Cashel King Cormacs finish strongly to rule the Kingdom challengers

A focused, determined second half display capped by two quality goals from Oisin O'Donoghue and Ger Browne respectively was enough for Cashel King Cormacs to see off a spirited challenge from Abbeydorney in the Munster hurling Intermediate semi-final as the Tipperary side joyfully booked their place in the Munster final in two weeks time where they will take on Watergrasshill. 

Abbeydorney and surrounds were a hive of activity beforehand as a large travelling group from Tipperary added to the novel atmosphere from noon onwards so, despite the strong sea breeze and heavy showers, there was a festive feel to the day as the host club got a taste of Munster hurling on their own turf for the first time. 

From the start of the game the home side worked their socks off and did so right until the final whistle at Tom Healy Park, but in the end the stronger scoring firepower and drive from the bench ensured that Cashel finished strongly, cracking home two second half goals to send the visiting supporters wild. 

An early shove knocked Eoghan Connolly and when the midfielders stepped up for the throw-in, Oisin O'Donoghue gathered possession and struck a beautiful long range point; however it was over the crossbar where his own goalkeeper was positioned putting the home side a point up, not Cashel!

David McGrath responded immediately with a Cashel point at the other end and the game settled into a steady rhythm with points traded as Devon Ryan and the lively corner forward McGrath again pushed Cashel 0-4 to 0-2 clear. 

The Abbeydorney supporters wanted something to shout about and the powerful forward Michael O'Leary provided it as a dropping ball from Oisin Maunsell was sent quickly to the net on 14 minutes. 

He had jumped highest to catch, turn and score a point just before that then got another after the goal as well as Niall O'Mahony finding his range putting the home side 1-4 to 0-4 to the good with a quarter of the game gone. 

The Kerry side found it hard to put distance between the teams during their purple patch though as they missed a couple of key scores and instead totted up the 'wides tally' which was a fact they would rue as the game wore on.

Cashel, still in the hunt but playing within themselves by now, went looking for a goal and it duly arrived as the teamwork of the side shone through with quick hands and offloads ensured the ball did the work. 

An Abbeydorney attack just before the goal was turned over when Oisin O'Donoghue made a fantastic hook and from there the resulting ball was cleared from defence.

Powerful half back James Cummins set up Conor O'Dwyer who fired quickly towards the half forward line towards Ross Bonner and with a neat gather and sprint he struck hard against the wind as ball coasted to the net. 

The visiting supporters were well in their hundreds and the roar lifted the stand.

Eoghan Connolly then struck a point for Cashel as O'Leary responded for Abbeydorney leaving the teams tied at 1-6 a piece after an absorbing first half of genuine championship fare. 

With the odds stacked now against the Kerry side they needed to show character and that they did as the second half started when Ronan Donovan struck a point as well as Oisin Maunsell and O'Leary with a pair from frees. 

They led 1-10 to 1-8 on the 45 minutes mark before the turning point of the game arrived when Cashel needed heroes and up stepped Oisin O'Donoghue.

The Tipperary under 20 star took a tidy pass from Devon Ryan and finished off a slick move to the back of the net on the 46th minute mark which put Cashel back into the driving seat. 

The O'Donoghue goal made it 2-8 to 1-10 and Eoghan Connolly added a point while substitutes Adrian Cummins and Ger Browne both got on the scoresheet adding another element of power and fresh energy to the attack.

An exquisite point from Ger Browne near the sideline on the 21 went sailing over the bar from a tight angle before the 2019 All-Ireland medalist then struck a goal on 54 minutes after gathering the pass following a defence opening run from Paddy Fahy. 

That sealed the deal. Abbeydorney found the wind and the momentum of Cashel hard to deal with following the second Cashel goal and a couple of Michael O'Leary scores kept them in touch but they needed a goal that didn't arrive. 

"We are on a journey at the moment and the team are mad to go further," said Cashel manager TJ Connolly at full time. 

"The players are driving this since the county final and we are giving the Cashel people, the families and my own mother as well as everyone else's mothers and fathers a real lift. 

"No matter what happens from here on in we have had a marvellous year and now we find ourselves in a Munster final which we go back and prepare for in two weeks time," the King Cormacs manager said.

The travelling supporters were singing in the stand at full time and will be looking forward to the next encounter even more when they face Watergrasshill in the Munster final  on November 30th. 

SCORERS:

Cashel King Cormacs: D Ryan (0-5, 4frees), 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).