Munster Senior Hurling Inter-Firm Final – Cork Garda 3-14 Analog Stryker 3-10

Cork Garda 3-14 Analog Stryker 3-10

Played Tuesday 13th November 2012

@ Mallow GAA Club

Cork Garda retained the Munster Senior Hurling Inter-Firm title after a thrilling victory over Analog Stryker at Mallow last night. This final was a great advert for Inter-Firm GAA and those who were lucky enough to be in attendance were treated to some excellent hurling throughout. Cork Garda started brightly and took the lead inside the first minute with a Jimmy Smiddy point. On 5 minutes they scored again after a good run and point from Jerry O’Connor. David O’Gorman was causing a lot of problems for the Garda defence and good work from him on 8 minutes created an opening for Eamon Maguire who finished well to the back of the Garda net from a tight angle. John Plower stretched the Analog Stryker lead on 11 minutes with a good point from out on the right wing. The scores were now coming thick and fast with the Garda pulling a point back on 12 minutes and Gearoid Ryan scoring a good long range point for Analog Stryker on 13 minutes. A good passing move from the Garda on 14 minutes created some space inside the 21 and Paul Shanhan got in for the Cork Garda’s first goal. O’Connor hit the target again on 15 minutes with a point for the Garda. Plower responded with a point from a free on 16 minutes. James Gahan got in on the scoring for Analog Stryker on 19 minutes with a fine score from out on the left wing that sailed over the Garda crossbar. A major talking point came on 21 minutes when a long range from Tom Delaney took a deflection towards the Analog goal line and the umpire awarded the goal despite the protests from the Analog Stryker defence that the ball had not crossed the line. John Plower replied with a free on 22 minutes. The Garda were now on top and added points on 23 and 25 minutes to stretch their lead. A good finish to the back of the Garda net from O’Gorman on 27 minutes after a Ciaran O’Doherty pass found him in space put Analog Stryker right back in the match approaching half time. The Garda finished the half strong with a point on 28 minutes and another O’Connor point in injury time to leave the half time score Cork Garda 2-8 Analog Stryker 2-5.

The Cork Garda got a great start to the second half with a goal inside the first minute from David Cuthbert to open a 6 point lead. Plower responded for Analog Stryker with points on 32 and 35 minutes and then he put the game right back in the melting pot on 37 minutes with a great finish from outside the 21 that hit the back of the net to leave a point between the sides. The Garda responded on 39 minutes with a good point from the right wing. Gearoid Ryan scored again for Analog Stryker on 40 minutes with an excellent long range point from the middle of the field. Sean Hayes kept Analog Stryker in the match with a good save on 42 minutes from a close range shot with Michael Clifford making a good clearance from the rebound. O’Connor put the Garda 2 points clear again on 44 minutes with a point after another good run and shot. Ryan continued the run of excellent scores with another long range point on 48 minutes. Good work from Thomas O’Connor and Mike Hawes in the half back line found O’Doherty in some space and as he ran at the Garda defence he was fouled and Analog Stryker now had a chance to level the match with 9 minutes remaining. Plower duly obliged from the free and it looked like Analog Stryker had the momentum entering the closing stretch. However that was not the case and it was the Garda who finished the stronger. They hit the front again on 54 minutes with O’Connor again the scorer in chief as he slotted home another point. Another point on 55 minutes had the gap at 2 points and further points in the last 2 minutes had 4 points between the sides and there was no way back for the Limerick champions.

Analog Stryker

Sean Hayes (Cratloe)

Martin Ogie Murphy (Cratloe)

Michael Clifford (Adare)

Paul Conroy (Ballygarvan)

Thomas O’Connor (Cratloe)

Mike Hawes (Cratloe)

Shane Quinn (Kinvarra)

Ciaran O’Doherty (Crusheen)

Gearoid Ryan (Cratloe) (0-3)

James Walsh (Newcestown)

Shane Maher (Burgess)

James Gahan (Ballygarrett) (0-1)

Eamon Maguire (Kilmallock) (1-0)

David O’Gorman (Cratloe) (1-0)

John Plower (Kilconieron) (1-6 (4f)

Subs:

Robert Graham (Ballybrown) for Walsh

Cork Garda

Tom Delaney (1-0f) douglas

Ger O’Leary barryroe

John Donovan. shramocks waterford

Gearoid Whelton. barryroe

Dan Lucey mayfield

Ray Ryan sarsfields cork

Brian Smiddy castlematyr

Ger Melvin (0-1) aghada

Damien Ring youghal

Colin O’Mahony douglas

Jerry O’Connor (0-7) newtownshrandum

Jimmy Smiddy (0-4(3f) castlematyr

Chris Daly brian dillions

Paul Shanhan (1-2) sean treacys tipperary

Brendan Barry Murphy coachford

Subs:

David Cuthbert (1-0) for Chris Daly

Pat Nolan for Brendan Barry Murphy