Exceptional finish sees Cashel edge past Newcastle West in Munster quarter-final

AIB Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Cashel King Cormacs 0-20

Newcastle West 2-13

By Tom Clancy

Cashel King Cormacs finished much the stronger to progress to the Munster Intermediate Hurling semi-final, as eight points in a row turned this clash on its head against Limerick champions, Newcastle West.

Played in the home of the Premier Intermediate winners, Cashel will have danced a merry jig away from West Limerick having snatched a victory so late.

Eoghan Connolly’s contribution of eight points, which included a plethora of tricky placed balls, was perfectly added to by Devon Ryan’s touches of class. They will face Abbeydorney, the Kerry Senior champions, after they overcame Brickey Rangers of Waterford after extra-time. That clash is set for the weekend of 16/17 November.

The winners looked in trouble as early as the opening minute, when Newcastle goaled inside twenty seconds. Having only won their county title last weekend, the Magpies hit the ground running with Bryan Nix’s fine finish getting them off to the perfect start.

TJ Connolly’s Kings settled when Connolly got a point from play. A wasteful home side were punished when Deon Ryan scored three points in four minutes to make it 1-2 to 0-4, the gap back to just a point.

There was a first lead by the 26th minute, by which time Oisin O’Donoghue and Cathal Quinn both slotted points. For the hosts, Nix was looking sharp while Eoin Hurley’s frees were inconsistent. A few of those were among the nine wides for Derry McMahon’s men in the first half.

It was level, 1-6 to 0-9 at half-time with Connolly, Ryan and Ronan Connolly impressing. Two goal chances for David McGrath were fluffed, one by a defender, the second by the bravery of keeper Michael Quilligan.

 The home side enjoyed a profitable third quarter, and looked likely winners when pulling five clear. Nix buried a second major and when Cathal Hayes and Diarmaid Lyons put over points, the Tipp champions had to find something.

Connolly certainly was their main. Close to flawless all afternoon, he was on target from a 65, a free inside his own half and another from range to cut the gap. To start the comeback, there was an earlier point from Conn Bonnar.

The run of eight in a row highlighted the fatigue that Newcastle may have suffered but in the end, the physicality and conditioning of the men in red and green shone through.

Devon Ryan reemerged into the contest and the elusive forward brought his tally to eight by the 58th minute, to establish a three-point lead.

Cathal Hayes and Quilligan landed late frees for the Limerick outfit, but they couldn’t force a leveller or indeed a game-winning goal.

Instead, King Cormacs held on and marched through to the last four of Munster.

Scorers: Newcastle West: Bryan Nix 2-2, Cathal Hayes (0-4, 0-2f), Eoin Hurley 0-3f, Diarmaid Lyons 0-2, Mike Quilligan 0-2f.

Cashel Kings Cormacs: Eoghan Connolly (0-9, 0-6f; 0-2 ‘65), Devon Ryan (0-8, 0-4f), Cathal Quinn, Oisin O’Donoghue, Conn Bonnar 0-1 each.

Newcastle West: Mike Quilligan; Maurice Murphy, Seamus Hurley, Aaron Neville; Michael Cremin, Ethan Hurley, John Whelan; Diarmaid Lyons, Brain Hurley; Diarmaid Kelly, Con Hayes, Eoin Hurley; Brian Foley, Mike McMahon, Bryan Nix.

Subs: Cathal Hayes for McMahon (22, inj); Willie Hurley for Foley (HT); Evan McMahon for Kelly (60).

Cashel King Cormacs: Jonathan Walsh; Conn Bonnar, Nathan Ryan, Kieran O’Dwyer; James Cummins, Conor O’Dwyer, Anthony Walsh; Ronan Connolly, Paddy Fahy; Eoghan Connolly, Cathal Quinn, Devon Ryan; Oisín O’Donoghue, David McGrath, Ross Bonnar.

Subs: Ger Browne for R Bonnar (43); Adrian Cummins for R Connolly (49); Dan Moloney for McGrath (59).

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)