conlon began the fightback with a first-time goal in the 39th minute after fine setup work by Horgan, Brick Walsh and Brendan Maher, and the points followed. John Gardiner hit his third long-range point from placed balls, Conlon himself, his Clare teammate Patrick Donnellan, Horgan, Brick Walsh and another Waterford sub, Pauric Mahony, all got on the scoreboard and with less than five minutes on the clock the deficit was down to 3-11 to 1-15.

Then came the game’s defining moment. Pauric Mahony was fouled in the square, but Patrick Horgan’s penalty was saved and from the resultant clearance the ball was worked downfield for Richie Power to point. Munster kept up the fight but Leinster finished strong, a huge point from halfway by Colin Fennelly making it all secure. Overall it was an entertaining game, all the stars on the Leinster team especially doing themselves justice (none more so than Tommy Walsh, let it be noted), a game deserving of a bigger audience than the 1500 estimated attendance, reckoned Joe Dooley.

“It’s a pity this game wasn’t televised live, every hurling man and woman in the country would have been watching it if it was. It’s a disgrace. It was very competitive but I knew from early in the week that Leinster were up for it and I knew Liam Sheedy’s Munster would be up for it as well. It wasn’t going to be an exhibition game.” Munster counterpart Sheedy, was of like mind. “People would be of the opinion that it (the interpro series) doesn’t matter but I thought it was a fine game. If that’s a taste of things to come in the National Leagues — I thought there were some fabulous passages of play. The Leinster lads got the run on us in the first-half, got the goals and a cushion. We were ten points down at one stage and brought it back to one. The lads tried their best.” It wasn’t championship fare, nor anything like it, but as stated by both managers it was certainly quality hurling from quality players.

Scorers for Leinster: R Power 1-5 (1-0p, 0-3f); S Dooley 0-5 (0-1f); J Bergin 1-1; M Fennelly 1-0; B Hogan, E Larkin, C Fennelly, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Munster: J Conlon 1-3; P Horgan 0-3; J Gardiner 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 65); P Mahony 0-2 (0-2f); M Walsh, P Cronin, S McGrath, P Donnellan, E Kelly (free), 0-1 each.

LEINSTER: G Maguire (Dublin); P Murphy (Kilkenny), N Hickey (Kilkenny), J Tyrell (Kilkenny, capt.); T Walsh (Kilkenny), B Hogan (Kilkenny), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny); M Fennelly (Kilkenny), M Rice (Kilkenny); R O’Dwyer (Dublin), R Power (Kilkenny), E Larkin (Kilkenny); S Dooley (Offaly), J Bergin (Offaly), R Hogan (Kilkenny).

Subs: W Hyland (Laois, R Hogan inj. 35); D Stamp (Wexford, B Hogan inj. 35); C Fennelly (Kilkenny, O’Dwyer 54); R Hanniffy (Offaly, Bergin 61); R Jacob (Wexford, Rice 66).

MUNSTER: D Óg Cusack (Cork); M Cahill (Tipperary), P Curran (Tipperary), T Condon (Limerick); J Gardiner (Cork), P Maher (Tipperary), P Donnellan (Clare); S O’Sullivan (Waterford), S McGrath (Tipperary); P Cronin (Cork), M Walsh (Waterford), B Maher (Tipperary); J Conlon (Clare), E Kelly (Tipperary, capt.), P Horgan (Cork).

Subs: D O’Grady (Limerick, McGrath inj. 39); S Molumphy (Waterford, Cronin 44); G Ryan (Tipperary, Kelly 58); K Moran (Waterford, Donnellan 67).

Referee: A Kelly (Galway)

Team News

The Munster Hurling panel for the M Donnelly Interprovincial Semi-Final against Leinster on Sunday next is as follows –

John Conlon (Clare), Cian Dillon (Clare), Pat Donnellan (Clare); Patrick Cronin (Cork), Donal Og Cusack (Cork), John Gardiner (Cork), Patrick Horgan (Cork); Tom Murnane (Kerry), Shane Nolan (Kerry); Tom Condon (Limerick), Declan Hannon (Limerick), Donal O’Grady (Limerick), Nicky Quaid (Limerick); Michael Cahill (Tipperary), Paul Curran (Tipperary), Eoin Kelly (Tipperary), Brendan Maher (Tipperary), Padraic Maher (Tipperary), Patrick Maher (Tipperary), Shane McGrath (Tipperary), Conor O’Mahony (Tipperary), Gearoid Ryan (Tipperary); Liam Lawlor (Waterford), Kevin Moran (Waterford), Shane O’Sullivan (Waterford), Michael Walsh (Waterford)

Match Preview

M. Donnelly GAA Hurling Interprovincial Championship semi-final

Leinster v Munster, Nowlan, 2.00pm

From the GAA.ie web site

Defending champions Leinster face Munster at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny in what promises to be a thrilling and extremely close encounter if previous meetings between the provinces are anything to go by. The sides last met in the 2008 final at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, where Leinster emerged 1-15 to 1-12 winners, with two men on show once again today, Kilkenny’s Richie Power and Richie Hogan, lead the way with 0-9 (0-6f) and 1-1 respectively.

That was Leinster’s last title win in the series, while Munster won the competition a year earlier, when they beat Connacht by 2-22 to 2-19 in a final played at Croke Park, with Waterford’s John Mullane captaining the side. Munster lead the way in the roll of honour with a massive 44 titles, with Leinster in second place on 27.

Leinster manager Joe Dooley has included 13 members of Kilkenny’s All-Ireland winning squad from last year in his selection, showing just how keen he is to put on a good showing for the Nowlan Park crowd.

Munster boss Liam Sheedy, who is aided by Stephen Frampton, Jamesie O’Connor and Eamon O’Shea, has called on nine of the players from his native county, Tipperary. Sheedy said: “Some of the best hurlers in Ireland will be on show in Nowlan Park on Sunday next and that should be very much welcomed. It would be a shame for the players in particular if this competition was not in the calendar. With the cooperation of the counties involved, we have had 3 training sessions and a challenge game and look forward to the semi-final with Leinster”.

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ed Donnelly at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information

For the Record

2012 M Donnelly Inter Provincial Hurling Fixtures

Semi-Finals (Extra time)

Sunday February 19^th

@ Nowlan Park Kilkenny                  Munster v Leinster                                        @ 2:00pm
@ Ballinasloe                                    Connacht v Ulster                                          @ 2:00pm

Final (Extra time)

Sunday March 4th

Inter Provincial Hurling – A look back

Munster have 44 Inter-Provincial Hurling titles. The breakdown by county of winning Munster Hurling captains is as follows – Cork (17), Tipperary (15), Waterford (5), Limerick (5) and Clare (2).

Sean Og Murphy (Cork), Christy Ring (Cork), Pat Stakelum (Tipperary), Tony Wall (Tipperary) and Jimmy Doyle (Tipperary) all captained Munster to win the Inter-Provincial Hurling title on 2 occasions.

On 2 separate occasions, Munster failed to win the Inter-Provincial competition on 5 consecutive years (1971 to 1975 and 1986 to 1991).

Munster captured 6 Inter Provincial Hurling titles from 1948 to 1953.

3 of the last 7 Inter-Provincial Hurling Finals were played outside of Ireland – 2003 (Rome), 2005 (Boston) and 2009 (Abu Dhabi).

Leinster’s last 7 victories in this competition dating back to 1993 have been captained by Kilkenny players. 1993 (John Power), 1998 (Willie O’Connor), 2002 (Andy Comerford), 2003 (Michael Kavanagh), 2006 (Eddie Brennan), 2008 (Tommy Walsh) and 2009 (JJ Delaney). The last non-Kilkenny captain of a winning Leinster hurling team was Aidan Fogarty (Offaly) in a 1988 victory over Connacht at Casement Park.

Since the competition began in 1927, only three Inter-Provincial Hurling Finals failed to produce a goal (1954, 1968 and 1997).

The competition was not played in 1990, 2010 and 2011.

Cork legend Christy Ring played for Munster for 23 consecutive seasons from 1941 to 1963, winning a total of 18 medals. John Doyle (Tipperary) won 8 Inter-Provincial medals

Last Munster Appearance in the Competition

2009 Semi-Final – Connacht 2-20 Munster 2-18 – Pearse Stadium Galway on February 21^st

Munster Hurling Team: Brendan Cummins (Tipperary); Conor O’Brien (Tipperary), Declan Prendergast (Waterford), Eoin Murphy (Waterford); Benny Dunne (Tipperary), Michael Walsh (Waterford), Seamus Hickey (Limerick); Shane McGrath (Tipperary, 0-1), Donal O’Grady (Limerick); Seamus Prendergast (Waterford, 0-3), Ken McGrath (Waterford, 1-1), Tony Griffin (Clare, 0-3); Andrew O’Shaughnessy (Limerick, 0-6 frees), Stephen Molumphy (Waterford, 0-1), Paul Kelly (Tipperary, 1-2)

Subs: Diarmaid Fitzgerald (Tipperary) for Murphy (27), James Woodlock (Tipperary) for O’ Grady (h/t), Jonathan Clancy (Clare, 0-1) for Kelly (49), Shane O’ Sullivan (Waterford) for McGrath (53)

Most Recent meeting – Leinster v Munster

November 1^st 2008 at O’Moore Park Portlaoise – Leinster 1-15 Munster 1-12 (Final)

Leinster: PJ Ryan (Kilkenny); John Dalton (Kilkenny), Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny), David Franks (Offaly); Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), R Fallon (Dublin) , J O’Connor (Wexford, 0-1); Rory Hanniffy (Offaly), E Coady (Carlow); Michael Rice (Kilkenny, 0-1), B Murtagh (Westmeath), Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny, 0-1); Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny, 0-1), Richie Power (Kilkenny, 0-9, 0-6 frees, 0-1 penalty, 0-1 65), Richie Hogan (Kilkenny, 1-1)

Subs: Brian Hogan (Kilkenny) for Coady, Aidan Fogarty (Kilkenny, 0-1) for Murtagh, D Horan (Offaly) for Dalton, T Fitzgerald (Laois) for Larkin 60

Munster: Brendan Cummins (Tipperary – Captain); Conor O’Brien (Tipperary), Paul Curran (Tipperary), Seamus Hickey (Limerick); John Gardiner (Cork, 0-1 free), Gerry Quinn (Clare), Sean Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork); Tom Kenny (Cork), Brian O’Connell (Clare); Paul Kelly (Tipperary, 0-1), Tony Carmody (Clare), Ben O’Connor (Cork, 0-2); Andrew O’Shaughnessy (Limerick, 1-0), Eoin Kelly (Waterford, 0-7, 0-6 frees), Niall Gilligan (Clare, 0-1)

Subs: Donal Óg Cusack (Cork) for Cummins, Lar Corbett (Tipperary) for Carmody, Declan Fanning (Tipperary) for Quinn, Seamus Callanan (Tipperary) for O’Shaughnessy, Eoin Cadogan (Cork), Pat Donnellan (Clare). Cathal Naughton (Cork), Donal O’Grady (Limerick), Brendan Bugler (Clare) and Brian Corry (Cork) played in the semi-final.

Referee: P Greene (Galway)

Last Inter Provincial Hurling Title for Munster

2007: Final – Munster 2-22 Connacht 2-19 played at Croke Park

Munster Team: Brian Murray (Limerick); Eoin Murphy (Murphy), Declan Fanning (Tipperary), Gerry Quinn (Clare); John Gardiner (Cork), Tony Browne (Waterford), Seamus Hickey (Limerick); Donal O’Grady (Limerick), Brian O’Connell (Clare); Shane McGrath (Tipperary), Ollie Moran (Limerick), Eoin Kelly (Waterford); John Mullane (Waterford, Captain), Dan Shanahan (Waterford), Lar Corbett (Tipperary)

Subs: Sean Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork) for O’Connell (Blood sub 20th minute to 49th minute); Niall Gilligan (Clare) for McGrath; Gerry O’Grady (Clare) for Murphy; Sean Óg Ó hAilpín for Quinn); Niall Moran for Ollie Moran); Mike O’Brien (Limerick) for Shanahan (Blood sub 58th minute to 64th minute). Gerry Kennedy (Tipperary), Sean O’Connor (Limerick), Michael Fitzgerald (Limerick), Jonothan Clancy (Clare). Conor O’Mahony (Tipperary), Michael Walsh (Waterford) and Timmy McCarthy (Cork) played in the semi-final.

Inter Provincial Hurling Roll Of Honour

Munster (44) – 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007

Leinster (27) – 1927, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1941, 1954, 1956, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009

Connacht (11) – 1947, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004

Ulster (0)

List of Munster Inter Provincial Hurling Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site at https://munster.gaa.ie/history/railway-cup-hurling/ to view the list of all the teams to represent Munster in the Inter Provincial Hurling competition.

Martin Donnelly Interprovincial Series Leinster Hurling Team Announcement

The Leinster Hurling Manager has been confirmed as Joe Dooley, Offaly and the Football Manager as Sean Boylan, Meath. The teams are as follows;

M. Donnelly Interprovincial Leinster Hurling Team

Gary Maguire, Dublin, Niall Cororan, Dublin, Shane Durkin, Dublin, Ryan O’ Dwyer, Dublin, Paul Ryan, Dublin, Liam Rushe, Dublin, David Herity, Kilkenny, Paul Murphy, Kilkenny, Noel Hickey, Kilkenny, Jackie Tyrell (Captain) Kilkenny, Tommy Walsh, Kilkenny, Brian Hogan, Kilkenny, JJ Delaney, Kilkenny, Michael Fennelly, Kilkenny, Michael Rice, Kilkenny, Richie Power, Kilkenny, Eoin Larkin, Kilkenny, Colin Fennelly, Kilkenny, Richie Hogan, Kilkenny, Willie Hyland, Laois, Rory Hanniffy, Offaly, Shane Dooley, Offaly, Joe Bergin, Offaly, Brendan Murtagh, Westmeath, Darren Stamp, Wexford, Rory Jacob, Wexford.

Selectors: John Conran and Derek Lyng