MD O’Shea’s retain Munster Inter-Firm crown

MUNSTER INTER-FIRM FINAL MD O’Shea’s 5-12 Boston Scientific (Tipperary) 2-15

DESPITE the inclement weather, reigning champions MD O’Shea’s and Boston Scientific of Tipperary served up an absolute cracker in Lewis Rd in the Munster Inter-Firm

Final on Monday night.

The action was thick and fast right from the start. Ciarán Kennedy teed up Pa Warren for a goal, only for Craig Guiry to reply in kind at the other end. Undeterred, Jeff O’Donoghue and Pa Warren combined to set up Ciarán Kennedy for a goal and he hit another straight from the kick-out. 3-0 to 1-0, and the game just a few minutes old!

O’Donoghue then turned provider for Colm Tobin and won and converted a free himself, but Kevin Harney replied with a brace. Tobin and O’Donogue stetched the lead to 3-4 to 1-3, but a purple patch for their opponents saw Seán Conway (2) and Alan Lonergan narrow the gap.

Lonergan, the Clonmel Commercials stalwart, was proving troublesome, but Mark O’Shea was giving a tour de force in midfield for Mackeys, while Pa Warren’s ferocious pace was a real nightmare.

Ciarán Kennedy swivelled to bury his third goal, but Lonergan and Liam Carey trimmed the gap aagin before Jeff O’Donoghue closed out the first half scoring. Half-time MD O’Shea’s 4-5 Boston Scientific 1-8.

Lonergan (2) and Seán Conway cut the gap to a goal early in the third quarter with some great teamwork by the challengers. Seán O’Keeffe and Brendan Falvey replied for Mackeys, but Kevin Harney’s goal really put the cat among the pigeons, 4-7 to 2-11.

Falvey almost goaled himself with an audacious chip that tipped over the bar, but Boston Scientific picked off the next three points through Lonergan (2f) and Conway. 4-18 to 2-7, level pegging, and momentum swinging away from Mackeys.

Their response was immediate and devastating as Mackeys suddenly found a new gear.

Jeff O’Donoghue pointed and Ciarán Kennedy cut in for his fourth goal.

A magnificent ‘45 and a free by Jeff O’Donoghue finally put the game beyond Bostion Scientific’s reach before Seán O’Keeffe with one last score applied the coup de grace.

MD O’SHEAS: Chris Carey (Spa), Jonathon Bowler (Glenflesk), Ian Somers (Currow), Paul O’Riordan (Kilcummin), Sean O’Keeffe 0-2 (Gneeveguilla), Pa Warren 1-0 (Gneeveguilla), Peter Cronin (Spa),

Alan Murphy (Glenflesk), Mark O’Shea (Dr Crokes), Diarmuid Cahill (Spa), Jeff O’Donoghue 0-6 (4f, 1 ‘45’) (Glenflesk), Brendan Falvey 0-2 (Dr Crokes), Paudie Coffey (Beaufort), Ciarán Kennedy 4-0 (Beaufort), Colm Tobin 0-2 (1f) (Spa) Subs: Damien Cronin (Rathmore) for Diarmuid Cahill, Darragh Sheehy (Fossa), Kevin Breen (Killarney Legion), Eamon Bowler (Glenflesk)

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC: Ronan Duffy, Tommy Sweeney, Patrick Lawlor, Dean Coffey, Robert Keane, Conor Davin Murphy, Kevin Harney (1-2), Craig Guiry (1-1), Alan Lonergan 0-6 (3f), Niall Prendergast, Robert Hannon, Paul Drohan, Donal Reade, Liam Carey 0-1, Sean Conway 0-5 Subs: John Gildea for D Reade, Niall Stones for N Prendergast, Donal Reade for CDavinMurphy

REFEREE: Mike Sexton (Limerick)