'The shackles are coming off' - Watergrasshill playing with freedom and eyeing All-Ireland tilt
Watergrasshill Photo: Victory Hogan Celebrate Padraig Their
The Hill are reaching new heights. Munster champions for the first time in the club’s history, now they want to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand.
Eddie Enright hailed his players for letting off the shackles since conquering the Cork PIHC. They played with flair and physicality to run out 10-point winners over Cashel King Cormacs in an intermediate final contested amid a downpour at the Gaelic Grounds.
Their progression bodes well for an All-Ireland semi-final against Carey Faughs of Antrim in a fortnight.
Already league, county, and provincial champions, they are now eyeing a fourth trophy – or indeed a fifth for those who starred in Imokilly’s senior triumph.
“We’re breaking new ground,” said Enright. “Trying to win a county title for the first time in 20 years, it’s always mentally hard.
“In some respects, the shackles are coming off a bit. We’re relaxing into the way we play. They’re very consistent in the way they play. Hopefully, this journey keeps going.
“The talent is there. We didn’t invent it. The buy-in from the 40 lads coming up training regularly is driving this.
“They’re getting better and the more matches you play, if you get consistent in your style of play, you start to believe in it and trust it. That’s what’s happening now.
“We got over the county final and we started to play with a little bit more freedom, but with the same physicality, and they’re enjoying that.
“They’re an ambitious bunch who want to get better. It’s a game in two weeks’ time so we’ll focus on that in maybe two days’ time!” Centre-forward Adam Murphy led the way with a point straight from the throw-in and he never stopped going in front of 2,336 fans, ending the day with 1-12 (1-5 from play).
He’s revelling in the freedom conferred by Enright, who permits Murphy and captain Seán Desmond to interchange between centre- and full-forward at their discretion.
While Murphy sniped 0-12 from distance against Wolfe Tones na Sionna, he did his damage closer to goal here.
“We always swap. We want to keep the backs on their toes so we always rotate between the three of us,” said Murphy.
“It’s whatever we want to do, really. If one of us makes a run and we’re tired, we can go in or go out.
“We can play anywhere in the full-forward or half-forward line so we like to change it up.
“We have three trophies won this year now and we want to go for four.
“We’ll celebrate now but we’ve a bit more time to recover!” Murphy showcased his flying form in the opening minutes with the first two points; one from the throw-in and a peach from the sideline. Brendan Lehane chipped in with three more.
By contrast, Cashel were over-reliant on Devon Ryan’s frees and a couple of Eoghan Connolly sideline cuts.
Their best performer was Oisín O’Donoghue. The Tipperary U20 was their only starter to score from play with 0-2 and was also fouled for three scoreable frees.
They never led and trailed 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time. Still, Enright was acutely aware of Cashel’s reputation for fast finishes as they remained hanging on within one score of the Cork champions entering the final quarter.
Instead of a Premier push, it was the Hill who closed out the contest with a 1-7 to 0-3 surge from there to the end.
“We were hanging in. Scores weren’t coming freely to us,” said Cashel boss TJ Connolly.
“The one night we didn’t want to have this kind of performance, that’s what happened.
“We have to take our hats off to Watergrasshill, they were the better team by far. They out-punched us, they were hungrier than us, and they deserved to win the Munster final.”
The clearcut goal chances belonged to the Hill. Desmond could’ve raised two green flags but for Jonathan Walsh’s quick reactions. While he didn’t score, he created plenty for Murphy including another goal opening which whizzed over.
The clincher arrived moments later in the 48th minute. Anthony and Patrick Cronin did the spadework for Murphy to skip a low shot to the bottom corner for a 1-15 to 0-11 lead.
With Cashel forced to chase, Watergrasshill reeled off five points on the spin, including three Murphy frees.
The Tipp subs made an impact with back-to-back points from Adrian Cummins and one for Ger Browne but it was the Hill’s day.
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).
Devon Ryan (0-7, 7 frees); E Connolly (2 sideline cuts), O O’Donoghue, Adrian Cummins (0-2 each); G Browne (0-1).
: 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 (capt), S O’Regan; B Lehane, A Murphy, P O’Leary.
Subs: L Foley for O’Driscoll (28, inj), 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+5, temporary).
J Walsh; K O’Dwyer, N Ryan, C Bonnar; J Cummins (capt), C O’Dwyer, A Walsh; R Connolly, E Connolly; R Bonnar, Devon Ryan, C Quinn; P Fahy, O O’Donoghue, D McGrath.
Subs: G Browne for McGrath (42), Adrian Cummins for Fahy (52), D Moloney for A Walsh (57).
: N Malone (Clare).
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