Walsh the hero as Kanturk prevail
KANTURK 1-18 BALLYRAGGET 1-17 ALL IRELAND IHC FINAL
“IT is the greatest feeling of my life,” Kanturk manager Donagh Duane said in the tunnel under the Hogan Stand yesterday after his side lifted the All-Ireland intermediate club hurling crown.
“You never dream that something like this can happen. We looked beat. I thought just for a second that it was gone but this team have real heart.
“They never give up. We have seen that over and over again this season and ultimately they got the reward.
“It was the best possible way to win it. A monster point in the last minute of added time. A great way to win but a terrible way for Ballyragget to lose. They were brilliant today but this was our day and we couldn’t be happier.”
A classy individual goal from Kanturk’s Ryan Walsh on 30 minutes looked to be the key score in this one as the Cork champions stayed just ahead.
However, a wonderful strike from Michael Brennan on 54 minutes put this contest back in the melting pot.
Kanturk led by four at the interval, 1-9 to 0-8, but would have felt they were worth more considering the possession and chances they had.
Ballyragget could easily have gone in level if it weren’t for the last minute of the opening period when Lorcán McLoughlin pointed and Walsh goaled.
Kanturk looked dead and buried when Aidan Walsh had to be helped from the pitch on 60 minutes with a shoulder injury but a huge score in the dying seconds from his cousin Ian Walsh sent the title to the Rebel County.
SCORERS – Kanturk: L McLoughlin 0-7 (5f); R Walsh 1-2; I Walsh 0-3; N Nash (2f), A Walsh 0-2 each; D Kenneally, A O’Keeffe 0-1 each. St Patrick’s Ballyragget: K Kelly 0-8 (7f); S Kenny 0-5; J Brennan 0-3; M Brennan 1-0; E Bergin 0-1.
KANTURK – A Nash; J Browne, J McLoughlin, P Walsh; L O’Neill, D Browne, A Sheehy; L McLoughlin, R Walsh; M Healy, I Walsh, D Kenneally; L O’Keeffe, A O’Keeffe, A Walsh. Subs: J Fitzpatrick for A O’Keeffe (49), E O’Connor for A Walsh (inj, 59).
ST PATRICK’S BALLYRAGGET – M Gannon; J Mooney, J Gannon, M Staunton; G Brennan, S Staunton, R Healy; S Kenny, B Staunton; E Bergin, J Brennan, B Staunton; M Brennan, B Brooke Phelan, K Kelly. Subs: S Mooney for E Bergin (40).
REF – J Murphy (Limerick)