2024 AIB Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Semi-Final – Cashel King Cormacs (Tipperary) 3-16 Abbeydorney (Kerry) 1-14

Cashel King Cormacs (Tipperary) defeated Abbeydorney (Kerry) by 3-16 to 1-14 in the AIB Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Sunday November 17th at Abbeydorney.

Classy Cashel come good in final quarter to puncture Abbeydorney dreams

Report by Mortimer Murphy courtesy of the Irish Examiner newspaper

Munster Club IHC semi-final: Abbeydorney 1-16 (Kerry Cashel King Cormac (Tipperary) 3-18.

CASHEL King Cormacs ended Kerry champions fairytale campaign as they deservedly took the honours in this competitive Munster Intermediate Club Hurling semi-final played before a huge crowd at the Tom Healy Park on Sunday.

The last four clash began in bizarre fashion when Cashel King Cormacs wing forward Oisin O’Donoghue turned the wrong way and he fired the ball over his own crossbar, much to the dismay of his colleagues.

David McGrath replied with a point for the visitors to restore the natural order of things. Abbeydorney were well in the contest playing the strong end in the opening half but their shooting left them down. The visitors found Michael O’Leary difficult to contain and he fired over a superb point after an equally impressive catch in the 10th minute.

But Cashel added points from a Devon Ryan free and another from play while David McGrath added another as they moved 0-4 to 0-2 but Abbeydorney then struck for a 13th minute goal. Oisin Maunsell sent in a long ball and O’Leary rose highest to finish to the net. Niall O’Mahony and O’Leary added quick points and suddenly Abbeydorney led 1-4 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter.

Abbeydorney should have kicked on but wasted two goal scoring chances and their wide count of seven by the 20th minute was far too many.

A Michael O’Leary free pushed the home side four clear after 20 minutes but then Cashel struck for a crucial goal in the 24th minute when James Cummins combined with Conor O’Dwyer to set up Ross Bonnar for a goal. Eoghan Connolly and O’Leary swapped points as the sides retired level 1-6 apiece but Abbeydorney were profligate in that half, only scoring 6 from 19 scoring chances.

But Abbeydorney got stuck in against the wind in the third quarter and gave the visitors a real gut check. Mike O’Leary with two frees, Ronan Donovan from play and the dangerous Oisin Maunsell pushed the home side 1-10 to 1-8 in front and Cashel King Cormacs had seven missed chances.

The Tipperary champions then brought in Ger Browne and Adrian Cummins and suddenly they moved up a gear with Oisin O’Donoghue firing home in the 46th minute a 2-8 to 1-10 lead and an Eoghan Connolly free pushed the visitors two in front in the 47th minute, a lead they would never lose.

Two points from placed balls by Michael O’Leary was all Abbeydorney had to offer, as Cashel King Cormacs added five points and then substitute Ger Browne scored 1-1 to ensure that the Tipp champions advanced to a final duel with Watergrasshill.

Nonetheless, it was a proud day for Abbeydorney who won their first Kerry SFC in 50 years and they battled right to the end.

Scorers for Cashel King Cormacs: D Ryan (0-5, 4fs), O O’Donoghue (1-0), G Browne ( 1-1), R Bonnar (1-0), D McGrath (0-3), A Cummins and E Connolly (0-2 each), J Cummins, R Connolly and C Quinn (0-1 each).

Scorers for Abbeydorney: M O’Leary (1-10, 6fs, 1’65), N O’Mahony and O Maunsell, plus own point (0-1 each).

CASHEL KING CORMACS: J Walsh, C Bonnar, N Ryan, K O’Dwyer; J Cummins, C O’Dwyer, R Connolly; P Fahy; E Connolly, C Quinn, D Ryan; O O’Donoghue, D McGrath, A Walsh, R Bonnar.
Subs: A Cummins for R Bonnar (41), G Browne for A Walsh (46), D Moloney for O’Donoghue (58).

ABBEYDORNEY: J Fealy; K Dineen, S Egan, J Maunsell; J O’Connor, R O’Donovan, M Clifford; N O’Mahoney, K Sheehan; D O’Leary, M O’Leary, J Sheehan; D Egan, O Maunsell, M Slattery.
Subs: B O’Leary for D O’Leary (h/t), J Hannon for M Clifford (51), R O hAinifein for K Sheehan (51), C O’Sullivan for D Egan (56).

Referee: N Barry (Waterford)

Team Sheet

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