Oylegate seal place in final
Junior ‘B’ joy in Limerick
OYLEGATE-G’BRIEN INAGH-KILNAMONA
OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN marched on to the All-Ireland final of the Killeedy club-organised Junior ‘B’ hurling All-Ireland series, after they saw off a dogged challenge from the Clare champions, Inagh-Kilnamona, in Raheenagh, Co. Limerick, on Sunday.
While they led proceedings from the outset, going in at the break with a four-point lead, the Wexford champions were made earn their win, as the persistent advances from Inagh-Kilnamona left very little in it by the end.
But Oylegate-Glenbrien, who have gone into the tournament with much eagerness and enthusiasm, were hell-bent on getting to the final, and eventually kept the Clare men at bay.
In conditions that were as good as could be hoped for, the eventual winners went in front early on thanks to a Marty Kelly ’65, before Joe and Barry Dunne added to the tally on the ten-minute mark.
Inagh-Kilnamona were evidently struggling, and a pointed free from Shane Dowling was as much as they could muster in the opening half.
Their opponents, on the other hand, settled into proceedings and finished out the half with two points from Barry Dunne and one from Eoin O’Mahoney, giving them a confident four-point lead at the break.
The second-half was a different story however, as the Munster runners-up came out with renewed vigour, obviously looking to redeem their poor first-half form.
Dowling traded points with Joe Dunne, before adding another to Inagh-Kilnamona’s tally, leaving three between the sides before Barry Dunne helped settle Oylegate-Glenbrien nerves, hitting two points midway through the half.
There were several more nervous moments to come, however.
The Clare men suddenly began to get on top and hit three points going into the closing stages of the game, and they were now relentless on their pursuit of goal.
But, thanks to a stubborn defence, manned by man of the match Peter Rowley, Oylegate-Glenbrien held on, and in doing so earned themselves an All-Ireland final date with Limerick’s Cappamore on February 9.
Oylegate-Glenbrien: Eddie Mernagh; Evan Kelly, Pádraig O’Connor, Aidan Murphy; Gary Conroy, Peter Rowley, Niall Parker; Marty Kelly (0-1 ’65), Anthony Doyle; Conor Nolan, Patrick Cullen, Barry Dunne (0-5, 3 frees); Joe Dunne (0-2), Eoin O’Mahoney (0-1), Tomás Cosgrave. Subs. - Pierce Murphy for Nolan (38), Brian Doran for O’Mahoney (55).
Inagh-Kilnamona: Paul Keating; Brian Arthur, Joe Griffin, Pádraig Devitt; Damien Shaughnessy, Alan Mullins, Shane Wynne; Joseph Gallagher, Michael McConigley; Dermot Gannon, Shane Dowling (0-5 frees), Shane Vaughan; Cian Shannon, Thomas Barry, Shane Griffin. Subs. - Cathal Griffin for Dowling (41), Tom Cotter for S. Griffin (44), Thomas McConigley (0-1) for Arthur (50), Joe Rynne for Shaughnessy.
Referee: John O’Halloran (Limerick).