Ahane narrowly edge past Mungret St Paul’s in senior club hurling championship:

By Siadbh Redmond Limerick Leader Sport

AHANE have started their championship off on the winning foot after securing a narrow one-point victory over Mungret St Paul’s in group one of the Bons Secours Hospital County Senior Hurling Championship in Claughaun this Saturday evening.

Tom Morrissey was on fire for Ahane scoring 1-8, four from frees, to keep his side ahead with the goal proving to be vital in the closing minutes of the game as Mungret looked for the equalising score. Paul O’Brien from the opposition also proved to be important for his side scoring 0-10 for Mungret, seven of which from frees.

Ahane will now face a confident Na Piarsaigh in the next round of fixtures as Mungret St Paul’s will battle it out against a wounded Kilmallock in their next fixture.

It was Ahane’s Daniel Minihan that got the scoring started in tonight’s contest with a long range effort pointing for his side. This score was closely followed by Ronan Fox’s point after six minutes putting them 0-2 ahead.

Mungret struggled to find their opening score before Shane Barry stepped up and pointed their first score of the game after 11 minutes of play, cancelled quickly by Gary Brennan’s effort keeping Ahane in front.

Scores came easily for Ahane as they popped over beautiful points all from play from Tom Morrissey, Ronan Fox and Gary Brennan once again, before a touch of magic from Limerick star forward Morrissey saw him regain the sliothar after Mungret’s initial tackle and bury the ball in the back of the net to send Ahane 1-6 to 0-1 up.

Despite the shock of the goal Mungret reacted extremely well and got the next four points from Paul O’Brien, Fintan Fitzgerald and Sean Duff. Ahane continued to add points to the scoreboard as they kept Mungret at arms length. Mungret St Paul’s had their only chance of a goal ripped away from them after 29 minutes as Cathal Ryan made a spectacular save. O’Brien finished off the half with a fantastic free to leave it 1-9 to 0-8 in favour of Ahane.

The second-half began much like the first with Tom Morrissey getting his hands on the ball and sailing over another point from play followed by a free.

Mungret answered with a long range effort from midfielder Barry Duff and once again Paul O’Brien to keep the score board ticking over. It was Mungret that seemed to be the team in charge of the opening minutes of the second-half as they drove over vital points to put them right back into the mix.

Ronan Fox finally stopped the Mungret scoring joy after 50 minutes with Mungret scoring six unanswered points within those 10 minutes putting even more pressure on Ahane as the game levelled.

Mungret’s wides were ultimately costly for them as they hit eight of them in the second-half alone. Ahane kept their heads among the pressure as Tom Morrissey once again steady the ship with two back-to-back frees. Paul O’Brien did his best to get his side the win but in the end it was Ahane who emerged winners in this first round of championship.

SCORERS MUNGRET ST PAUL’S: Paul O’Brien 0-10 (0-7 frees), Sean Duff 0-2, Brian O’Meara 0-2, Barry Duff 0-2, Rory Duff, Fintan Fitzgerald and Shane Barry 0-1 each.

AHANE: Tom Morrissey 1-8 (0-3 frees), Ronan Fox 0-4, Gary Brennan 0-3, Daniel Minihan and Craig O’Connell 0-1 each

MUNGRET ST PAUL’S: Conor O’Brien, Billy Molyneaux, Matt O’Sullivan, Liam Harrington, Brian Barry, Patrick Begley (C), Eoin O’Doherty, Barry Duff, Rory Duff, Shane Barry, Fintan Fitzgerald, Brian O’Meara, Conor O’Halloran, Sean Duff, Paul O’Brien

SUBS: Darragh O’Hagan for C O’Halloran (46 minutes), Jack McCarthy for S Barry (53 minutes)

AHANE: Cathal Ryan, Dan Morrissey, Evan O’Leary, Padraig Harnett, Mark Hickey, Ciaran Barry (C), Daniel Minihan, Gavin Rowsome, Conor Heffernan, Jack Butler, Ronan Fox, Gary Brennan, Craig O’Connell, Tom Morrissey, Cathal O’Mara

SUBS: David Carr for C O’Mara (Half-Time), Stephen Power for G Rowsome (60 minutes)

REFEREE: Johnny Murphy