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Mulcahy's goal helps Kilmallock bridge gap

LIMERICK SHC FINAL Kilmallock 1-16 Emmets 1-12: KILMALLOCK BRIDGED a 16-year gap when they won the county hurling championship…

Mon Oct 04 2010 - 01:00

LIMERICK SHC FINAL Kilmallock 1-16 Emmets 1-12:KILMALLOCK BRIDGED a 16-year gap when they won the county hurling championship against divisional side Emmets at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

The Tony Considine-trained side plundered a goal after 18 minutes which ultimately proved decisive.

Gavin O'Mahony sent in a long ball from midfield and as defender Gearóid O'Leary and Graeme Mulcahy both slipped but the hurl of Mulcahy got a vial touch and the ball trickled over the line.

After that Kilmallock were always in front in a game watched by new Limerick manager Donal O'Grady who must have been impressed by a number of performances from players on both sides.

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It was an occasion which almost certainly brought an end to the feuding which beset the county team this year.

For winning manager and Clare native Considine it was a second Limerick success as he managed Garryspillane to the title a few years ago and he said: "I am delighted for this group of players who have suffered so many disappointments. We will celebrate our win and then turn our thoughts to the Munster club championship."

Aidan McAuliffe hit two early points for Emmets but Eoin Ryan (a free) and Paudie O'Brien's spectacular effort from out near the sideline drew Kilmallock level.

A superb strike by Donie Reale edged the outsiders back in front only for Andrew O'Shaughnessy to tie it up again with the first of his six frees.

Then came that soft Mulcahy goal which opened a lead which Kilmallock never surrendered. Emmets were only a point adrift after 29 minutes but on the stroke of half-time O'Shaughnessy's free had his side in front, 1-5 to 0-6.

Two minutes into the second half O'Shaughnessy pointed another free but at the end of the third quarter only a goal separated the teams.

Sensing victory, Kilmallock pushed on and they led by 1-15 to 0-12 after 59 minutes. The outstanding O'Brien tacked on another point and when Donie Reale blasted in a goal 30 seconds into stoppage time it was very definitely a case of too little too late for the gallant Emmets.

For O'Shaughnessy it was a welcome return to scoring form, and while he did not score from play, his distribution played a major role in several of his sides scores.

"I am absolutely delighted to have won a county senior medal. It is something I always wanted and to win with the club is particularly satisfying because we trained hard all year and it showed today," he said.

Richie McCarthy had a superb first half for the losers, a team made up from a number of junior sides, whose lack of collective training on a regular basis took its toll at the end. Stephen Walsh also shone for them at corner back.

KILMALLOCK: B Hennessy; L Hurley, P O'Loughlin, K O'Mahony; L Walsh, G O'Mahony, B O'Sullivan; E Ryan (0-2, two frees), P O'Brien (0-3); P O'Dwyer (0-2), S O'Donnell, G O'Sullivan; G Mulcahy (1-1), A O'Shaughnessy (0-6, frees), J Mulcahy (0-2). Subs: P Connery for O'Donnell (45 mins), D O'Mahony for O'Shaughnessy (59 mins),

EMMETS: T Quaid; S Walsh, (0-1, free), R McCarthy, G O'Leary; B Moloney, B Kelleher, David Moloney; N Quaid, J Kelleher; P Neenan (0-4, frees), E O'Leary, M O'Brien (0-1); D Reale (1-4, 1-1 frees), Damian Moloney, A McAuliffe (0-2, 0-1 sideline). Subs: J Dillon for Kelleher (half-time), M Deegan for B Moloney (45 mins), P Leahy for McAuliffe (46 mins), E Walsh for Neenan (53 mins).

Referee: E Phelan(St Patrick's).