Like the elections, this was always going to be tight as Cashel King Cormacs and Watergrasshill played out a titanic battle in front of a vocal crowd in the drizzly, windswept TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick this evening.
Cashel, who defeated Newcastlewest and Abbeydorney enroute to this decider, tried their hearts out but it wasn't enough to secure a victory against a quality Watergrasshill side who are coached by 2001 All-Ireland winner with Tipperary, Eddie Enright.
The first half was tight on the scoreboard but the power and energy was with the Cork lads who looked strong on the ball and a powerful third quarter was when the key strike arrived to seal the deal.
Their power and skilful, direct brand of hurling kept them in control throughout the game and it was a cool finish in the 47th minute from the Watergrasshill hero Adam Murphy, who struck 1-12 in total, that was the key score as the Cork side powered on to a convincing win in the end.
The game began with a speedy start from Watergrasshill who went into an 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 3 minutes of action with Cashel bringing Anthony Walsh out to the centrefield area as they rejigged their attack.
Direct ball to the full forward line was the key to success with the 'Hill' backs denying the Cashel forwards uncontested ball, and from the rucks the powerful Cork side gathered possession.
Cashel found it hard to find their rhythm and only struck one point from play in the first half, with Oisin O'Donoghue the striker, but they did get two magnificent long range sidelines from Eoghan Connolly in the first half and frees from Devon Ryan who was on form.
Ryan and O'Donoghue levelled matters early on at 0-3 a piece but Watergrasshill pushed on and were never led as the skilful attacker Murphy and Ciaran O'Leary struck fine scores from distance in the wind and rain.
Daire O'Leary was mopping up at centre back while Liam Foley was barely on the field for the injured Michael O'Driscoll when he struck a point for the Cork lads before the half time whistle.
By half time they were two points up on an 0-10 to 0-8 scoreline. Cashel needed to immediately rejig their formation after being forced to soak up pressure in the first half.
On the restart Devon Ryan struck a point as Cashel were still in touch yet not playing with the free abandon that has marked their best play this season.
The rain was affecting the game but the effort was never in question as they fought to get into the game however Murphy, named man of the match at the end, was on form and struck two beauties that sailed over the bar.
It was looking ominous for Cashel before Oisin O'Donoghue responded with a point however the gap on the scoreboard between the teams was stretching out to four points.
Murphy was chief assassin and he hit 1-4 from play with no score more important than when his goal arrived in the 47th minute.
The Watergrasshill goal, on 47 minutes, barely trickled past Jonathan Walsh into the corner of the net and put them 1-15 to 0-11 up.
Cashel, to their credit, didn't wilt. Ger Browne struck a minute later before Watergrasshill struck their sixth wide of the second half of 50 minutes, allowing Cashel to stay in the game.
Both sides rang the changes as the rain got heavier with Cashel subs Ger Browne and Adrian Cummins both getting onto the score sheet with fine strikes but in the 50th minute Shane O'Regan struck a superb point on the run that signalled for the 'Hill' supporters to celebrate.
Brendan Lehane followed with a point. The score came from another brief goal scoring chance and the race looked run for Cashel after what has been a fantastic season.
In the end Watergrasshill grew stronger buoyed up by the energy provided by their vocal supporters.
Their manager Eddie Enright summed up the game afterwards: "We knew we would get a tough challenge and we prepared as best we could and kept the pressure on in the second half half because we knew when we got a purple patch we had to strike.
"We did that and it is onwards now," Eddie Enright said.
For Cashel the road was behind them but they have gone further than for a very long time. "It is disappointing but we say hats off to Watergrasshill, we gave it a good go and I am very proud of all our efforts," the Cashel manager TJ Connolly said.
Despite the loss the winter is a short one for Cashel who have senior hurling to look forward to next season.
: A Murphy (1-12, 0-7 frees); B Lehane (0-3); I O’Callaghan, C O’Leary, S O’Regan, L Foley, P O’Leary, A Cronin (0-1 each).
: Jonathan Walsh; Kieran O’Dwyer, Nathan Ryan, Conn Bonnar; James Cummins (captain), Conor O’Dwyer, Ronan Connolly: Paddy Fahy, Eoghan Connolly; Ross Bonnar, Devon Ryan, Cathal Quinn; Anthony Walsh, Oisin O’Donoghue, Davie McGrath.
Subs: Ger Browne for McGrath (42), Adrian Cummins for Fahy (52), Dan Moloney for A Walsh (57).
: A Foley; S Field, D McCarthy, I O’Callaghan; M O’Driscoll, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; A Cronin, A Spriggs; C O’Leary, S Desmond (captain), S O’Regan; B Lehane, A Murphy, P O’Leary.
Subs: L Foley for O’Driscoll (28, injured), P Cronin for O’Callaghan (46), C Healy for P O’Leary (52), J McCarthy for C O’Leary (59), P O’Regan for Spriggs (60), R Murray for Field (60+3, temporary substitution).
: N Malone (Clare).
