Connolly and Ryan take over to send Cashel into Munster IHC semi-final
Casehl Cormacs Photo Connolly By Playing Ramsey King Tipperary Eoghan For Cardy/sportsfile
It took a late, late blast of scores from Devon Ryan and Eoghan Connolly to see Cashel King Cormacs through to the Munster intermediate hurling semi-finals. It looked like a second Sunday in a row for Newcastle West heroics but a run of eight points in a row, including seven from Ryan and Connolly, changed the outcome.
The hosts will rue a total of 12 wides, including nine in the opening half. However, their ultimate goal of senior hurling was achieved last weekend. Cashel played in bursts and will hope that the dirty diesel is now gone after three weeks idle. Their win over Carrick Swans in the county final came on 13th of October.
Getting off to the perfect start, Newcastle West looked energetic. Bryan Nix cut in from the right corner before smashing to the top corner for a goal after just seventeen seconds.
This wasn’t a first home Munster tie for the Town, with their footballers defeating The Nire in 2021. Meanwhile, on Saturday, their senior camogie team lost out to Waterford side Gaultier in their Munster camogie semi-final.
Nix was sharp in the opening half and added two further points. However, their inaccuracy up front meant that they were level at the interval. It was 1-6 to 0-9 at the short whistle. Cashel will feel they missed two great goal openings.
The sides were level 1-3 to 0-6 after an even opening 18 minutes, with Devon Ryan accurate from frees, while Nix and Eoin Hurley (frees) kept the hosts well in the fight. Ryan’s first from play, after showing great strength saw him shoot over from 45 meters.
Cashel looked dangerous up front and Cathal Quinn and Oisín O’Donoghue both fired over in an accurate half. It was nine wides to just two, something which will have frustrated Magpies boss, Derry McMahon.
Both of those aforementioned Cashel goal chances fell to David McGrath. His first was well blocked by diving defender, Maurice Murphy, while the second, after selfless play from Ryan, saw brave goalkeeper Mike Quilligan save with his legs. That was late in the half, with Eoghan Connolly slotting the resultant 65.
When Nix buried his second goal, after great work by Diarmaid Kelly, the momentum was with the Magpies. They tacked on two more points to move five clear, with Cathal Hayes adding from play and a free.
Conn Bonnar arrowed over but each of the next seven points went to Connolly or Ryan to completely change the outcome of this clash. Connolly’s free taking was top class and arguably the difference in a very tight contest.
Two late Newcastle West points were in vain, with a third goal needed to flip the result back their way. TJ Connolly’s side will know a Munster final is a real possibility when they play the semi-final later this month.
B Nix 2-2; Cathal Hayes 0-4 (0-2 frees); Eoin Hurley 0-3 (0-3 frees); M Quilligan (0-2 frees); D Lyons 0-2 each.
E Connolly 0-9 (0-6 frees; 0-2 ‘65); D Ryan 0-8 (0-4 frees); C Quinn, O O’Donoghue, C Bonnar 0-1 each.
M Quilligan; M Murphy, S Hurley, A Neville; M Cremin, Ethan Hurley, J Whelan; D Lyons, B Hurley (C); D Kelly, C Hayes, Eoin Hurley; B Foley, M McMahon, B Nix.
Cathal Hayes for McMahon (inj – 22); W Hurley for Foley (half-time); E McMahon for Kelly (60).
J Walsh, C Bonnar, N Ryan, K O’Dwyer; J Cummins, C O’Dwyer, A Walsh; R Connolly, P Fahy; E Connolly, C Quinn, D Ryan; O O’Donoghue, D McGrath, R Bonnar.
G Browne for R Bonnar (43); A Cummins for R Connolly (49); D Moloney for McGrath (59).
Niall Malone (Clare).