Kilmallock 2-19
Portaferry 0-12
KILMALLOCK WILL BECOME the first Limerick side in 22 years to contest an AIB All-Ireland senior club hurling final after a storming second half performance saw them record a comfortable win over Down champions Portaferry today.
In a cagey first half, Paddy O’Loughlin’s second minute goal set Kilmallock on their way and points from Brian O’Sullivan and Graeme Mulcahy ensured their lead was 1-2 to 0-1 after just five minutes, Paul Braniff with the solitary reply for Portaferry.
Indeed, if it wasn’t from Braniff’s accuracy with the place ball, this game could have been over by the break as Kevin McGarry scored their only point from play in the first half as they went into the break trailing 1-8 to 0-6.
The Munster champions finally killed the game on 49 minutes when Mulcahy – influential throughout – took advantage of good work from Eoin Ryan to drive low past Portaferry keeper Karol Keating.
Despite hitting a total of 13 wides in the game, Kilmallock had as many points to spare at the end and will now meet Ballyhale Shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day, their first Tommy Moore Cup decider since 1993.
Scorers for Kilmallock: E Ryan 0-7 (0-5f), G Mulcahy 1-2, B O’Sullivan 0-4, Paddy O’Loughlin 1-0, K O’Donnell 0-2 (0-1f), J Mulcahy 0-1, R Egan 0-1, P O’Brien 0-1, C Barry 0-1.
Scorers for Portaferry: P Braniff 0-9 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), K McGarry 0-1, C Mageean 0-1, E Sands 0-1.
KILMALLOCK
1. B Hennessy
2. L Hurley
3. M O’Loughlin
4. A Costello
5. L Walsh
6. Philip O’Loughlin
7. K O’Donnell
8. P O’Brien
9. B O’Sullivan
10. J Mulcahy
11. Paddy O’Loughlin
12. R Egan
13. E Ryan
14. K Kennelly
15. G Mulcahy.
Subs:
R Hanley for Kennelly (45)
C Barry for J Mulcahy (54)
A O’Shaughnessy for Paddy O’Loughlin (56)
J Meade for M O’Loughlin (57)
D Joy for Walsh (59)
PORTAFERRY
1. K Keating
2. C Taggart
3. C O’Neill
4. C O’Prey
5. C Coulter
6. J Convery
7. M Conlan
8. A Savage
9. C Mageean
10. A O’Prey
11. P Braniff
12. K McGarry
13. S Mageean
14. E Sands
15. R Magee.
Subs:
C Barry for Magee (37)
N White for Taggart (50)
B Trainor for McGarry (54)
B Coleman for S Mageean (57).
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
