Croagh-Kilfinny secure historic Limerick intermediate hurling final win:
By Cormac Thompson Limerick Leader Sport
IN WHAT was their fourth final appearance in as many seasons, Croagh-Kilfinny finally got their day of glory as they triumphed in Saturday’s Nick Grene County Intermediate Hurling Championship final when defeating Bruree by a single point, 0-18 to 1-14, in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.
Sam Cronolly got Bruree up and running with a pointed free inside two minutes, while James Lanigan landed Croagh-Kilfinny’s opening score two minutes later.
Some fine efforts from Brian Sexton, Paddy Lynch and Jimmy O’Dea stretched Bruree out in front as they tried to profit from the wind’s assistance.
A quartet of frees from Cian O’Carroll followed to put Croagh-Kilfinny back in touch after 18 minutes. A brilliant Sexton brace of points was followed by a Brian Hannon effort from an acute angle.
Two Sam Cronolly efforts closed out the half for Bruree. However, Cian O’Carroll trimmed the lead back to a single score as the teams converged towards the dressing rooms, with a single point between them, Bruree 0-10 to Croagh-Kilfinny’s 0-9.
A scrappy period of hurling opened the second half before Brian Sexton fired the ball between the uprights for Bruree on 35 minutes.
Back came Croagh-Kilfinny and Brian Hannon replied with a trademark corner forward score before an O’Carroll double from frees had Croagh in front for the first time in the decider in the 42nd minute.
Croagh’s double pivot of points from Seamus O’Carroll and former Limerick senior star Seamus Hickey, announced their presence as they combined with some fine efforts to extend their side’s lead.
Andrew Meade then showed lightning pace from the bench and pointed after 48 minutes. A short time later, Seamus O’Carroll saw his effort flash just past the right hand post in what could’ve been the game defining score.
Conor Frawley got Bruree’s first score in over 20 minutes soon after. However, Croagh-Kilfinny seemed to be comfortable as the clock headed into the red until Brian Sexton was felled in the square.
Sam Cronolly blasted the penalty to the bottom left corner to bring the deficit back to just two points. He added another free two minutes later before what was probably the longest 60 seconds in Croagh-Kilfinny GAA history ensued as Bruree hounded down the equalising score.
However, when the full-time whistle sounded, Croagh Kilfinny were County Intermediate Hurling Champions for 2024 on a scoreline of 0-18 to 1-14.
SCORERS: Croagh Kilfinny: Cian O’Carroll 0-8 (0-7 frees), Seamus O’Carroll 0-3, Brian Hannon 0-2, Seamus Hickey, Andrew Meade, Bryan Flynn, James Lanigan, Jack Lenihan 0-1 each. Bruree: Sam Cronolly 1-6 (0-5 frees, 1-0 penalty), Brian Sexton 0-4, Jimmy O’Dea, Paddy Lynch, Conor Frawley, Kieran O’Dea 0-1 each.
CROAGH-KILFINNY: Cian Sheehy, Denis Lenihan, Aidan O’Shea, Eoin Barry, Seamie Lenihan, Tom McMahon, Conor Lenihan, Adam Shanagher, Barry Lenihan, James Lanigan, Cian O’Carroll, Jack Lenihan, Seamus O’Carroll, Seamus Hickey, Brian Hannon. SUBS: Andrew Meade for Jack Lenihan (46 mins), Bryan Flynn for Eoin Barry (52 mins).
BRUREE: Fionn O’Brien, Shane Feane, Pa Deady, Kieran O’Rourke, Kevin Hayden, Sam Williams, Conor Frawley, Willie Sexton, Darragh McDonagh, Tommy Cronolly, Jimmy O’Dea, Brian Sexton, Paddy Lynch, Sam Cronolly, Kieran O’Dea. SUBS: Frankie Barrington for Paddy Lynch (36 mins), John O’Connell for Pa Deady (40 mins), Niall Tobin for Kevin Hayden, Ronan O’Halloran for Darragh McDonagh (58 mins).
REFEREE: Timmy McGrath